Category: Torah

Says Who?

by Rabbi Dov Linzer
Posted on June 8, 2017

When we make important decisions in our lives, what thought process do we go through? For most of us, it probably involves asking a series of questions, such as: “Is this what I truly want?”; “Am I doing this for the right reasons or for the wrong reasons?”; “Will this be good for me in the short term? In the long term?”; “Will it allow me to best achieve my potential?”; “Will it be good for my spouse and my family?”. If we are truly virtuous, perhaps we will also ask: “Is this good for others, for Klal Yisrael, for the world?”. And maybe, just maybe, we will also ask: “Is this the best way for me to serve God?”.…

On the Nature of Birkat HaTorah

by Rabbi Dov Linzer
Posted on May 26, 2017

כי שם ה’ אקרא הבו גודל לא-לוהינו For the name of the Lord I proclaim; Give glory to our God (Devarim 32:3) This verse, from Parashat Haazinu which we will be reading this Shabbat, Shabbat Shuva, is the basis for our daily recitation of Birkat HaTorah.…

Playing God: The Theology of Genetic Engineering

by Rabbi Haggai Resnikoff
Posted on May 12, 2017

How do the Torah and rabbinic sources view the idea of genetic engineering, specifically as it relates to plants? The following sources are meant to prompt a discussion regarding this question. 1. VaYikra 19:19 אֶֽת־חֻקֹּתַי֮ תִּשְׁמֹרוּ֒ בְּהֶמְתְּךָ֙ לֹא־תַרְבִּ֣יעַ כִּלְאַ֔יִם שָׂדְךָ֖ לֹא־תִזְרַ֣ע כִּלְאָ֑יִם וּבֶ֤גֶד כִּלְאַ֙יִם֙ שַֽׁעַטְנֵ֔ז לֹ֥א יַעֲלֶ֖ה עָלֶֽיךָ׃ You shall observe My laws.…