The Jewish Law
Halakhah is often translated as “Jewish law,” yet its literal meaning is “the way” — the path along which Jewish life unfolds. Rooted in the Torah and shaped through centuries of debate, interpretation, and responsa, Halakhah is not a static code but an ongoing conversation. It seeks to sanctify daily existence, bringing Divine presence into the concrete details of life.
In Halacha
Once the human being has recognized that ultimately there is no way to know why God created the world and mankind, he can make his way back to reason and meaning. Once he leaves this “divine absurdity” behind as an unsolvable problem, his intelligence is able to guide him through the labyrinth of human existence.
First Sneak Preview of Rabbi Cardozo’s Upcoming Book
In Biographies, Contemporary Issues and Halacha
For the second half of 5775, the DCA Think Tank, consisting of fourteen men and women, of various ages and backgrounds but all committed to inquiring deeply into traditional Judaism, will be reading excerpts of the manuscript of Rabbi Cardozo’s forthcoming autobiography Lonely But Not Alone.
Halacha makes life simple Halacha makes things very, very simple. I have a modest booklet explaining how to start your own fish aquarium. It turns out to be not so simple.
In Halacha
Nothing is more difficult than being a “Posek HaDor,” the foremost leading halachic arbiter of the Jewish people, in our complicated and troublesome days.
From the Ideal to the Idyllic
In Baruch Spinoza and Halacha
Critics from Paul to Spinoza saw Jewish law as a system of rigid rules that suffocate the spirit. But what if the opposite is true? Perhaps Halacha is not meant to suppress creativity but to awaken it. Like the notes of a musical score, the mitzvot guide human action until life itself becomes a living composition—one in which the soul finally hears the music of God.
In Halacha
In the first two parts of this essay, we have seen that no objectivity is possible in Halacha. This enables us to understand not only why there are many opposing opinions in the Talmud,
In Halacha
Much has been written about the meaning and purpose of Halacha, based on philosophy, metaphysics and psychology. Scholars have suggested that Halacha is the art of living in the presence of God. Others have posited that it requires the need to live a life dedicated to kedusha (holiness), while many argue that Halacha’s purpose is to achieve a high level of ethical standards.
In Halacha
Don't be shocked. But I need to be honest. I am contemplating taking off my kippah. No, do not worry. I have no intention of becoming irreligious, or even less religious. Far from it. In fact, I want to become more religious and have come to the conclusion that my kippah prevents me from doing so.
In Halacha
Take the Bike and Observe Shabbath!
The religious and traditional Israeli Jewish population is on the rise while the secular population is shrinking drastically. Studies show that the numbers of Israelis who do not observe religious traditions have decreased, especially over the past decade, making up just a fifth of the total Israeli population. This is in contrast to earlier days when 41% of Israelis declared themselves secular (1974). About a third of the general Israeli population considers itself fully observant and the number of "traditional" Israelis has grown as well, from 38% to about 50%. (Israel Democracy Institute,
In Contemporary Issues and Halacha
When discussing matters related to the ethical or religious foundation of sexual behavior, people tend to have severe differences of opinion. While up until the second half of the 20th century a more conservative approach was still prevailing, a radical change occurred in the second half of the last century. Well established norms were suddenly challenged, and often replaced by radical approaches which demanded greater "liberty" and "broadmindedness." This provoked a major confrontation between the conservatives and those who claimed that they were "modern-minded."
In Halacha
If halachah is explained as a system of codes and regulations that govern life, there must be a concurrent system that enables men to formulate a weltanschauung, a teaching that gives man the ability to function on a philosophical, rather than on a concrete, plane. Just as philosophy tries to find metaphysical meaning, so does Judaism give meaning to the rulings of halachah. Moreover, even though the halachic system is flexible by its very nature, there must be some manner of dealing with the totality of life's phenomena and of determining a personal course of action that transcends the inherent limitations of every legal system.
In Halacha and Liturgy & Ritual
In our contemporary world it is difficult to continue being surprised. Our educational system (with exceptions) has been teaching us for several decades that everything must make sense and nothing can be left to intellectual random. Scientific knowledge with its emphasis on order and consistency, together with the study of human behavior and its insistence on universal psychological patterns, have confiscated our minds and convinced us that basically there is no place for astonishment