Nathan Lopes Cardozo
ARTICLES BY: Nathan Lopes Cardozo
Parashat Ki Tetze: Rabbinical Courage and the Frozen Text
And it shall be, if the guilty one has incurred [the penalty of] lashes, that the judge shall make him lean over and flog him....
Jewish Law Requires Us to Protect the Environment
"When you besiege a city for many days to wage war against it to capture it, you shall not destroy its trees by wielding an...
We Must Achieve Unity, Despite Our Divisions
In our day, the word "tolerance" has become very popular, as have words such as "pluralism," "democracy," and "unity." These terms are used so often...
The Revelation Is Taking Place Today
“Be Careful and Guard your Life Diligently, Lest You Forget The Events That Your Eyes Saw.” (Devarim 4:9) In the Pirkei Avot, we find a rather radical...
Tish’a B’Av — The Ninth of Av: Who Needs the Temple?
One of the most puzzling elements of Jewish tradition is the institution of the Temple and its sacrificial rites. Although the Temple served many purposes,...
The Search for God: The Greatness and the Present Setback of Halachic Living
There is little doubt that Halacha greatly complicates life for the religious Jew. There is no other religion that requires so much dedication and includes...
A Scandalous Halachic Decision Disgraces Ethiopian Jews — and Judaism Itself
When I joined the Jewish people as a young man of 16 -- being the child of a mixed marriage -- I could not have...
Only the Weak Use Force and Coercion to Get Their Way
The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, "Since you did not have faith in Me to sanctify Me in the eyes of the children of...
Parshat Korach: Finding Happiness in Others’ Success
They assembled against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, "You take too much upon yourselves, for the entire congregation are all holy, and the...
Parasha Shelach: Speaking Lashon Hara About the World
They spread an [evil] report about the land which they had scouted, telling the children of Israel, "The land we passed through to explore is...
Why a Second Yom Tov?
One of the most puzzling laws in Halacha (Jewish law) is the requirement to observe a second Yom Tov (festival day) in all Jewish communities...
The Deeper Meaning of Shavuot — Balancing Authenticity and Norms
One of humanity’s strongest longings today is the need for authenticity. We want to be ourselves -- or to become ourselves. We admire childrens' spontaneity, because they...
Parshat Bechukotai: To Have or To Be, That Is the Question
“Your threshing season will last until your grape harvest and your grape harvest will last until the time you plant. You will have your fill...
A Forgotten Mission: The True Responsibility of Being Jewish
There is a high price to pay for living as a Jew. One must be holy in order to be accepted. One is commanded to...
