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Why VoteApproaching an election and facing apathy among many voters, Jews might be inspired by our tradition to fully participate in Democracy.
Evan Krame•170 Views•October 25, 2022•Governance & Leadership,Voting,Governments,Leadership,Democracy
Cover Me: tzila mehemnutaTexts on the nature of sukkah/shelter tell us about the Divine nature of protection - bringing comfort, healing and peace. God instructs Jonah that the to gain protection, we must also have faith.
Individuality and ResponsibilityWhile each person is created in God's image and each is valued as if an entire world, Torah demands that we value community and stay in relationship with each other.
Reconciliation: an exploration of Torah inspired by a trip to GermanyAfter a trip to Germany, I reached into Torah to find stories of reconciliation, believing that our tradition has much to say. Not so much.
Intentional or UnwittingWhether our transgressions were intentional or unwitting may have an impact on our atonement.
Artificial Intelligence: What is (Wo)Man?Based on lectures by Rabbi Dr. Ira Bedzow and tomes by Yuval Noah Harari, we are presently challenged to define what is human for the purposes of Jewish law and living in a civilized, ethical society. How Torah defines a human is a starting point only.
Braking the Tablets (anger, leadership, opportunity)Moses broke the tablets - but was it in anger? Did anger serve the purpose? Or was it a calculated and holy risk?
what's the differenceGod differentiated people, a man from a woman, people from one another, despite the commonalities among us. What differences are purposeful and which are not?
Who Isn't Jewish EnoughR' Ethan Tucker of Hadar has tripped over his definition of who is "Jewish" enough to study in a capstone Torah program.
Charity: Building CommunityCompare motivations for giving charity - from the Golden Calf to caring for the poor. An exploration of tzedakah as being motivated by a love of God and building a holy community.
Evan Krame•226 Views•February 18, 2022•Terumah,Tzedakah,Ki Tissa,VaYakhel,Fundraising,Charity,Giving
Leniency in the Law: Can I get a second opinion?What are the guidelines for interpreting Torah and Jewish law for modern times? Are we originalists or can we interpret Torah in accordance with our times? Does an individual have the right to interpret Torah or is that reserved for authorities or majorities?
Evan Krame•255 Views•February 4, 2022•The Written Torah and the Oral Torah,Interpretation,Halachic Process,Halakhah
Responsibility in a Time of Crisis (Ohalah 5782)What is our responsibility to help others in our community and country?
mishpatim - all the strange stuffMishpatim (the laws) characterizes and labels this parsha but the verses are not mundane. We are given tantalizing looks at an ideal world and assuring guidance for a world in need of repair.
Armed for PrayerWhat steps should we take to promote safety in synagogues?
Evan Krame•340 Views•January 20, 2022•Synagogue,Gun Violence,Protection,Safety,Firearms,Security,Shabbat,Gun Control
The Power of JealousyJealousy both motivates evil and yet is a necessary part of human and Godly nature
Ishmael, Not That BadIshmael, the wild-ass bowman, may have been far more decent than the rabbis described. He sets an example for us of how to behave with family at critical times.
CompromiseSource texts on the appropriateness of compromise. Are we to obey the letter of the law or take opportunities to expand mercy and justice?
My body, my choiceWithin Yoma we have the seeds of caring more for the neshama than the halakhah. The later Babylonian rabbis recognized that legal authority must in some cases be limited, its expansive and controlling nature contained, and the law limited to make room for a certain degree of individual
autonomy.
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Evan Krame
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