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.
He introduces us to a game, “Where did I hear these words before? It shows us that by doing so, we can see Leviticus is not two but three-dimensional. He gives us a new, exciting, and deeper view of Leviticus. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Leviticus Made Easier to Understand by Rabbi David Fohrman Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USAGod did what is sensible. The world is, as the Hebrew Bible states, “Good.” It gives people free will. Humans cause evil in three ways. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
A Possible Solution Why There is Evil Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Opinion, Staff and Bylined ContributorsGod expects people to use their intelligence, learn how the laws of nature work and help themselves, to improve themselves, society, and the world generally. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
The Secret of the Book of Esther Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Middle East, Staff and Bylined ContributorsAlthough Moses and Bezalel were beyond suspicion, they set an example about using public funds. They felt the Israelites were entitled to a reckoning since the donated materials had initially belonged to them. As a result of their example, many people learn to do likewise. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Thoughts Prompted by the Tabernacle in Parasha Pekudei Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Dr. Samuel, the spiritual leader of Temple Beth Shalom in Chula Vista, California, translates the fables in a very readable manner that captures our interest and curiosity. He highlights the messages in each Tale and includes the parallel teachings in Jewish wisdom, including quotes from a vast collection of Jewish and non-Jewish thinkers, ancient and modern. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Aesop’s Fables Through a Jewish Lens Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Michael Leo Samuel-Rabbi, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined ContributorsIn Exodus 33:18-23, Moses asked God to tell him what God is. Moses requests God: “Please show me your glory,” meaning, “Show me what you are.” God replies that He will make the divine goodness pass before Moses. But He tells Moses that he cannot see God’s face. Moses should stand behind a rock. Then, only after God passes, “You will see my back, but my face will not be seen.” [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
What Can We Know About God? Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined ContributorsRashi’s commentaries are not original ideas. He drew fascinating stories from Midrashim and placed them into his commentary. Midrashim are books that collected fanciful, engaging stories written as parables and teaching aids − enjoyable and sometimes even exciting accounts − that, for the most part, were not originally intended to be understood as true history, or the true meaning of scriptural passages. However, Rashi and others, such as Nachmanides in the thirteenth century, took these tales as facts and used them to explain the Bible. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Rashi: Marvelous but Irrational Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined ContributorsMany readers will be surprised by the 82 pages of facts that Dr. Sperber reveals from both Jewish and non-Jewish sources about vegetarianism, how animals are treated, often in unhealthy ways for the animals and those who eat them, and how animals suffer. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Daniel Sperber’s Superb New Book: ‘Vegetarianism, Ecology, and Business Ethics’ Read More »
Business & Finance, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, The World We Share, Travel and Food, USAThe weekly portion of Mishpatim, Exodus 21-1-24:1, begins with laws concerning an eved ivri, translated “Hebrew Slave.” But the term is not explained. It continues with laws when a man sells his daughter as a slave, a death sentence to a person who kills another, the law of an accidental killing, the rule that holding on the altar does not protect a murderer, injuries are punished “an eye for an eye,” and striking a father or mother and kidnapping result in the death penalty. There are many more laws. The rabbis changed all of these listed laws. This is not unusual. As I will explain, the rabbis saw multiple hints in the Torah that the Torah wanted the change. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Some Facts about the Torah and its Laws Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish ReligionI agree with the Torah, Hillel, Akiva, Ben Azzai, and others that the first basic principle is to treat others as you want them to treat you. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
My List of Three Basic Principles of Judaism Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined ContributorsPhilo (25 BCE-50 CE) was the first Jewish philosopher to introduce the idea that there is such a thing as a soul that exists separate from the body. It contains the intellect and personality of a person. Platonic theories influenced him. He considered the soul to be eternal. However, he did not have the belief in reincarnation. The soul remained somewhere in limbo until the messianic age when it would be revived. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Is Reincarnation a Fact, a Lie, or True? Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined ContributorsCan we consider ourselves a moral society if we do not help needy people? The Greek philosopher Aristotle writes that man is a social being. Is it our nature that requires us to help others or something else? Author Ayn Rand took a different approach. She insisted that people should look out for themselves intelligently and be enlightened. Who is right? Is there a middle path? Should stronger nations help poorer nations? [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
This Week’s Torah Reading: Bo Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined ContributorsScholars, such as Azariah de’ Rossi, in his The Light of the Eyes, speculate that the anno mundi — also known as the Hebrew calendar — may have originated around the sixth century, after the Talmudic Period. While this seems to be the date of its origin, it was not until relatively recently that Jews began to use it. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Hebrew Calendar Based on Controversial Approximations Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined ContributorsExodus starts by stating that after Joseph and his generation died, and their descendants multiplied exceedingly, “a new king arose who did not know Joseph” (Exodus 1:8). This phrase has many interpretations. It could mean: “who did not fulfill Joseph’s decrees” (Targum Onkelos); he behaved as if he didn’t know Joseph (Babylonian Talmud, Sotah 11a); and he didn’t know him personally (Gersonides). Which makes the most sense? Should we say, “This is obscure”? [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Questions about the Biblical Weekly Portion Shemot Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion