Comments for Rabbi Denker thinks http://www.rabbidenker.com Through his blog www.rabbidenker.com and this podcast, Rabbi Steven Denker presents his take on the affairs and concerns of the Jewish people and all humanity in the light of Jewish values from his vantage point as an American congregational rabbi. Enjoy. Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:58:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 Comment on Parshat Yitro by Joel Greenberg http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RabbiStevenDenkerBlogComments/~3/UH6jDCW6s10/ Joel Greenberg Sun, 14 Feb 2010 21:12:36 +0000 http://www.rabbidenker.com/?p=46#comment-65 This was great insight as to the relationship between the law of today and that of the Torah. This was great insight as to the relationship between the law of today and that of the Torah.

]]> http://www.rabbidenker.com/parshat-yitro/#comment-65 Comment on Parshat Yitro by Rabbi Denker http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RabbiStevenDenkerBlogComments/~3/DxiYC7BlJNE/ Rabbi Denker Sun, 07 Feb 2010 17:02:05 +0000 http://www.rabbidenker.com/?p=46#comment-61 Dear Lillian - Thank you for your comment. Of course I agree. I should add that in Judaism our leaders are not just held to the same standards as everyone else but that they are frequently held to higher standards. At the very least the often receive more serious punishments. In a Jewish court "years of public service" or "prior philanthropy" would not be an argument for a lighter sentence. Rabbi D Dear Lillian - Thank you for your comment. Of course I agree. I should add that in Judaism our leaders are not just held to the same standards as everyone else but that they are frequently held to higher standards. At the very least the often receive more serious punishments. In a Jewish court “years of public service” or “prior philanthropy” would not be an argument for a lighter sentence. Rabbi D

]]> http://www.rabbidenker.com/parshat-yitro/#comment-61 Comment on Parshat Yitro by Lillian Schlachter http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RabbiStevenDenkerBlogComments/~3/w8lL9ssvAgk/ Lillian Schlachter Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:35:47 +0000 http://www.rabbidenker.com/?p=46#comment-59 Your last insights re that our leaders must be held to the same standards as everyone else, makes sense as it follows the other guidelines suggested by Yitro on how to be a responsible administrator. If only our leaders today would follow these words. When egos are involved it is very hard to give up control. Your last insights re that our leaders must be held to the same standards as everyone else, makes sense as it follows the other guidelines suggested by Yitro on how to be a responsible administrator.
If only our leaders today would follow these words.
When egos are involved it is very hard to give up control.

]]> http://www.rabbidenker.com/parshat-yitro/#comment-59 Comment on Parshat VaYhei by Milton http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RabbiStevenDenkerBlogComments/~3/rDiEx7XKAaI/ Milton Thu, 14 Jan 2010 05:10:01 +0000 http://www.rabbidenker.com/?p=40#comment-53 The Rybal's interpretation was a wonderful lead in to your very important concluding point. As this debate unfolds, it is useful for us remember that we too were "undesirable" immigrants at the turn of the last century, doing the work others care not to do. But at the same time, your first explanation seems the more likely one, if I many (as has occurred before) disagree. ;) A question: You referred to Jacob as a Cananite and as coming from the land of Israel. I assume there was a reason for the different usages. Would you please elucidate? The Rybal’s interpretation was a wonderful lead in to your very important concluding point. As this debate unfolds, it is useful for us remember that we too were “undesirable” immigrants at the turn of the last century, doing the work others care not to do.

But at the same time, your first explanation seems the more likely one, if I many (as has occurred before) disagree. ;)

A question: You referred to Jacob as a Cananite and as coming from the land of Israel.
I assume there was a reason for the different usages. Would you please elucidate?

]]> http://www.rabbidenker.com/parshat-vayhei/#comment-53 Comment on Parshat Toldot by Spencer Richman http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RabbiStevenDenkerBlogComments/~3/KCf-Z_oefMA/ Spencer Richman Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:43:25 +0000 http://www.rabbidenker.com/?p=29#comment-40 Thanks for the insights. I really enjoyed it. When you mentioned that after the sacrifice of Isaac which didn't happen, Isaac never spoke to Abraham again, it made me wonder whether that fact was explicitly stated in the Torah or if there simply was no evidence of them speaking? It seems these two possibilities could lead to very different interpretations of that fact. Thanks for the insights. I really enjoyed it.
When you mentioned that after the sacrifice of Isaac which didn’t happen, Isaac never spoke to Abraham again, it made me wonder whether that fact was explicitly stated in the Torah or if there simply was no evidence of them speaking? It seems these two possibilities could lead to very different interpretations of that fact.

]]> http://www.rabbidenker.com/parshat-toldot/#comment-40 Comment on Parshat Toldot by Rabbi Elana Zaiman http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RabbiStevenDenkerBlogComments/~3/phuoTAc3Q9s/ Rabbi Elana Zaiman Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:27:34 +0000 http://www.rabbidenker.com/?p=29#comment-39 Great Blog, Rabbi Denker, I enjoy reading and listening to your weekly parsha thoughts. It's not exactly like being in your presence, but it's as close as I can get living as I do in Seattle. Your comments are always relevant, honest, insightful, and wise, and speak to the reader/listener on many different levels. I enjoy studying with you. Thanks for taking the time to post on a weekly basis. Keep them coming. I'm a fan. b'shalom, Rabbi Elana Zaiman Great Blog, Rabbi Denker,

I enjoy reading and listening to your weekly parsha thoughts. It’s not exactly like being in your presence, but it’s as close as I can get living as I do in Seattle. Your comments are always relevant, honest, insightful, and wise, and speak to the reader/listener on many different levels. I enjoy studying with you. Thanks for taking the time to post on a weekly basis. Keep them coming.

I’m a fan.

b’shalom,

Rabbi Elana Zaiman

]]> http://www.rabbidenker.com/parshat-toldot/#comment-39 Comment on Parshat VaYera by Milton http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RabbiStevenDenkerBlogComments/~3/u_QGsxlHGyw/ Milton Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:48:02 +0000 http://www.rabbidenker.com/?p=25#comment-33 Well, if Abraham was anything like the community in the Exodus, I think #1 is sits better with me. Back to Lekh Lekha, which I got to only today. If your analysis regarding the second lesson of the parsha is correct, which I believe it is, is not one implication that the invasion of Gaza and the economic noose around it now has at least some self-defeating consequences for Israel? Gut Shabbos, Rebbe. Well, if Abraham was anything like the community in the Exodus, I think #1 is sits better with me.

Back to Lekh Lekha, which I got to only today. If your analysis regarding the second lesson of the parsha is correct, which I believe it is, is not one implication that the invasion of Gaza and the economic noose around it now has at least some self-defeating consequences for Israel?

Gut Shabbos, Rebbe.

]]> http://www.rabbidenker.com/parshat-vayera/#comment-33 Comment on Parshat VaYera by Rabbi Denker http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RabbiStevenDenkerBlogComments/~3/Eg_XbYSF3Uc/ Rabbi Denker Fri, 13 Nov 2009 04:29:52 +0000 http://www.rabbidenker.com/?p=25#comment-32 Milton asks an excellent question. It could be said that God did intervene, with Pharaoh's illness and Avimelech's dream and would have done so, regardless of how Abraham had acted. Therefore, it could be said that Abraham still lacked faith in the covenant that had just been concluded with God. Another possible response is that God allows freewill and only intervenes in extreme situations. Milton asks an excellent question. It could be said that God did intervene, with Pharaoh’s illness and Avimelech’s dream and would have done so, regardless of how Abraham had acted. Therefore, it could be said that Abraham still lacked faith in the covenant that had just been concluded with God. Another possible response is that God allows freewill and only intervenes in extreme situations.

]]> http://www.rabbidenker.com/parshat-vayera/#comment-32 Comment on Parshat VaYera by Milton http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RabbiStevenDenkerBlogComments/~3/WGzPlJlGACk/ Milton Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:18:49 +0000 http://www.rabbidenker.com/?p=25#comment-31 Abravanel provides a good rational(ization), yet if God was looking out for Abraham and Sarah, why could they not have been protected even if the truth were told? Abravanel provides a good rational(ization), yet if God was looking out for Abraham and Sarah, why could they not have been protected even if the truth were told?

]]> http://www.rabbidenker.com/parshat-vayera/#comment-31 Comment on Heads they Win, Tails we Lose by Rabbi Denker http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RabbiStevenDenkerBlogComments/~3/hVscyJyuMI8/ Rabbi Denker Thu, 01 Jan 2009 15:06:59 +0000 http://www.rabbidenker.com/?p=20#comment-25 It has been generally acknowledged that Israel has done much better with both intelligence and execution than had happened in Lebanon. Getting the rockets to stop is, I believe, a realistic goal. Unfortunately, Fatah's own history of corruption and mismanagement in Gaza is what gave Hamas its political foothold with the population. This is a much harder 'target' to attack. Rabbi Steve Denker It has been generally acknowledged that Israel has done much better with both intelligence and execution than had happened in Lebanon. Getting the rockets to stop is, I believe, a realistic goal. Unfortunately, Fatah’s own history of corruption and mismanagement in Gaza is what gave Hamas its political foothold with the population. This is a much harder ‘target’ to attack.

Rabbi Steve Denker

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