Reproductive Rights and Jewish Tradition Warning: These texts contemplate real-life circumstances and are particularly graphic and may be disturbing to some readers. Here again, as in the issues I raised in the previous days’ kavanot, while there is clearly a distinction between a woman’s life and that of her developing fetus, Judaism is not without ambivalence when it comes to how we apply these ideas to modern methods of birth control and the termination of a pregnancy. As with so many ethical issues, texts that come to us from antiquity do not speak directly to the technical abilities of our generation. Often values have to be inferred and, of course, are open to a variety of conclusions. When the threat to a pregnant mother’s life is evident, Judaism favors the mother up until the moment that the infant appears through the birth canal. Here is a classic Talmudic text: [...]

Immigration and Jewish Tradition – It’s Not Always What You Think! Just as we discovered in the brief survey of Jewish sources reflecting environmental values, traditional Jewish attitudes towards immigrants are complex. Our history is one of wandering; from the stories of crossing the Red Sea to our own ancestors crossing the Atlantic Ocean, we are certainly global nomads. Our history alone speaks to many about the need for Jews to embrace and support the immigrant. However, ancient Jewish tradition is surprisingly ambivalent in its treatment of non-Israelites (and non-Jews) who might be resident in the Holy Land. First, consider some texts that are famously, embracing of foreigners. Exodus 12:49 declares: “There shall be one law for the native and stranger who lives among you.” Deuteronomy 1:16 also declares that judges should: “Hear out your fellow and decide justly between any person and a fellow Israelite or a stranger.” Clearly these principles seek to establish a [...]

Judaism and The Environment – It’s Complicated!Though we often hear people asserting that this or that principle is reflective of “Jewish Values” it’s important to recognize that our tradition is multivocal. Interpretations are truly in the eyes and mind of the beholders. In so many ways, this points to the beauty of Judaism. Its depth and range of thought evokes debate and dialogue that challenges the intellect. Let’s take a look at some of the issues of our day and explore how Jewish sources might challenge us to think and rethink about our own perspectives.It is well known that various principles in the Torah prescribe a particular concern for the environment. We are charged to protect the fruit bearing trees when laying siege to a city. (Deuteronomy 20:19-20) And yet, it should be clear that Judaism has no prohibitions on clear-cutting forests for wood to build homes or even destroying [...]

Tu B’Av – The Jewish Holiday of LoveRabbi Avi Weiss of the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale makes a shocking assertion for a traditional rabbi. As one who believes that the Torah was written by God, he cannot easily dismiss troubling passages. So, he suggests that particular laws which appear to contradict other higher principles of Torah compel us to re-evaluate the offending law “from the prism of broader divine ethical imperatives.”  Among the most profound and comprehensive principals, according to Weiss, is the concept of b’tzelem Elohim – the image of God. His reading of b’tzelem Elohim is that because all humans are created in the image of God, any Torah law that would seem to diminish the stature of another human being must be recognized as a vestige of earlier mores which reflect particular limitations of the more ancient Jewish community. Now that we have evolved beyond those limitations, we should apply these higher standards [...]