by Rabbi Haggai Resnikoff
Posted on September 6, 2016
Although the written Torah suggests in various places a violent relationship with other religions- particularly those that involve avodah zarah (best but incompletely translated as “idolatry”)- we find in the Sages a mixed bag of how we should treat other religions.…
by Rabbi Dov Linzer
Posted on August 5, 2016
The Torah in many places obligates us to take care of our “brother”. It is clear from many verses that this word often does not mean generically “another person,” but specifically someone of our tribe – a fellow member of the people of Israel. …
by Rabbi Dov Linzer
Posted on July 20, 2016
Introduction In Part I of this series we explored areas where the halakha – as articulated in the Talmud – has made distinctions between our obligation to Jews and our obligation to Gentiles. The following chart is based on a similar chart which appeared at the end of Part I. …
by Rabbi Dov Linzer
Posted on July 20, 2016
Key points In our discussion of distinctions in the area of acts against person, pay attention to the following key points as we work through our sources: Biblical terms – are there any limiting words such as achikha, rei’echa or amitcha in the verses dealing with injury and murder?…
by Rabbi Dov Linzer
Posted on July 20, 2016
Key points In our discussion of distinctions in the area of acts against property, pay attention to the following key points as we work through our sources: Biblical terms – amitcha and rei’echa are the key terms that are used in this area of law. …
by Rabbi Dov Linzer
Posted on July 14, 2016
Introduction – Three Categories of Distinctions In halakha, many distinctions can be found between the treatment of Jews and Gentiles. The point here is not in regards to ritual matters, such as marriage, or food, or houses of worship, but in regards to what we would call in a secular context civil and criminal law. …
by Rabbi Dov Linzer
Posted on July 5, 2016
Non-Jews are commanded to observe the seven Noahide laws. A logical corollary of this is that they are to be rewarded for their performance of these mitzvot, and held liable for transgressing them. This assumption, however, is brought into question by the sugyah around the statement of Rav Yosef in Avodah Zara 2B-3A (paralleled in Bava Kama 35a)… This article was originally published in the Milin Havivin, Vol 1.…
by Rabbi Dov Linzer
Posted on December 16, 2011
As both Chanukkah and Christmas draw near, it is appropriate to discuss of the evolution of halakha’s approach to Christianity. Tosafot in Bekhorot, 2b, had said that one does not transgress by having a Christian take an oath in the name of God and a saint.…
by Rabbi Dov Linzer
Posted on December 2, 2011
While a little postponed, I would like to finish up the discussion from two weeks ago on the topic of attitudes towards Christianity, which arose in the daf yomi at the beginning of Bekhorot. The Talmud (Bekhorot 2b) had stated that a person could not enter into a partnership with a non-Jew, lest the non-Jew have to take an oath, and he would then do so in the name of his god. …
by Rabbi Dov Linzer
Posted on November 18, 2011
On the very first page (2b) of Mesechet Berachot, the Gemara discusses, on a bit of a tangent, the statement of the father of Shmuel that it is forbidden to go into partnership with a non-Jew, lest non-Jew will be required to take an oath to verify his claim in a dispute, and this oath will be taken in the name of a foreign god. …
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