Monthly Archives: ‍‍ Iyar / Sivan 5769 - May 2009

Natural Morality and Halakhah

Posted on ‍‍5 Sivan 5769 - May 28, 2009 by micha

What’s the relationship between a human’s intuitive sense of what’s moral and halachic mandate? There is a tendency in some circles to describe the Torah as though halakhah was the sum total of the guidelines Hashem gave us for behavior. … Continue reading →

Posted in Halachah, Yosher | 2 Comments

What does Hashem ask of you?

Posted on ‍‍27 Iyar 5769 - May 21, 2009 by micha

From the Ramchal’s introduction to Mesilas Yesharim (tr. R’ Aryeh Kaplan): This is what Moses our Teacher, may Peace be upon him, teaches us in saying: יב וְעַתָּה֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מָ֚ה יְ-הוָ֣ה אֱ-לֹהֶ֔יךָ שֹׁאֵ֖ל מֵֽעִמָּ֑ךְ כִּ֣י אִם־לְ֠יִרְאָה אֶת־יְ-הוָ֨ה אֱ-לֹהֶ֜יךָ לָלֶ֤כֶת בְּכָל־דְּרָכָיו֙ … Continue reading →

Posted in Dei`os | Leave a comment

1984, NewSpeak and the Holy Language

Posted on ‍‍20 Iyar 5769 - May 13, 2009 by micha

A long while back I wrote some thoughts on the dispute between the Ramban and the Rambam about what makes Hebrew the holy language, in the context of a general dispute over the context of qedushah. The Rambam says that … Continue reading →

Posted in Fundamentals | Leave a comment

How Great Are Your Works

Posted on ‍‍14 Iyar 5769 - May 8, 2009 by micha

Not my usual speed for a blog entry, but I saw this and was nispael (awed). It’s a video of what does on within a cell. How much Divine Wisdom there is in just one microscopic little spot within the … Continue reading →

Posted in Faith and Proof | Leave a comment

Emergency Doors

Posted on ‍‍14 Iyar 5769 - May 8, 2009 by micha

My current employer is meticulous about hanging mezuzos. He hired a rav who is an expert in this particular mitzvah, and he went around identifying every doorway. (Some of which are non-obvious, like where the metal between the tiles in … Continue reading →

Posted in Middos | Leave a comment