Mikolot Mayim Rabbim

Maria Poggi Johnson, a professor of theology and a Christian…

the mother of four, moved into her current home “sort of accidentally,” figuring that while the neighborhood could not be described as upscale, with so many religious people living there, “it wouldn’t get too bad.”

Admittedly, she knew about religious Jews “only in theory. All too often, Christians think Judaism is just a thing that prepared the way for Christ,” she said. “But Judaism is alive and kicking.” (from the New Jersey Jewish Standard)

Being a religion scholar and a keen observer, after a while, she made a remarkable observation: Read the rest of this entry »

Here is are some of media links on the RCA’s Vaad Halacha’s paper, which I consider noteworthy, along with some editorial comments [UPDATED 2011-02-11 – split off and expanded from an older, overlong post].

But first, A Comment About Comments

Many of the comments in the blogosphere show that there is considerable disagreement about fact, in addition to the disagreements about doctrine.In previous posts, I expressed the hope that major halakhic authorities, including but not limited to those who already wrote on the issue, would revisit the question of the onset of death in halakha. I did so believing that many important facts that may previously have been ignored, have now become well known, so that we are ready to revisit the issue.

However, seeing how much disagreement there is a about facts, I think that we must also call for a broad based international investigative committee, which should only concern itself with the facts, making no value judgements whatsoever. Let’s remember that science deals with facts, while values are the domain of religion, morality, philosophy, ethics. But having clear facts would surely be most helpful.

Click for more on London Beth Din, Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, the Lancet, the Forward and National Geographic Read the rest of this entry »

The paper published by the Vaad Halacha of the RCA (for my previous posts thereon, see here and here) has definitely achieved one of its unstated but obvious purposes: it has generated a flurry of activity. It is my sincere hope that this activity will not be restricted to blogs and newspapers, but will also lead to a reappraisal by today’s major posqim.

Here is are some of discussions I consider noteworthy, along with some editorial comments [UPDATED 2011-02-11 – split into two posts]: Read the rest of this entry »