Philosophy

The West funds its own executioners in ideological war it barely realizes it is fighting - opinion

Institutional capture, ideological conformity, and foreign-backed authoritarian movements are challenging the individual freedoms that once formed the core of Western civilization.

A fullmoon rises over the Temple of Poseidon, the ancient Greek god of the seas, in Cape Sounion, east of Athens, Greece, July 8, 2017.
Caregivers from India in Efrat.

Serendipitous gifts are all around us: The invisible threads connecting Israelis in times of loss

“Stability is, in many ways, an illusion. Like a tightrope walker, we do not truly stand still - we remain upright by constantly adjusting and searching for balance.”

In a season of joy, rethinking happiness: Lessons from the tightrope

The Writer's wedding invitation from 1955, to take place in Melbourne’s St. Kilda  Synagogue.

Wedding invitation from 1955: A stroll through cherished memories - opinion


Why do good things happen to bad people? New book tracks answers

Thinking about Good and Evil - Jewish Views from Antiquity to Modernity by Rabbi Wayne Allen summarizes all the Jewish views on theodicy.

 THE DESTRUCTION of Sodom and Gomorrah by François de Nomé (called Monsù Desiderio), c. 1593-1650

When tragedy strikes, where is God?

And Moses said: “Please God, show me your system of justice.” — What does Jewish tradition and scholars say about God's role in human tragedy?

 DOES GOD exist, and if so,  how does He interface with the universe?

South African Chief Rabbi on searching for meaning

Moments of crisis provoke within us some of the deepest questions. We can try to ignore these gnawing questions; pretend they don’t exist, or seek truth.

 What is the essential difference between the vine and the olive tree?

Understanding the concept of infinity in Judaism

When we put our hands over our eyes during the Shema, we are close to understanding the kabbalistic understanding of infinity.

United Hatzalah founder and president Eli Beer closes his eyes to recite the ‘Shema’ as he arrives at Ben-Gurion International Airport on April 21

How does Jewish peoplehood mesh with the American experiment?

As the United States of America celebrates its Independence Day, it bears merit to question how the Jewish concept of "chosenness" meshes with American republican ideals.

INDEPENDENCE DAY celebrations in Washington, July 4, 2020.

Advice on how to put things in perspective

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when the COVID pandemic or the political turmoil is driving you to despair, remember the large jar and the two cups of coffee.

Friends enjoy coffee at a cafe in Jerusalem.

‘Democracy’s Future’ focus of Night of Philosophy

Former French justice minister Robert Badinter, famous for abolishing the guillotine in 1981, is among the 25 scheduled speakers who will address questions of common values.

Yoel Boltvinik and Ari Ben Arie

Indifference, hatred are symptoms of madness gripping the world - opinion

There is a way to argue that is civil and humble. Sadly, it is too often abandoned or ignored because each side thinks that it is the arbiter of truth and the other is the enemy

Statue of Rumi (1207-1273) in Buca, Turkey. Photograph by Faik Sarıkaya/wowTURKEY.com.

Dutch philosopher calls Diaspora ‘blessing’, prevented Jews to have power

Hans Achterhuis, the first recipient of the prestigious and royally recognized title of “thinker of the Fatherland,” made the remarks in an interview on the role of religion in the modern state.

A church in Middlesboro, Kentucky, prays to a Star of David in a still from Maya Zinshtein's documentary "'Til Kingdom Come."

Education and democracy in crisis - opinion

In Israel, which is rife with disagreement over what might count as a good life and with those who seek to impose their concepts of the good on others, education should oppose the threat of tyranny.

Democracy, illustrative