As you cannot help but know, Queen Elizabeth II died earlier this month. I’m not a monarchist – I was raised in that most republican of all countries, the USA, and when I became a Brit and was offered the choice of an oath or affirmation of allegiance, I choose the latter. I know many […]

Thoughts on Parashat Nitzavim

Prayer. Why do we pray? When do we pray? What do we expect from prayer? What’s the meaning or function of prayer today? What are the good things that come from the experience of prayer?

These are all important questions for religious people and have many answers. But before trying to answer them again, let’s take a brief look at history. It seems that prayer was not a central element of Jewish worship in[…]

Thoughts on Parashat Shoftim

You shall appoint magistrates and officials for your tribes, in all the settlements that your God יהוה is giving you, and they shall govern the people with due justice. (Deuteronomy 16:18, the first verse of parashat Shoftim)

There are three classical theories of truth that also define what truth is. The first, formulated by Aristotle, says that truth consists in[…]

There is no way to hide it – prices are skyrocketing. In July inflation in Poland reached 15,5% and the rate of prices increase hasn’t been so high in almost 25 years. No wonder then that the government has raised interest rates in order to reduce the dynamic of growing prices. The consequences of inflation […]

The Book of Deuteronomy, Devarim, which we’ve started reading two weeks ago, is a collection of speeches delivered by Moses before the Israelites entered the Land of Israel. Moses is aware that he will not accompany them on this journey. This makes him anxious about the future of the People of Israel. He doesn’t know […]

Thoughts on Parashat Va’etchanan

What are mitzvot/commandments? The word commandment has many synonyms, such as command, recommendation, indication, regulation, guideline, order, norm, imperative, rule, instruction, directive… Using these synonyms, we can say that commandments are certain directives that order or recommend to do something. And while for the vast majority of the commandments of the Torah this kind of definition would not be problematic at all,[…]