Christians who listen to the Jewish saga begin to understand how Jews lived with themselves through the long centuries of persecution. Jews felt the power of conviction—of belief that if you are fortunate enough to possess the truth, you do not compromise or sacrifice it, even if it means that you continue on only as tiny fleck of mankind. http://www.patheos.com/Jewish/Christians-New-Jews-Yitzchok-Adlerstein-02-21-2013 Read more

Let the critics howl over the new Office of Religious Freedom – it’s about time we got a little more respect for religion in this country. On Tuesday, the Prime Minister announced Andrew Bennett as Canada’s new ambassador for religious freedom. The former Privy Council policy analyst with a doctorate in political science will launch the long-promised $5-million diplomatic initiative. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/commentary/religious-freedom-is-about-rights-not-politics/article8847095/ Read more

The Talmud teaches that one is required to get drunk on Purim until one cannot distinguish between “cursed is Haman and blessed is Mordechai”. The reason for this requirement is in order to recall the many miracles of the Purim story that actually occurred during the course of wine parties, such as Vashti’s downfall, Esther’s rise to royalty, and Haman’s execution. http://www.jidaily.com/1a376?utm_source=Jewish+Ideas+Daily+Insider&utm_campaign=0ecb8e935e-Insider&utm_medium=email Read more

Recent news of Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation has sparked speculation that more may be involved than the publicly cited reason that the Holy Father’s health no longer enabled him to continue in his role leading the Roman Catholic Church. Sources close to both the Pope and the Vatican have informed LIGNET that Benedict’s decision was brought on by his declining health in the context of a major power struggle within the Holy See. Two major appointments made by Benedict in... Read more

How is an interested nonbeliever to approach the study of Genesis? In his commentary on Genesis, The Beginning of Wisdom, Professor Leon Kass offers an illuminating analogy: the Torah opens with a text narrated by an unintroduced speaker. Kass likens this to the moment when God first spoke to Abraham without introducing Himself. Despite apparently having no prior experience with God, Abraham listened to this voice and embarked on a journey that ultimately transformed him and the course of human... Read more

Gilles Bernheim Whichever worldview you hold, it is clear that what is going on behind the slogan of “marriage equality” is a substitution: An institution fraught with legal, cultural, and symbolic significance would be replaced by a de-sexed legal category, thus undermining the foundation of individuals and of the family. In the name of equality and the struggle against discrimination, should we suppress all references to sexual difference in relations between citizens and the state, beginning with the marriage ceremony... Read more

With money as the biggest incentive for sperm donation, donors are set up to be absent fathers. Politicians, charitable organizations, academics, and donors themselves should counter the ills of sperm donation through law, journalism, and funding for anti-sperm donation advocacy. http://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2013/02/7574/?utm_source=RTA%20Smoot%20Sperm%20Donation%202&utm_campaign=winstorg&utm_medium=email Read more

Born Jewish, but converted to Christianity, Gustav Mahler was never a true believer in either. But did he believe in the divinity of his music itself? http://www.jidaily.com/5c1af?utm_source=Jewish+Ideas+Daily+Insider&utm_campaign=adcceff950-Insider&utm_medium=email Read more

Brad Hirschfield While some Jewish leaders have been troubled over the years by certain comments and actions by the outgoing pontiff, upon close examination, I think we see that there has been little if anything to be disturbed by, and much for which to be quite pleased. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/for-gods-sake/post/pope-benedicts-jewish-legacy/2013/02/11/b68c8516-74aa-11e2-95e4-6148e45d7adb_blog.html Read more

Commercialized sperm “donation” degrades and objectifies men, promotes a culture of irresponsible parenting, and hurts children conceived through donation. http://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2013/02/7571/?utm_source=RTA+Smoot+Sperm+Donation+1&utm_campaign=winstorg&utm_medium=email Read more