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Rabbi Israel Drazin[/caption]
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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The first Karaites began in Babylon. The founder was Anan ben David (740-795 CE). He and his followers rejected the authority of the rabbis and the Talmud. They claimed that the only source of religious law is the Bible’s literal wording. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
The history of rabbinical Judaism Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors
His Haggada’s most distinctive feature is its rich visual presentation. The 156-page volume contains nearly four dozen colorful images drawn from the art, inscriptions, monuments, and iconography of ancient Egypt. These images are not decorative embellishments; they are interpretive tools. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
‘Echoes of Egypt:’ A superb Haggada Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Opinion, Staff and Bylined ContributorsSome support for the view that Shakespeare was not an antisemite and possibly even a Jew comes from the speech by the Jew Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, delivered in Act III, Scene 1, of Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. The speech defends Jewish humanity in response to the mistreatment he suffered at the hands of some Christians. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Was Shakespeare Jewish? Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Opinion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & BroadcastExodus 13:17-18 states: “When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, ‘Lest the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.’ But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea.” [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Interesting interpretations of early Bible stories Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined ContributorsMaimonides describes the three steps that lead to behavioral change. First, recognize that what you are doing is wrong. Second, decide to change the behavior to a proper one. Third, begin practicing the new practice and make it a habit that you continue. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
An excellent New Year’s resolution Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Travel and FoodIn the fictional film ending, the Israelites hear of David and Batsheva’s adultery and murder of her husband, and huge crowds gather to stone Batsheva. David tells God he is entirely to blame (as if he could fool God) and tries to commit suicide to save the woman he loves. God accepts his plea, and he is forgiven. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Beware of Movies about the Bible Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and FoodWhen we understand what history is, when it began to be considered, how it changed over time, and what truth is, we will realize that history can’t be entirely accurate. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Do History Books Tell Us the Truth? Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USA1 Maccabees is more chronological and focuses on the military fight and initial victory. In contrast, 2 Maccabees addresses the religious aspects. It focuses on martyrdom, divine intervention, and the purification of the temple. Both show that there was more than a fight against the Seleucid Empire. It was also a Civil War—Jews against Jews, Cains against Abels. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
The Misunderstood Origin of Chanukah Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Jewish Religion, San Diego County, Staff and Bylined Contributorsshaped not only religious life for centuries but also the very contours of English literature and everyday language, poetry, prose, and literature of all kinds. Yet, it contains flaws—many of them. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
The King James Bible and Its Flaws Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined ContributorsThe ancient rabbis recognized the importance of ethics. They said such things as Derekherets kadmah l’Torah, “Proper behavior preceded the Torah itself.” [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Jewish Ethics Improve Upon Halakha Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors
Jospe’s central thesis is that interreligious pluralism is not only a moral, rational, and political necessity but also a philosophical and theological imperative rooted in Judaism’s own sources. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
‘Accepting and Excepting’: Readable and Profound Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors
His 326-page book has 14 chapters that discuss a wide range of essential subjects, including creation, the dignity of life, humanity imitating God, tikkun olam (repairing and perfecting the world), the struggle of life against death, the lesson of the Holocaust, and much more. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
‘The Triumph of Life’ is a Theology of Judaism Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Holocaust, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors
His family hid his Jewish roots from him until he turned 11. In 1931, when antisemitism was rampant in Hungary and Jewish lives were threatened, Krasznahorkai’s grandfather changed their family name from the Jewish-sounding name Korin to the now Hungarian-sounding one. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Nobel Prize Winning Author László Krasznahorkai Learned of Jewish Father at Age 11 Read More »
Antisemitism, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Staff and Bylined Contributors
Setsuzo Kotsuji, a Japanese scholar, university professor, and Japanese government official, … helped save thousands of Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi and Japanese persecution. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
‘Kotsuji’s Gift’ Tells of a Japanese Man’s Fight to Save Jewish Lives Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Holocaust, International, Israel, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Staff and Bylined Contributors