tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82388037613217373192024-02-20T16:07:02.400-08:00NISHMA FORUM: CommentaryRabbi Ben Hechthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13424122479105225620noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238803761321737319.post-20461112645800562162011-11-14T12:58:00.000-08:002011-11-14T12:59:22.901-08:00Halachic Movement<a href="http://www.nishma.org/articles/commentary/movement.html">Available on the Nishma website.</a>Rabbi Ben Hechthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13424122479105225620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238803761321737319.post-22044713445479888232011-08-11T12:22:00.000-07:002011-08-12T09:30:12.320-07:00The Real Issue of Intelligent Design<a href="http://www.nishma.org/articles/commentary/design.html">Available on the Nishma website.<span style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Buttons"><span class=" down" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_CreateLink" title="Link" onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);FormatbarButton('richeditorframe', this, 8);ButtonMouseDown(this);"><img src="img/blank.gif" alt="Link" class="gl_link" border="0" /></span></span></a>Rabbi Ben Hechthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13424122479105225620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238803761321737319.post-68245539444045874472010-11-28T15:07:00.000-08:002010-11-28T19:20:41.219-08:00The Need for Policy<a href="http://www.nishma.org/articles/commentary/policy.html">Available on the Nishma website.</a>Rabbi Ben Hechthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13424122479105225620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238803761321737319.post-1822374003782857022010-11-16T21:08:00.000-08:002010-11-16T21:08:00.502-08:00Eilu v'Eilu: Value of Choice or Value of Complexity<a href="http://www.nishma.org/articles/commentary/complexity.html">Available on the Nishma website.<br /></a>Rabbi Ben Hechthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13424122479105225620noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238803761321737319.post-66358721527948888412010-11-15T23:39:00.000-08:002010-11-17T07:23:35.960-08:00YATED AND YCT: Substance and Methodology<a href="http://www.nishma.org/articles/commentary/yated.html">Available on the Nishma web site</a>Rabbi Ben Hechthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13424122479105225620noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238803761321737319.post-45765417163482596912010-11-15T21:53:00.000-08:002010-11-17T07:25:10.087-08:00CHANUKAH: A Battle for Freedom of Religion?<a href="http://www.nishma.org/articles/commentary/chanukah.html">Available on the Nishma web site</a>Rabbi Ben Hechthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13424122479105225620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238803761321737319.post-13162411641298368112010-11-15T21:19:00.000-08:002010-11-17T06:48:01.686-08:00Special Discussion Forum: Credo 13Credo 13 was a 13 episode tv program about Maimonides Principles of Faith. These episodes can now be seen on Koshertube at<br /><a href="http://koshertube.com/videos/index.php?searchword=credo+13&ordering=&searchphrase=all&option=com_search">http://koshertube.com/videos/index.php?searchword=credo+13&ordering=&searchphrase=all&option=com_search</a><br /><br />As Nishma was involved in the production of this program, we initiated a discussion forum for it. This discussion forum can now be viewed at <a href="http://specialnishmaforumoncredo13.blogspot.com/">http://specialnishmaforumoncredo13.blogspot.com/</a>. You are invited to participate.Rabbi Ben Hechthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13424122479105225620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238803761321737319.post-70403111033088482142010-11-14T08:53:00.001-08:002010-11-16T18:40:24.543-08:00The Euthyphro Argument: A Philosophical Dinosaur<a href="http://www.nishma.org/articles/commentary/euthyphro.html">Available on the Nishma web site</a>Rabbi Ben Hechthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13424122479105225620noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238803761321737319.post-33174676147049973042010-11-13T11:35:00.000-08:002010-11-15T16:16:48.457-08:00THE SLIFKIN AFFAIR REVISITED - Part 4: The Challenge of Truth<a href="http://www.nishma.org/articles/commentary/slifkinrevisited4.html">Available on the Nishma web site</a>Rabbi Ben Hechthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13424122479105225620noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238803761321737319.post-16774984438599254142010-11-13T11:33:00.000-08:002010-11-15T16:10:44.619-08:00THE SLIFKIN AFFAIR REVISITED - Part 3: The Nature of Machloket<a href="http://www.nishma.org/articles/commentary/slifkinrevisited3.html">Available on the Nishma web site</a>Rabbi Ben Hechthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13424122479105225620noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238803761321737319.post-30705843716116954502010-11-13T11:31:00.000-08:002010-11-14T16:11:23.127-08:00The SLIFKIN AFFAIR REVISITED – Part 2: The Challenge of Eilu v’Eilu<a href="http://www.nishma.org/articles/commentary/slifkinrevisited2.html">Available on the Nishma web site</a>Rabbi Ben Hechthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13424122479105225620noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238803761321737319.post-15145050636293067512010-11-13T08:54:00.000-08:002010-11-17T07:22:15.904-08:00The Same Sex Marriage and Defining Discrimination<a href="http://www.nishma.org/articles/commentary/discrimination.html">Available on the Nishma web site</a>Rabbi Ben Hechthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13424122479105225620noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238803761321737319.post-37449774427245934762010-11-13T08:36:00.000-08:002010-11-14T11:38:01.326-08:00THE SLIFKIN AFFAIR REVISITED - Part 1: Issues of Tolerance<a href="http://www.nishma.org/articles/commentary/slifkinrevisited1.html">Available on the Nishma web site</a>Rabbi Ben Hechthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13424122479105225620noreply@blogger.com65tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238803761321737319.post-18487129320014230242010-11-12T23:29:00.000-08:002010-11-17T07:21:17.665-08:00Special Discussion Forum: Is Judaism Homophobic?While there is no Commentary article on this subject, <span style="font-style: italic;">per se</span>, Nishma has tackled this issue in a variety of other articles which can be accessed in <a href="http://www.nishma.org/hottopics.html#homophobic">our website's Hot Topics list under the topic "Is Judaism Homophobic?</a>" Included in that list was a <a href="http://www.nishma.org/isjudaismhomophobic.pdf">pamphlet, available as a pdf</a>, of the same title sent to many Jewish campus organizations. A further Nishma article on homosexuality and Judaism is "Essential Conflict Essential Study" from Introspection 5761-1 (which unfortunately is not yet available on the website).<br /><br /><br />Nishma is presently in the process of assisting in the distribution of the pamphlet "Is Judaism Homophobic?" -- written by David Benkof, a former gay activist who has become Torah observant -- in regard to Orthodox Judaism's attitude to homosexuality.<br /><br />Nishma's purpose in assisting in the distribution of this pamphlet is to promote discussion and debate on this most important topic. In keeping with Nishma's recognition of the halachic spectrum, it should be stated that the views expressed within this pamphlet are those of Mr. Benkof and do not necessarily reflect the only possible opinion within Torah. Yet, Mr. Benkof sensitively raises significant issues that demand our attention, including the very nature of love, sex and marriage. It is within this spirit that we invite you to join this discussion.<br /><br />In addition to viewing this brochure, while visiting our website, we invite you to look at the various articles in Nishma's Online Library in the Subject Matter Index under the heading "Sexuality and Homosexuality." We also invite you to look at the extensive series on the movie "Trembling Before G-d" available in our Commentaries section (accessible through the link to other Commentaries on our home page).Rabbi Ben Hechthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13424122479105225620noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238803761321737319.post-77735311172892733472010-11-12T20:52:00.000-08:002010-11-17T07:20:44.960-08:00The Gestalt<a href="http://www.nishma.org/articles/commentary/gestalt.html">Available on the Nishma website</a>Rabbi Ben Hechthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13424122479105225620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238803761321737319.post-30872065800241286572010-11-12T08:35:00.000-08:002010-11-14T09:05:34.733-08:00Freedom of Religion (with Comments on Halachic Tolerance)<a href="http://www.nishma.org/articles/commentary/freedomreligion.html">Available on the Nishma web site</a>Rabbi Ben Hechthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13424122479105225620noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238803761321737319.post-25353824790334076582010-11-12T08:33:00.000-08:002010-11-12T08:35:43.762-08:00The Middle East: The Perplexity of Din and Rachamim<a href="http://www.nishma.org/articles/commentary/cartoons.html">Available on the Nishma website </a>Rabbi Ben Hechthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13424122479105225620noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238803761321737319.post-80988003765596401522010-11-12T08:04:00.000-08:002010-11-12T08:05:28.358-08:00Evaluation and Definition: Comments on Wafa Sultan<a href="http://www.nishma.org/articles/commentary/cartoons.html">Available on the Nishma website </a>Rabbi Ben Hechthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13424122479105225620noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238803761321737319.post-81902288990290372212010-11-12T07:49:00.000-08:002010-11-12T07:51:23.239-08:00Cartoons, Amalek and Values<a href="http://www.nishma.org/articles/commentary/cartoons.html">Available on the Nishma website </a>Rabbi Ben Hechthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13424122479105225620noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238803761321737319.post-48100651502604905222010-11-12T07:17:00.000-08:002010-11-12T07:18:25.536-08:00Authority and Wisdom: The Slifkin Affair<a href="http://www.nishma.org/articles/commentary/slifkin.html">Available on the Nishma website</a>Rabbi Ben Hechthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13424122479105225620noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8238803761321737319.post-56346482610645314322010-11-12T06:56:00.000-08:002010-11-12T07:05:45.510-08:00Trembling Before G-dThe Commentary to the movie "Trembling Before G-d" was divided into 8 parts, each one dealing with a different aspect of the movie. All 8 parts are <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">accessible</span> through <a href="http://www.nishma.org/articles/commentary/commentaryindex.html">the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Nishma</span> website Commentary Index</a> in the <span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Arayot</span> </span>category. <a href="http://www.nishma.org/articles/commentary/commentaryindex.html"> </a>Rabbi Ben Hechthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13424122479105225620noreply@blogger.com2