The Syrian Civil War May Be Coming to an End, but Three New Wars Are Rising There
Peace remains a distant hope.
March 26, 2019
Is It a Sin to Elicit Donations Through Social Coercion?
The ends don’t justify the means.
The Torah readings of both last week (Leviticus 6-8) and this (Leviticus 9-11) describe in detail the eight-day inauguration ceremony for the Tabernacle, performed by Moses at the foot of Mount Sinai. Among the special sacrifices brought during this ceremony is a “sin offering.” Puzzled as to what sin it could atone for, Sifra—a rabbinic commentary on Leviticus probably produced around the 4th century CE—suggests that it is the sin of taking money during the massive fund-raising drive for the Tabernacle that yielded gifts given in response to social coercion rather than voluntarily. Shlomo Zuckier comments:
March 26, 2019
Getting the Facts Right about AIPAC
It’s not too powerful, doesn’t spend all that much money, and isn’t particularly right-wing.
Don’t Rely on College Presidents to Restrain Campus Anti-Semitism
Students and faculty must fight back.
A Momentous, but Flawed Attempt to Render the Bible into English
Lost in translation.
Is It a Sin to Elicit Donations Through Social Coercion?
The ends don’t justify the means.