Beliefs & Practices
Combat and Conflict in Judaism
Combat and Conflict in Jewish Tradition. Jewish Views on War and Peace. Jewish Ideas and Beliefs.
Exemptions from Military Service in Judaism
An incomplete lifecycle process or an unsuitable attitude may exempt you from service.
Pacifism in Jewish Law
Jewish tradition never embraced complete pacifism, though minimizing violence has always been a priority.
Where Was God?
The "hidden God" of the Purim story can serve as a model for God's role in the modern world.
Jewish Resurrection and Organ Donation
The misguided belief that one needs all body parts intact to be resurrected may contribute to the poor rate of organ donation--even for Jews with otherwise untraditional beliefs.
Israel as Estranged Wives and Widows
The metaphor of Israel as the wife of God receives several potent and shocking midrashic reinterpretations as the rabbis reflect on Israel's suffering and persecution.
Homosexuality, Choice, and Jewish Law
If homosexuality is not chosen, then there is precedent in Jewish law for condoning it.
The Reality of Sex Outside Marriage
Non-marital sex is not ideal, but that doesn't mean Judaism has nothing to say about it.
The Revival of Jewish Mysticism: Causes and Concerns
The renewed interest in Jewish mysticism can partially be attributed to a renewed interest in non-traditional spirituality.
Jewish Mysticism Renewed
In the last three decades, Jewish mysticism has gone from an underground discipline to a mass phenomenon.
The Anthropological Implications of Suffering
The rabbis of the talmudic era were more interested in the human response to suffering than in finding theological justifications for its existence.