A divorce attorney began his intake interview with a female client by asking if she had any grounds. She replied: “About two acres.” “No,” said the lawyer. “I meant what is the foundation of this case?” She said: “Concrete, brick and mortar.” “No,” said the lawyer. “I...
The Torah portion centers on arrangements for the burial of Sarah. But it also ends with a narration of the death of Abraham (Genesis 25:9). Surprisingly, Yishmael who – along with his mother – was unceremoniously expelled from Abraham’s household (Genesis 21:14),...
Although the concept was already known in the 1950’s, it was under the Reagan administration in the United States that the neutron bomb was developed and deployed. The “neutron bomb” is a version of an Enhanced Radiation Weapon: a nuclear device that emits many times...
Before psychologist Amos Tversky died in1988, he conceded that over his professional career he lost many good friends over his finding that the notion of a “hot hand” among basketball players was a myth. The shared wisdom was that the player who successfully makes his...
In 2020 a scientific expedition was launched with the intent to study climate change on earth. It was awkwardly named MOSAIC – Multi-disciplinary-drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate. Sixty scientists and technicians supplemented the crew aboard an...
Through the teachings of Paul of Tarsus, nascent Christian theology conceived of the idea of original sin. While Origen – one of the early Church Fathers – held an aberrant view, namely, that the sin occurred before the creation of the world, standard Christian...
Profs. Derek Penslar and Judith Bleich have documented how Jews serving in non-Jewish armies greatly divided rabbinic scholars. Some figures, including German scholars Rabbis Samson Raphael Hirsch (1808-1888) and Moshe Glasner (1856-1924), were enthusiastic supporters...
After Jacob’s death, the brothers noticed something that made them suspect Joseph would take his revenge on them for selling him as a slave to Egypt (Genesis 50:15). What, exactly, they saw that made them worry is not mentioned in the text. Along comes the midrash to...
When Pharaoh hears that Joseph’s family will be joining him in Egypt, Pharaoh approves (Genesis 45:16). According to the classical medieval exegete Rabbi Ovadiah Seforno, what found favor in Pharaoh’s eyes was that with Joseph’s family united with him in Egypt he...
After Joseph interprets the dream of the chief cupbearer to Pharaoh and tells him that he will be released from prison and restored to his position, Joseph asks him to bring his case before Pharaoh since he was kidnapped from his homeland and brought to Egypt against...