Beliefs & Practices

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Reinterpreting Tefillin

Some interpretations of the meaning of tefillin have faded, and others have been invented to take their place.

The Free Will Problem: Medieval Approaches

In the Middle Ages, Jewish thinkers struggled to reconcile God's knowledge of the future with human choice.

Modern Jewish Philosophy

Jewish thought in modern times has been shaped by radically new political realities.

The Free Will Problem: Early Solutions

Biblical and rabbinic sources stress both divine determinism and human freedom.

Hardened Hearts: Removing Free Will

The Bible records several problematic instances of God hardening human hearts, seemingly stripping them of free will.

Divine Providence

According to some thinkers, God only watches over people in a general way; according to others, divine providence extends to the minute details of life.

Preventing Dependency

"Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime." How many fish do we buy, and how many nets?

Rashi and Rabbenu Tam: Two Sets of Tefillin

Evidence from Qumran shows that the medieval debate about the order of biblical passages in tefillin has ancient roots.  

Tefillin: Spiritual Significance

The details of this precept, using powerful symbols of allegiance to divine law and of membership in the Jewish religious community, have been subject to many interpretations.

What Jews Believe About the Soul

The idea that the soul is the human instrument of spirituality became more prominent over the course of Jewish history.

The Transmigrating Soul: A Yiddish Folktale

The Transmigrating Soul. Jewish Reincarnation. Jewish Life After Death. Jewish Afterlife and Eschatology. Jewish View on Next Life. Jewish Ideas and Beliefs

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