Die hellen Flammen unserer Chanukká-Menorót sollen das Wunder bei der Wiedereinweihung des Bejt ha-Mikdásch publik machen. Der heidnische Götzendienst, den Antiochus Epiphanes eingeführt hatte, wurde abgeschafft: Alle Götzenbilder und alle Gegenstände, die zu ihrer Verehrung dienten, wurden zerstört, und diejenigen, die das Verbrechen der Entweihung des Bejt ha-Mikdásch begangen hatten, wurden aus Jerusalem und schliesslich auch aus den anderen jüdischen Städten in Israel vertrieben. Das Wunder, dass man ein kleines Fläschchen Öl fand, das noch tahór1 war und die Menorá im Tempel acht Tage brennen liess, kann man als Gottes Zustimmung zur Wiedereinweihung unseres heiligsten Ortes verstehen. Damit stellt sich die Frage, auf welche Weise man sich am besten an dieses Wunder erinnern sollte. Sollen wir das wachsende Staunen derer hervorheben, die das Wunder miterlebten und jeden Tag sahen, dass das Öl noch einen weiteren Tag reichte? Oder sollen wir betonen, dass das Öl überhaupt gefunden wurde, so dass das grösste Wunder am Beginn des Feiertags stattfand? Read the rest of this entry »
Wir dürfen das Licht nicht auslöschen
December 1, 2008
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Deutsch, Predigt | Tagged: Chanuká, jüdische Erziehung, Sukkót, חינוך, חנוכה | 
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Posted by Arie Folger
Not all that Glitters is Gold
November 12, 2008
The following English sermon was originally delivered in German on the first day of Sukkot 5768 (27th of September ’07) in Basel. It develops the Jewish notion of beauty and touches upon the meaning of the Sin of the Tree of Knowledge.
Not all that Glitters is Gold
The Torah commands us to take on Sukkot פְּרִ֨י עֵ֤ץ הָדָר – peri ‘etz hadar.1פְּרִ֨י עֵ֤ץ הָדָר mean and what can its name tell us about the impact and purpose of this mitzvah. I care to add that we can never fully explain a mitzvah. It is, by its nature, a Divine command, and can only be approached by man, not fully understood. Nonetheless, our questions are legitimate. What is פְּרִ֨י עֵ֤ץ הָדָר and what does it stand for? Read the rest of this entry »
Leave a Comment » | English, Sermon | Tagged: Etrog, Sukkót | Permalink
Posted by Arie Folger
Zur Einweihung der Synagoge Lörrach
November 9, 2008Heute, an dem 70. Jahrestag der Reichskristallnacht (eigentlich stimmt das nicht ganz. Die Reichskristallnacht war am Vorabend des 16. Marcheschwán 5698, der dieses Jahr, 2008, erst mit dem 13. November zusammenfällt, aber es sind immerhin genau 70 Sonnenjahre vorbei) wurde die neue Synagoge in Lörrach eingeweiht. Ich habe die Ehre gehabt, als rabbinischer Berater, dieses Projekt teilweise mitgestalten zu dürfen – einige Bilder findet man am Ende dieses Blog-Posts – und sprach heute zur Einweihung die folgende Grussbotschaft: Read the rest of this entry »
2 Comments | Deutsch, Predigt | Tagged: Lörrach, Mikwé, Reichstkristallnacht, Synagoge | Permalink
Posted by Arie Folger
What is a Qassam Rocket?
November 5, 2008Yesterday and today (4th & 5th of November), after several months of relative quiet, 20-30 Qassams were fired from the Gaza Strip over the Green Line, towards Ashkelon and the Negev (the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reports). [UPDATE 2008-11-14: the shelling continues, now in its ninth day!]
Qassams are crude, imprecise rockets, which the news media do not fail to mention. However, some descriptions do tend to arouse in the reader a feeling that Qassams aren’t really all that dangerous, they are merely some kind of glorified firework, such as in the following quote:
Qassam rockets are simple weapons that lack guidance systems and so are very inaccurate, though in recent years militants have produced ones with longer ranges able to penetrate deeper inside Israel.
(Source: CNN)
Technically, the quote is correct, but crucial background information is lacking. Last August, I visited Sderot on a joint mission of the leaderships of the Rabbinical Council of America and of Tzohar, an Israeli rabbinical organization. Below are some thoughts and two pictures that can bring some perspective to the Qassams threat. Read the rest of this entry »
Leave a Comment » | news | Tagged: Israel, peace, photo, Qassam, war | Permalink
Posted by Arie Folger
Jerusalem was Important, After All
November 2, 2008Some Archaeologists, particularly those who belong to the so called Minimalist school, have denied for years that the kings David and Solomon ever existed or ever reigned over a significant territory. The arguments between them and their opponents depend on highly technical issues, such as how to date layers of earth in which certain objects were found (stratigraphy), as well as how to date events in the Tanakh. However, it generally boils down to the question of whether Israel was had a significant monarchy in the 10th century BCE, which is deduced from the size of the remains of building of that period. Kings need forts, garrisons, industries, stabes, etc. Since, so argue the Minimalists, little evidence was found of any extensive buildings of that period, there were probably none.
1 Comment | news | Tagged: archaeology, Israel | Permalink
Posted by Arie Folger
The Sin of Drunkenness / Die Sünde der Betrunkenheit
October 31, 2008| The Sins of Adam and Noach Compared |
Die Sünde Adams und Noachs im Vergleich |
| Adam and Chava ate from the Tree of Knowledge and became aware of their nakedness. Noach planted a vineyard, brew wine, got drunk and became uncovered in his tent. At first sight, these are two very different incidents, which occured more than 1500 years apart. Furthermore, Adam and Chava ate, while Noach drank; Adam and Chava became aware of their nakedness, while Noach was unawareof his nakedness, as he had become uncovered while in a drunken stupor.These differences could prove that the two sins were thematically quite unlike one another, except for lesser known midrashim that broaden our knowledge about the Sin with the Tree of Knowledge (pun intended). | Adám und Chawá assen vom Baum der Erkenntnis und wurden davon bewusst, dass sie nackt waren. Nóach pflanzte einen Weinberg, baute Wein an, trank, wurde betrunken und in seinem Zelt entblösst. Auf dem ersten Blick geht es hier um zwei ganz unterschiedliche Ereignisse, die mehr als 1500 Jahr voneinander trennen. Ausserdem sind sie thematisch unterschiedlich: Adám und Chawá assen, während Nóach trank; Adám und Chawá wurden bewusst, dass sie nackt waren, während Nóach unbewussterweise, in seiner Betrunkenheit sich entblösste. Diese Unterschiede könnten beweisen, dass diese zwei Sünden keinen thematischen Zusammenhang haben, sei es denn, dass einige wenig bekannten Midraschím uns zu die Erkenntnis der Sünde des Baums der Erkenntnis und des Weinberges Nóachs bringen. |
2 Comments | Deutsch, English, Essay | Tagged: Adam, Chava, Noach, sexual morality, wine, עץ הדעת | Permalink
Posted by Arie Folger
Choshen Mishpat, Gift of the Jews
October 13, 2008This essay explores the moral importance of the conflict between Halakhah and temporal civil law. It was presented as a sermon to the Book Shemot, on the 28th of Tevet 5766 (28th of January ’06).
True Freedom of Conscience -by Rabbi Arie Folger
Halakhah is frequently at odds – in monetary matters – with applied Western law, such as, for example regarding the permissibility of charging interest on loans, the permissibility of charging certain fines, the validity of speculative contracts, the definition of unfair competition and more. However, the respective national constitutions are clear, the judicial power belongs to the civil courts and they need to take the instructions of the legislative branch into account. Many of us feel uneasy about the disagreement Halakhah has with the national secular legislative reality, and as a result, the Halakhah is either forgotten, or willfully ignored.
The tension between Halakhah and Western law evokes in us memories of accusations of double standards and disloyalty to our respective countries of citizenship or residence. Hence, many choose ignorance over knowledge, breech over observance. The major question is then: have we served the greater good of general society by adopting the single yardstick of law and ethics which our host society provides us with? Read the rest of this entry »
Leave a Comment » | English, Essay, Sermon | Tagged: Halacha, law, חושן משפט, פרשת משפטים | Permalink
Posted by Arie Folger
Financial Regulators Seek Out Choshen Mishpat
October 13, 2008This is just in from Time Magazine. There seems to be a growing interest in Jewish Civil Law (Choshen Mishpat) among economists, politicians and financial regulators, as is evidenced by this Time Magazine article, “The Financial Crisis: What Would the Talmud Do?” by David Van Biema.
I previously explored the conflict between Halakhah and secular civil law, as well as its moral importance, in the following essay:
Leave a Comment » | English, Predigt, Sermon | Tagged: ethics | Permalink
Posted by Arie Folger
Humans and Angels Tremble Alike in This Video Clip
September 21, 2008Rabbi Daniel Korobkin has just produced this timely 6 minute movie clip bringing the themes of the Unetane Toqef of the Rosh haShana liturgy alive. What do you think?
Note, Flash Player required (download it here).
Read the rest of this entry »
1 Comment | videos | Tagged: high holidays | Permalink
Posted by Arie Folger
Ist Jom Kippúr festlicher als Rosch haSchaná?
September 18, 2008
Rosch haSchaná gilt als richtiger Jomtów, ein Festtag, an dem man besondere Speisen isst und mit Familie und Freunden an dem Festtisch sitzt. Hingegen gilt Jom Kippúr als geistiger Tag, des Sündenbekennens, des Bereuens. Ist es aber vielleicht genau umgekehrt? Ist der Fasttag vielleicht doch festlicher als der Neujahrstag? Die festlichkeit Rosch haSchanás wird in der folgende Predigt, die meinem Buch “Ein lärmendes, reissendes Wildwasser” seinen Namen verleiht, erforscht. Read the rest of this entry »
Comments Off on Ist Jom Kippúr festlicher als Rosch haSchaná? | Deutsch, Predigt, Sermon | Tagged: high holidays, Hohe Feiertage | Permalink
Posted by Arie Folger
Mikolot Mayim Rabbim 