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Thoughts to Ponder

Thoughts to Ponder is a weekly invitation to think dangerously and question passionately. Drawing on the Torah portion, classical Jewish sources, philosophy, and the crises of contemporary life, Rabbi Cardozo challenges religious complacency and spiritual comfort. These essays are written for readers who seek a Judaism that disturbs, questions, and ultimately deepens the human encounter with God and responsibility.

  • Sderot and Human Indifference

    In Contemporary Issues and Israel & Zionism

    Sderot, which, for years has been plagued by missiles fired on its population has lately been bombarded by no less than 50 deadly Kassam rockets a day. This means that its citizens are living under severe war conditions in which there is no day without ongoing attacks. Every few minutes they are forced to run from their homes and classrooms to (often non-existent) places of proper shelter. Its thousands of children live under constant fear, with severe traumatic consequences and some younger ones have not experienced a normal day since the moment they were born. The tragic failure of Israel's political leadership to properly deal with this, whether by not harshly tackling Hamas or by not providing the Sderot population with sufficient and effective shelters, only increases the overall anxiety of this city's heroic population.

  • My Mother Bertha Lopes Cardozo z.l.

    In Biographies

    The year of mourning for my dear mother z.l. ended last Friday. To my great surprise it became a most unusual experience which I did not anticipate. Suddenly I was once again allowed to listen to music (one of the great loves of my life), go to celebrations like chatunoth, and buy new garments. I returned to being like everybody else, so I am told. The world is back to normal.

  • The Handwriting is on the Wall – Part 3

    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, Guttman Center, Jerusalem Post, November 23, 07.) (1)

  • The Conversion Crisis – Part 3

    In Converting to Judaism

    When suggesting new ways to approach religious and halachic problems in Judaism one must be conscious of the great responsibilities that such suggestions carry. One should never forget that one enters holy territory and touches on issues which could shake the foundations of Judaism and Jewish existence. Still one cannot escape one's religious responsibilities by denying that there may be ways to help Judaism find solutions to serious problems, even though they may be controversial in the eyes of many greater than oneself. 

  • Solving the Conversion Crisis and Global Judaism – Part 2

    In Converting to Judaism and Jewish Thought and Philosophy

    You see things; and you say "Why?"

    But I dream things that never were; and I say "Why not?"

     

    "Back to Methuselah"

    George Bernard Shaw

     

    Dear Friends,

     

    Some of you have asked me to elaborate on my earlier Thoughts to Ponder (215) concerning the serious problems which the State of Israel and the Jewish People encounter in relation to conversion. It is with pleasure that I respond:

  • Solving the Conversion Crisis (Part 1)

    In Converting to Judaism and Jewish Thought and Philosophy

    The Birth of non-Jewish-Jewish Communities - a Far-Reaching Suggestion? (1)


    Conversion is a serious matter. It signals a transformation and involves a tremendous amount of soul-searching. Human beings are more than just accumulations of plasma, complex robots, or tool-making creatures that can change and adapt at the drop of a hat. Human beings have souls and profound emotions. They experience spiritual and moral struggles in which religion plays a major part. Conversion is a far-reaching decision: it culminates in immersion in a mikvah, a ritual bath that symbolizes the mother's womb. "A non-Jew who converts is like a newborn baby", says the Talmud in Yebamoth 22a. Conversion also implies a deep commitment to Jewish tradition. It requires a pledge to follow a particular lifestyle, the observance of the commandments and a deep emotional connection with the Jewish people. (2) It means becoming part of this mysterious "Jewish soul", which remains unexplainable but is as real as it can be.

     

     

  • The Handwriting is on the Wall – Part 2

    In Contemporary Issues and Israel & Zionism

    Whilst contemplating the increasing likelihood that, in the not too distant future, the State of Israel will be governed by a chareidi led government, we need to realize that several developments could possibly take place which would confront the State with a most dangerous situation and an inherent paradox.  Strangely enough, yet fully comprehensible, it will get a stronger Jewish identity but, simultaneously, discover that it no longer has the power to defend itself. At the same time, the State will be confronted with a crisis in its universities, especially in the departments of humanities, with far reaching consequences. This will be followed by a backlash which will cause the dwindling secular community to turn its back on Judaism. While Israel will be more Jewish in its approach towards all matters of State, a good part of its citizens will become even less Jewish.

  • The Handwriting is on the Wall – Part 1

    In Contemporary Issues and Israel & Zionism

    A Chareidi Jewish State!

    The hand writing is on the wall. In a matter of years, the State of Israel will be led by chareidi (2) political parties. There will be a chareidi Prime Minister and the majority of the members of the Government will be of chareidi affiliation. This will have enormous consequences for the Jewish People at large. Either it will become one of the greatest success stories in modern Jewish history, or it will ruin the Jewish State entirely. It will either pull the Jewish people out of its severe and far-reaching quandaries, enabling a much brighter Jewish future, or it will cause a disaster which will actually destroy the Jewish State and create unprecedented havoc for all Jews throughout the world.

  • Wanted: Rabbis with Knives between their Teeth

    In Israel & Zionism

    Two events have lately pre-occupied Israeli society: The publication of Avrum Burgs disturbing book, Defeating Hitler and the JPPPI conference, The Jewish People Policy Planning Institute conference, recently held in Jerusalem. The former is a frontal attack on the State of Israel and the latter was an attempt to solve the problems of the Jewish People. Nothing more and nothing less.

  • An open letter to President Shimon Peres

    In Israel & Zionism

    An Open Letter to Shimon Peres upon his election as Israel's President: Return to your people what they have lost. This nation is thirsty for identity and spirituality and it is your task to show them the road back. You have done great things for the State of Israel but, like all of us, you also made mistakes. However, you can now remedy many of them.

  • Is conversion really possible?

    In Converting to Judaism and Jewish Thought and Philosophy

    As the State of Israel and its rabbinical courts are heading for a major showdown concerning conversion, it is remarkable that not one of the participants, including the orthodox, have considered a major and most crucial question: Is conversion altogether possible? This may sound like a rhetorical question since the answer is in the affirmative.  Yet this question goes to the very core of the problem and as long as we do not deal with it, all deliberations concerning this matter are more or less meaningless. The reason for this is very obvious: Logically speaking, conversion to Judaism should not be possible.

  • Prayers for the Wicked

    In Jewish Thought and Philosophy

    While the winds of war with Iraq are coming closer and closer and in spite of our understandable concern with our own security, committed Jews have a special obligation to think where others may not want to think: The enormous loss of life this war is surely going to cost to many human beings who are or are not on our side of the conflict.