The TaNaKh is not necessarily religious literature
The TaNaKh is not necessarily religious literature. Yet, even when it speaks of the mundane it invariably hints at the sublime. That’s what makes it such powerful reading. Case in point is Chapter 23 of the Book of Genesis. In the land of Canaan, Abraham—the father of the Israelite and “a multitude of nations”—buys ”a […]
The Sacrifice of Reason Rather Than Isaac’s
It has often been said that Gen. 22 is one of the most beautiful narratives in the Jewish Foundational Literature, one that also has a particularly special place among the narratives of world literature. It also generates one of the most puzzling issues facing religious and moral societies. This is a tale about God testing […]
Are Jews a People?
In Jewish tradition, Abraham is referred to as ‘Avraham Avinu,’ the father of the Jewish people. Lately, however, it has become sort of trendy to question whether Jews are indeed a people. Using a reductionist definition equating “people” with “ethnos,” “nation,” and “race,” some academics, such as emeritus Tel Aviv University history professor Shlomo Sand have […]