When Temple Chai Rabbi Bonnie Koppell arrived in Arizona in 1987, people were shocked that she was a rabbi. She was the first woman rabbi in the state. Many times,
Ascent to Jerusalem for the Three Festivals (Aliyah L’Regel)
When the Temple stood, all males had to appear before the Lord for the three festivals (Exodus 23:14-17, 34:23-24, Deuteronomy 16:16). At what age did they have to come – at 13? 30? Also, did they have to come from the Diaspora? It seems unrealistic in those times that people who lived in Egypt or Babylonia would be able to make such a long trip three times every year. Lastly, was it realistic for so many people to converge on Jerusalem at once?
The Aish Rabbi Replies:
The obligation applied to all males from the age of 13 and up – which is the age of Bar Mitzvah – when a young man becomes obligated in the commandments. Exceptions were people who were elderly or unwell – or otherwise unable to make the trip (Mishna Hagigah 1:1), as well as a ritually-impure person and the uncircumcised. Another possible exception was someone who did not own land (see Tosafot, Pesachim 3b s.v. “mai’alyah”). There was also
Is the Oral Torah a Later Development?
My parents were both of the belief that only the Torah itself is sacred, and that the Talmud and the Oral Torah were developed much later. They were the attempt of self-appointed rabbis to interpret the Scripture, but it is not the Torah itself. My parents saw the Oral Law as having developed slowly over the years, adding layer upon layer upon the Torah itself – and that we should really just keep God’s word rather than the invented interpretations of the rabbis. I’m sort of confused about this topic myself and would like to hear your take. Do we have any way of knowing if my parents’ understanding is accurate or not?
King David Descended from Lot’s Daughters
Yesterday I was reading in Genesis the story of Lot’s daughters who bore children from him and begat the nations of Amon and Moab. It then struck me that since King David’s great-grandmother was Ruth the Moabite, it means that in some way this very immoral nation entered one of the most important families in Israel. How could that be?
The Aish Rabbi Replies:
It’s a very interesting point. The nations of Amon and Moab were founded on incest. It seems peculiar that Moab of all nations played such a great role in creating the House of David – and ultimately the Messiah son of David. Why did God will it that the kings of Israel would descend from such seemingly impure roots?