Halacha

The Jewish Law

Halakhah is often translated as “Jewish law,” yet its literal meaning is “the way” — the path along which Jewish life unfolds. Rooted in the Torah and shaped through centuries of debate, interpretation, and responsa, Halakhah is not a static code but an ongoing conversation. It seeks to sanctify daily existence, bringing Divine presence into the concrete details of life.

  • chess board

    The Divine Insanity of Halachic Chess

    In Halacha and Jewish Thought and Philosophy by Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo

    Halacha is the greatest chess game on earth. It is the Jewish game par excellence. For people who want to live a life of great meaning and depth, nothing is more demanding and torturous while simultaneously uplifting and mind-broadening. They love the rules because they are the way to freedom. Certainly chess is just a game, while Halacha, if properly understood and lived, deals with real life, deep religiosity, moral dilemmas, emotions, and intuitions far more significant in a person’s life than a chess game.

  • Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo: How far can you push Orthodoxy?

    In Halacha by Yael Shahar

    Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo of Jerusalem shares his provocative thoughts on the flexibility of Jewish law.

  • The Sanctity of Shabbat and the Needs of the State of Israel

    In Halacha, Parashat Acharei Mot and Shabbat by Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo

    However much money Israel may make from hosting Eurovision, it is absolutely wrong and shameful that Israel’s leadership will allow violation of Shabbat on this occasion. It is self-evident that this has nothing to do with pikuach nefesh. Israel should cancel the Eurovision Song Contest if its organizers are not prepared to find a solution so that Israel can keep its head high and show the world what it means to stand for one’s principles.

  • Torah beyond Halakhah – Interview with Rabbi Cardozo – Part Two

    In Halacha, Jewish Thought and Philosophy and The Ishbitzer by Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo

    In last week’s Thoughts to Ponder (no 623), we published the first half of an interview with Rabbi Cardozo. At the end of his observations, Rabbi Cardozo discussed the codification and dogmatization of Jewish Law and religious beliefs as they took place in the diaspora and showed that these developments did not do justice to—and in fact opposed authentic Judaism. Here is the continuation of his arguments.

  • An Interview with Rabbi Cardozo: Taking Issue

    In Halacha by Yael Shahar

    Rabbi Cardozo presents a highly flexible view of Jewish law, suggesting that moral challenges in the Torah sometimes demand human protest—even against divine commands—making his approach both provocative and controversial.

  • Torah Beyond Halakhah – An Interview with Rabbi Cardozo

    In Halacha by Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo

    The Beauty of the Jewish tradition is that it is not always precise and consistent, because ife is not clear-cut or coherent. We need flexibility to work out the different opinions so that Jewish Law and beliefs stay fresh and thriving. The moment we codify or dogmatize it all, we destroy it.

  • Scandalous Halachic Decisions: Ethiopians and Wine

    In Halacha by Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo

    The ruling by the Eida HaHareidit that Ethiopian Jews are not fully Jewish is scandalous and deeply embarrassing. It disgraces Judaism and is as anti-Jewish as can be. This and many other rabbinical decisions are not part of the Judaism I converted to. I abhor them and want no part of them.

  • Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo: a bold advocate of halachic change

    In Halacha by Yael Shahar

    Rabbi Cardozo is not a systematic philosopher, but a smithy, sending sparks flying in all directions with each strike of his hammer in his effort to forge a new type of Orthodoxy. 

  • Jewish Law as Rebellion – Book Review

    In Halacha by Yael Shahar

    This review highlights Cardozo’s critique of contemporary yeshiva education, noting his concern that it discourages independent thinking and replaces depth with simplistic answers.

  • Jewish Law as Rebellion – An Interview

    In Halacha by Yael Shahar

    This wide-ranging interview explores Cardozo’s reputation as a boundary-pushing Orthodox thinker who challenges convention while insisting on deep loyalty to Halacha.

  • ברית מילה: מדוע לסכן את שלום ילדיכם?

    In Halacha and Jewish Thought and Philosophy by Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo

    היכולת המופלאה של העם היהודי לגבור על כל אויביו – מהמצרים ועד היוונים, הרומאים והפרסים... ועד לנאצים – בהחלט עשויה להיות תוצאה של אותה התערבות גופנית קטנה. המעשה אורך כמה שניות, אבל הוא יוצר נצח.

  • דרושה הלכה גואלת – על חובתה של ההלכה להתעלות מעל עצמה

    In Halacha by Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo

    ההלכה היהודית חייבת לנוע ולגדול, תוך שהיא לוקחת בחשבון התפתחויות עולמיות שונות ומובילה אותן. וכל זאת יכול לקרות רק אם היא זורמת ומאפשרת מידה גדולה של גמישות, מה שקודיפיקציה לא יכולה להציע. ודאי שיש צורך במידה מסוימת של קונפורמיזם, בדיוק כפי שפועל חוק אזרחי.

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