The Battle of the Vale of Siddim – or as it is known in Jewish tradition: The War of the Four Kings against the Five (Genesis 14:1-17) – was a result of longstanding tensions in the Jordan River plain during … Read the rest

The post Meeting of minds and hearts first appeared on Elmad Online Learning.

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In 1933, Rabbi Yisrael Bekmeister (1877-1954) published a twenty-page collection of
hasidic tales. The collection included a fascinating tale that speaks to assessing the past
year, as we approach the High Holy Days.
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Bekmeister’s slender booklet included fifteen tales … Read the rest

The post Judging God’s sins first appeared on Elmad Online Learning.

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A 1907 collection of hasidic tales by Rabbi Yisrael Berger (1855-1919), Eser Orot, offered a bevy of tales about Rabbi Levi Yitzhak of Berdyczów (1740-1809). Rabbi Berger was one of the key transmitters of hasidic tales, publishing a tetralogy … Read the rest

The post Is Jewish law more important than everything? first appeared on Elmad Online Learning.

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Likkutei Tefillot is one of the fascinating books in the hasidic library. Written by Rabbi Natan Sternhartz of Nemirov (1780-1844), it does not fit neatly in the classic genres of hasidic writing. The work, as we have it today, is … Read the rest

The post Praying for peace first appeared on Elmad Online Learning.

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This article is the fourth in a series of articles:
Part 1 – Trading Places with Captives
Part 2 – Securing Captives’ Release
Part 3 – Extracting from Deep Cisterns
Part 4 – Why Are Your Mercies a Fist

Contemporary … Read the rest

The post Why Are Your Mercies a Fist? first appeared on Elmad Online Learning.

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The following article was published on April 13, 2020.

Many people obsess over counting the Omer. “Did you count yet?” “What was last night?” “Don’t forget to count!” In fact, this obsession has roots in Jewish, and specifically hasidic, tradition.… Read the rest

The post The Tisch: Omer Obsession first appeared on Elmad Online Learning.

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In the 1973 Yom Kippur war, many IDF soldiers were taken captive. Do the same pidyon shvuyim guidelines apply, or are there unique considerations when we are dealing with soldiers?

Credits:
Rabbi Dr. Levi Cooper – Pardes Faculty… Read the rest

The post Pidyon Shvuyim 8: Captured IDF Soldiers first appeared on Elmad Online Learning.

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This article is the third in a series of articles:
Part 1 – Trading Places with Captives
Part 2 – Securing Captives’ Release
Part 3 – Extracting from Deep Cisterns
Part 4 – Why Are Your Mercies a Fist

Rabbi … Read the rest

The post Extracting from Deep Cisterns first appeared on Elmad Online Learning.

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This article is the second in a series of articles:
Part 1 – Trading Places with Captives
Part 2 – Securing Captives’ Release
Part 3 – Extracting from Deep Cisterns
Part 4 – Why Are Your Mercies a Fist

Rabbi … Read the rest

The post Securing Captives’ Release first appeared on Elmad Online Learning.

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If terrorists demand the release of other terrorists in order to free hostages, is this a case of pidyon shvuyim? Perhaps this scenario should be considered under a different legal rubric?

Credits: Rabbi Dr. Levi Cooper – Pardes Faculty… Read the rest

The post Pidyon Shvuyim Episode 7: Releasing Terrorists to Free Hostages first appeared on Elmad Online Learning.

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This article is the first in a series of articles:
Part 1 – Trading Places with Captives
Part 2 – Securing Captives’ Release
Part 3 – Extracting from Deep Cisterns
Part 4 – Why Are Your Mercies a Fist

Cardinal … Read the rest

The post Trading Places with Captives first appeared on Elmad Online Learning.

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