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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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He made two significant contributions to Jewish thought, both controversial and not accepted by all scholars, one dealing with the Talmud and the other with the Torah. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Book about David Weiss Halivni Can Prompt People to Consider Self-Improvement Read More »
Israel, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Science, Medicine, & Education, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USAMany nations used military chaplains before and after the time of Moses. Military chaplains provided spiritual and moral support to soldiers. The US Chaplain Corps was established on 29 July 1775 when the Continental Congress authorized one ordained Chaplain, serving at the rank of Captain, for each regular regiment of the Continental Army. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Military Chaplains Date from Biblical Times Read More »
International, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined Contributors, USAThe earliest manuscripts of the Torah and New Testament were not like today’s texts. The Bibles were written without spaces in between words. The Hebrew manuscripts did not have vowels, chapters, or verses. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
The History of the Hebrew Bible Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined ContributorsJewish wedding ceremonies are filled with symbolism. The fundamental elements of a wedding are the chuppah (the wedding canopy), the statement made by the groom to his bride, in which he declares his intention to take her as his wife, and her acceptance of him. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
The Origin of the Jewish Wedding Ceremony Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Staff and Bylined ContributorsThe Jewish leadership reacted to the mass conversions after 1391 by attempting to convince their lost brethren to return to Judaism, pointing out what they considered to be the illogical elements of Christian belief. One of the attempts was a short book written by Hasdai Crescas in 1398, The Refutation of the Christian Principles. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
A Jewish Philosophy with Unintentional Christian Beliefs Read More »
Antisemitism, Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined ContributorsThe seventh weekly biblical portion in Numbers is Balak (22:2-25:9). It is the tale of the non-Jewish prophet Balaam, whom the non-Israelite King Balak hired to curse the Israelites, hoping the curse would weaken them. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Why did these sources, which were accepted as accurate by many Jews, teach that there are Torah laws that people are unable to understand?
Unfortunately, this mistranslation is necessary. It acknowledges that many Jews cannot understand even some very sensible laws. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Why Did Judaism Mistranslate an Important Word? Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined ContributorsIn the prior portion, in Numbers 15:32-36, the Torah describes the event of a man who was discovered violating the Shabbat by gathering wood on the holy day. He was brought to Moses, Aaron, and the entire assembly and was placed in custody because it was unclear what should be done to him. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Why Did Korach Rebel against Moses? Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined ContributorsMoses sent spies to Canaan to report on what they saw in the land toward which the Israelites were heading. Ten of the twelve spies brought back reports that frightened the Israelites. Only two, Joshua and Caleb, brought positive accounts. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Why Caleb, not Joshua, Reported to Moses about Canaan Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined ContributorsAdon Olam is one of the dearest songs sung during synagogue services. It is recited or sung at different times in different countries, usually at the end of the Shabbat and holiday morning service. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
History and Translations of ‘Adon Olam’ Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined ContributorsThe two versions of Maimonides’ principles, Ani Ma’amin and Yigdal, were composed after Maimonides wrote the principles. Yigdal has many melodies. In 1950, Leonard Bernstein set the hymn to music. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
Yigdal and Maimonides’ 13 Principles Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined ContributorsThe two words of the Friday night poem/song “Shalom Aleichem” are a traditional Jewish greeting, meaning “may you have peace.” The poem has the reciters and singers greet angels and ask them for blessings of peace and protection. [Rabbu Dr. Israel Drazin]
A New Translation of the ‘Shalom Aleichem’ Prayer Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined ContributorsThe Shema is central to Judaism. Although a divine command and not a prayer, it is the main reading in the morning and evening services, Shacharit and Maariv. It is one of many biblical sections that contains wording that was not intended to be taken literally. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
A Modern Translation of the Shema Read More »
Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish Religion, Staff and Bylined ContributorsThe word Hatikvah means “The Hope.” It is the first stanza of a poem written by Naphtali Herz Imber (1856-1909), a Jewish Hebrew-language poet from Złoczów, now called Zolochiv, Ukraine, then part of Austrian Galicia, in 1878. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]
The Meaning of ‘Hatikvah’ Read More »
Israel, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Staff and Bylined Contributors