Dr. Israel Drazin served for 31 years in the US military and attained the rank of Brigadier General. He has a PhD in Judaic Studies and a Masters Degree in psychology and a Masters Degree in Jewish Literature. He is an attorney and a rabbi.
He developed the legal strategy that saved the military chaplaincies when its constitutionality was attacked in court, and received the Legion of Merit for his service.
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He was the scholar who recognized that the Aramaic translation Targum Onkelos took hundreds of items from the Tannaitic Midrashim, which were edited around 400 CE; therefore, the Targum must have been composed after that date, a period much later than had been widely accepted.
He is the author of more than 50 books, including a series of five volumes on the Aramaic translation of the Hebrew Bible, and a series of books on the twelfth century philosopher Moses Maimonides, a history of the legal case he handled, and dozens of books on the Bible.
His works, available on Amazon, include:
*A Rational Approach to Judaism and Torah Commentary
*Can’t Start Passover Without the Bread (Children’s Literature) ***
*For God and Country: The History of a Constitutional Challenge to the Army Chaplaincy
*Maimonides and the Biblical Prophets
*Maimonides: Reason Above All
*Maimonides: The Exceptional Mind
*Mysteries of Judaism (Maimonides and Rational)
*Mysteries of Judaism II: How the Rabbis and Others Changed Judaism
*Nachmanides: An Unusual Thinker
*Onkelos on the Torah Understanding the Bible Text (5 Volume Set)**
*Onkelos on the Torah (Book 1: Genesis) **
*Onkelos on the Torah (Book 2: Exodus) **
*Onkelos on the Torah (Book 3: Leviticus) **
*Onkelos on the Torah (Book 4: Numbers) **
*Onkelos on the Torah (Book 5: Deuteronomy) **
*Sailing on Moti’s Ark on Sukkoth (Children’s Literature) ***
*Stories that Teach the Truth: Ecclesiastes, Tobit, Susanna, and Other Stories.
*Studies in Onkelos (Hebrew edition)
*Targum Onkelos to Exodus [2]: An English Translation of the Text with Analysis and Commentary
*Targum Onkelos to Leviticus [3]: An English Translation of the Text with Analysis and Commentary
*Targum Onkelos to Numbers [4]: An English Translation of the Text with Analysis and Commentary
Targum Onkelos to Deuteronomy [5]: An English Translation of the Text with Analysis and Commentary
*The Authentic King Solomon
*The Tragedies of King David
*Understanding Onkelos
*Unusual Bible Interpretations: Five Books of Moses (Maimonides and Rational)
*Unusual Bible Interpretations: Hosea
*Unusual Bible Interpretations: Jonah and Amos
*Unusual Bible Interpretations: Joshua
*Unusual Bible Interpretations: Judges
*Unusual Bible Interpretations: Ruth, Esther, Judith
*What’s Beyond the Biblical Text? **
*Who Really Was the Biblical David?
*Who Was the Biblical Prophet Samuel?
** Co-Authored with Stanley Wagner
** Co-Authored with Leba Lieder
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Despite Leviticus dealing with the no longer existing tabernacle and the priests who functioned in it, the book contains important lessons for us today. The following are three such lessons in the portion Shemini (9:1-11:46) as seen by the rational thinker Shadal. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Three Lessons in This Week’s Torah Portion Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors
How should we respect all living things? How can we respect other humans when we are anxious about them, even consider some our enemies? [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Conquering Anxiety and Respecting Our Enemies Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined ContributorsSamuel David Luzzatto (1800-1865), known as Shadal based on the initials of his name, was brilliant. Many people enjoyed his common-sense interpretations of the Torah. However, human nature is what it is; some people dislike and criticize his writing. Some even said he was not religious. I disagree. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Shadal’s Rational Views on Leviticus Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors
David Friedman served as US ambassador to Israel from 2017 to 2021. He was intimately involved in Israel-Arab affairs, met and held talks with leaders of both sides, and was one of the architects of the Abraham Accords. He demonstrates in his brilliant 2024 book One Jewish State why a two-state solution is based on flawed premises and will ultimately fail to solve anything. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Book by Former Ambassador Lays Out the Argument for One Jewish State Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USAThe ending of the Book of Exodus teaches that true freedom comes when we are neither the puppets of fellow humans or God but live a life where we improve ourselves, be all we can be, and help other people and all that God provided in the universe. (Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin)
Pekudei Teaches That Humans Should Rely on Themselves Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined ContributorsSadducees insisted that the Sabbath home must not have a fire burning on the Sabbath. It must be dark, sometimes even cold and gloomy. Pharisees interpreted the verse to restrict igniting a new fire on the Sabbath, and contrary to the Sadducees, they saw the Sabbath as a day of light, warmth, and joy. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Religious Disputes Through Time Destroyed Nations Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined ContributorsThe ninth weekly biblical reading in Exodus, Ki Tissa (30:11-34:35), tells us significant details about God, the Torah, and the Shabbat, revealing deep meaning and significance that should affect our thinking and behavior. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Hidden Meanings in Ki Tissa Torah Portion Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined ContributorsMoses commands the people to remember Amalek: “Remember what the Amalekites did to you on the way when you left Egypt weary and worn out from your journey. They attacked all lagging in the rear, without fear of God.” [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
The Command to Remember Read More »
Antisemitism, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined ContributorsHe wrote many books, including a series called The Rational Bible. I find much in them interesting, but I differ from him because he takes Bible stories literally and is usually convinced that the events really happened. I see many events as parables and read many statements as metaphors, hyperbole, and poetry. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Agreements and Disagreements with Dennis Prager Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, News Media, Opinion, Staff and Bylined ContributorsThe idea established by Jewish ancestors to read the entire Pentateuch yearly and derive benefits from it is very sensible. But very few people take advantage of this gift. They pay scant attention to the Torah reading in the synagogue, do not bother to read it at home, and get as much out of the portion as people who never open the Bible and mock people who read it. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Common Sense Teachings in Terumah Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined ContributorsThe weekly biblical portion of Mishpatim (Exodus 21:1-24:18) contains many common-sense rules demonstrating how the Torah humanized ancient laws in other cultures. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Common Sense Laws in Mishpatim Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined ContributorsThe Decalogue, which most people mistakenly call “The Ten Commandments,” is contained in the fifth Exodus biblical portion, Yitro, which Moses repeats with many changes in the fifth chapter of Deuteronomy. Some Jewish philosophers, rabbis, and non-Jews disagreed over what exactly the Bible was saying in these statements. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
What Do the Ten Commandments Really Say? Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Dr. Shapiro reveals Rabbi Kook’s surprising, sometimes radical, and breathtaking ideas, prompting us to rethink what we have accepted as sensible. It is the best book I have read in years. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Rav Kook’s Unique Vision Told by Author Marc B. Shapiro Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Our regular readers will not be surprised that in this book he poses answerless questions intended to make us think. He speculates about the sacred and the mundane, inquiring in chapter 30 “What do we know about God?” and in chapter 26 about “Ethical behaviors concerning shoes.” [Donald H. Harrison]
Rabbi Drazin’s Speculations Generate an Eclectic Book Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Trivia, Humor & Satire