Jewish Thought and Philosophy

To think Jewishly is to stand at the edge of certainty and still choose to believe, question, and seek. Jewish thought lives in the tension between faith and doubt, law and freedom, eternity and change.

  • Debating

    How to Conduct a Dialogue, Discussion or Debate

    In Jewish Thought and Philosophy by Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo

    Dialogue and debate are essential parts of the sea of ideas that can enrich each and everyone of us. Unfortunately, serious debate on highly significant topics all too often moves from the topic at hand to unruly behavior (whether in an informal discussion between two parties, or in a public, formal setting). Guidelines for maintaining dignity are essential - both so that we are able to conduct the debate properly and so that we maintain our and our opponent's dignity. If we are truly dedicated to the true and free exchange of ideas, then even when we vehemently disagree with our opponent we will remain civil and learn something about his arguments and even ours.

  • Beer mug

    Kiddush in a German Beer Cellar

    In Jewish Thought and Philosophy by Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo

    Traditions - and all their miniscule details - can be extremely important for a society, a city and a country. Traditions exist in all forms, many of these do not elevate man (and unfortunately there are those that denigrate him), while others have the power to transform one's existence and raise one to a different plane. Judaism is a religion of ideas, but more so a religion that is involved in the practical, day-to-day activities of man. Indeed, "God is in the details" - our law and traditions, right down to their finest details - define us.

  • Chimpanzee

    Shemita: How not to be a Chimpanzee

    In Halacha, Jewish Thought and Philosophy and Parashat Behar by Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo

    What defines us? Is it what we do, or rather, who we are? If a human being is nothing more than the tasks he performs on a daily basis, then a mere chimpanzee can take his place and possible perform these tasks as well and even better. However, if we understand that the tasks themselves do not define us, but rather can act as a means to an end, as the means that allows us to realize our dreams, then only we can perform the tasks successfully over time. The Sabbatical year, Shemita, that we mark during the current year teaches us this important lesson; all that is left for us to do is to open ourselves to the Torah's teachings in this sphere.

  • An Open Letter to Rabbi Serfaty, The Portuguese-Spanish Synagogue, Amsterdam

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

    As an orthodox Rabbi who studied in the ultra-Orthodox Gateshead Yeshiva in England for many years and who has read all of Spinoza’s works, I am of the opinion that Spinoza sometimes deliberately misrepresents Judaism. I am also aware that Spinoza wrote remarkable, noble observations about human beings, nature and society which have helped all of us. I strongly object to deeming anyone who studies, researches and teaches Spinoza a “persona non grata.”

  • Man against horizon

    Happiness: Crawling Through One’s Own Web

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

    Question: My whole life I saved and saved, and as a result lived a very modest life - I was always told to prepare for a rainy day. Now I am already toward the end my life, have amassed significant funds, and am able to leave an inheritance for my children. However, on reflection I feel something is missing... did I live my life correctly?

  • The Wisdom of the Bus Driver: Love Your Fellow As Yourself!

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

    Loving one's fellow as oneself is a central tenet and practical commandment of our religion. And yet, as simple as it sounds, its application is extremely difficult. Even those well-versed in the intricacies of the significance and laws governing this precept have difficulty incorporating it into their inner selves and actions. On occasion, it takes the insight and words of a bus driver to properly inculcate this love for one's fellow.

  • Children’s Toys and Trivializing Torah

    In Jewish Thought and Philosophy by Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo

    Human beings are uniquely blessed with the faculty of imagination, and they possess nearly unlimited potential for constructive fantasy. Imagination is essential for advancement and progress throughout the world, which is also the case for Torah study. And yet, the sophistication invested in the production of toys for our children limits their processes of pretense, and thus the possibility for innovation and new insights in Torah learning.

  • The Mystery of the Missing Verse and the Problem of Evil

    In Jewish Thought and Philosophy by Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo

    There is a pasuk (verse), missing from the Torah, a verse that is the most important of all—without which the Torah is not complete! This missing verse should have been written before the first verse in the Torah: “In the beginning God created heaven and earth.” This verse should have told us why God “decided” to create heaven and earth, the millions of stars, black holes, animals, vegetation, and above all, human beings. The absence of this verse is deliberate—for there is no way to write it; it could only have been “written” in God’s personal “language” that is beyond the capability of humankind to understand. The implications of this missing verse have profound meaning for human existence.

  • A Short Introduction to God

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

    While in pantheistic and other non-monotheistic philosophies, the Divine has no moral input, nothing could be further from the Jewish concept of God. For Judaism, God is the source par excellence of all moral criteria. And yet, on occasion He Himself seems to violate these very moral criteria — such as in the case when He causes a devastating flood in the days of Noah. God is a conscious Being Who created the world with a purpose. And this world is real and by no means a mirage. The human being’s deeds are of great value, far from an illusion; they are the very goal of creation. Judaism objects to the pantheistic view of the human being since it depersonalizes him, ultimately leading to his demoralization.

  • Parashat Bereshit: The First Divine Commandment is to Enjoy the World

    In Jewish Thought and Philosophy and Parashat Bereshit by Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo

    It is often thought that God’s first commandment to Adam was the prohibition regarding the Tree of Knowledge. This would mean that man’s first encounter with the will of God was a negative experience: a restriction. However, this isn't actually true: This was not the first commandment! Careful analysis of the text shows that the first commandment to Adam and Chava was to eat from all the other trees and enjoy them.

  • Retirement Homes, Afterlife and the Denial of Death

    In Jewish Thought and Philosophy by Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo

    Only when we realize that our world has become barer and barer, and incapable of giving itself ultimate meaning is there hope that we may recapture the possibility of an afterlife Our denial of the afterlife and the need for a spiritual passport to continue the road has created enormous psychological problems.

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