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Rabbi Dr. Raymond Apple

News and updates about Rabbi Dr. Raymond Apple

What would Moses think of us today?

What would he say about the abysmal lack of knowledge about Judaism of so many Jews?

What would Moses think of us today?

Rabbi Dr. Raymond Apple has passed away

Formerly the leading Jewish rabbinic spokesman in Australia, Rabbi and Mrs. Apple made aliya upon his retirement. His concise and well-chosen Divrei Torah were featured on Arutz Sheva for many years.

Rabbi Dr. Raymond Apple has passed away

Jews and astrology

What is the Jewish view of astrology? And for the Torah readings, why were two leaders necessary to take us out of Egypt? And what was the divine promise?

Jews and astrology

Orthodoxy and Reform

A distinction made by Rabbi Soloveitchik helps answer this recurrent problem.

Orthodoxy and Reform

Jewish Xmas greetings?

What can we wish non-Jewish friends during their holiday season?

Jewish Xmas greetings?

The silence of Abraham the "settler"

Abraham called himself a "settler" and knew that sometimes the best thing to do is keep quiet.

The silence of Abraham the "settler"

Vayera: The test of Isaac

The traditional view is that the story is a test of Abraham’s faith, which somehow involves Isaac.

Vayera: The test of Isaac

Praying for rain in Australia

Shmini Atzeret is not the rainy season in the Southern Hemisphere. What to do?

Praying for rain in Australia

Sukkot says a great deal about Judaism.

On Sukkot the agenda is not so much a credal theory of Providence but a pulsating feeling of joy.

Sukkot says a great deal about Judaism.

Out of the woodwork

|Kol Nidre, Neilah, Yizkor, always bring crowds to the synagogue, even if this is the only time they come during the entire year.

Out of the woodwork

The cantor's prayer

The moving cantor's prayer, the doubter's prayer. And the call to teshuva.

The cantor's prayer

Television in the home

What is wrong with tv - and is gambling a sin?

Television in the home

Should there be a synagogue for he nonreligious?

Can a house of worship be anything other than religious?

Should there be a synagogue for he nonreligious?

Shoftim: Judges in Jerusalem

The late Menachem Begin is often quoted as saying there are judges in Jerusalem, but the phrase is taken out of context.

Shoftim: Judges in Jerusalem

Keep it kosher

On kosher food, Mashiach, Free Will and the Jewish calendar.

Keep it kosher

Tisha B'Av - the fast that will become a feast

Can we posit the Problem of Good against the Problem of Evil, see the goodness in our universe, and accentuate the positive?

Tisha B'Av - the fast that will become a feast

Preparing for the 'Shabbat of Vision'

Words of wisdom before the Fast of the 9th of Av.

Preparing for the 'Shabbat of Vision'

The International Date Line and halakha

When you cross the date line in one direction you gain a day and the other way you lose a day. What happens to time-dependent mitzvas?

The International Date Line and halakha

Pinchas: The rights of Jewish women

In this parasha, women affirm their rights by respectfully turning to Moshe Rabbenu, who carefully addresses the question halakhically.

Pinchas: The rights of Jewish women

Grumps and grumbles

Insights into the Torah readings Chukat (Diaspora) and Balak (Israel)

Grumps and grumbles

Organ music in the synagogue

It is forbidden to play a musical instrument on Shabbat. And on weekdays in the synagogue?

Organ music in the synagogue

Is animal experimentation halakhically permissible?

In this case it is a question of measuring animal as against human rights.

Is animal experimentation halakhically permissible?

Body piercing in halakha

Judaism's view of alternations to one's skin, marital loyalty and ascetics.

Body piercing in halakha

Shavuot features: The Godless Commandments

The people who least care about religion are the ones who claim to live by the Ten Commandments.

Shavuot features: The Godless Commandments

When bad things happen to good people

Since the days when the prophets asked it, that has been the ultimate question.

When bad things happen to good people

Kaddish by women

There are voices on both sides of the debate.

Kaddish by women

Insights into the parasha: Why does G-d let us suffer?

Ask the Rabbi about Jewish suffering, why we are called a kingdom of priests, the 8th day of the week, keeping kosher - all in the parasha.

Insights into the parasha: Why does G-d let us suffer?

Blood libels

What is behind the blood libels? Are there four sons? Does the afikoman have special powers? And more.

Blood libels

Starting to learn Torah with Vayikra

Why the custom of teaching young children about purity in Temple rituals is even more important than it used to be.

Starting to learn Torah with Vayikra

Celebrating a baby

Insights into aspects of Judaism and this coming Shabbat's Torah reading.

Celebrating a baby

Mordechai the enigma

Interesting ideas about the Megillah and the Purim holiday.

Mordechai the enigma

Synagogues - a place for thinking

Congregants don’t always realise that the synagogue, especially in the Diaspora, has to be the centre of people’s Jewishness.

Synagogues - a place for thinking

Codes and customs - and ghosts

The written laws are not, however, the only expression of Jewish law. There is much more.

Codes and customs - and ghosts

Ten Commandments - or 613?

Most people say they keep the Ten Commandments but they don’t mention (or often don’t know of) the 613.

Ten Commandments - or 613?

A Tu B'shvat Alphabet

What are some of the aspects of the holiday of trees?

A Tu B'shvat Alphabet

Reconversion

Someone born to a Jewish mother who intermarried and who was raised a Christian would now like to live as a Jew. What is the halakha?

Reconversion

Can a Jew be an existentialist?

'Ask the Rabbi' questions and answers, including 'Where Were the Women?'

Can a  Jew be an existentialist?

What is the Jewish view of transsexuality?

Transsexuality differs in crucial ways from the two words describing sexual anomalies appearing in the Talmud.

What is the Jewish view of transsexuality?

How Mordechai triumphs on Hanukkah

We don't know for sure who he was, but he penned the inspiring song about G-d as Israel's savior that is sung every night of Hanukkah.

How Mordechai triumphs on Hanukkah

Bill Gates and charity

What is the best way to give charity, who should it be given to and how much should be given?

Bill Gates and charity

Vengeance in Psalms

How is it that there are such vengeful verses in the Book of Psalms?

Vengeance in Psalms

Your parents' sins

History and generations. When family history lays questionable baggage on your back.

Your parents' sins

Why does Hebrew go from right to left?

Why do other languages go from left to right?

Why does Hebrew go from right to left?

Ask the Rabbi:What is Kabbalah? What are Yibbum and Chalitzah?

Jewish mysticism defined and a rarely evoked Torah law explained .

Ask the Rabbi:What is Kabbalah? What are Yibbum and Chalitzah?

What did God really want at the Binding of Isaac?

God is saying"Offer up Isaac" and "Don’t offer up Isaac". Which is the real voice of God? And how do we deal with fear of the year ahead?

What did God really want at the Binding of Isaac?

Nitzavim: All stand, please. And if necessary, stand alone

Often, the individual can hide behind the community. Sometimes it is essential for him to face personal scrutiny, to stand alone.

Nitzavim: All stand, please. And if necessary, stand alone

Rosh Hashanah insights - Is all well?

Ask yourfself: Is it well with you? with your family? with your community?

Rosh Hashanah insights - Is all well?

Circumcision - is it justified?

Jewish men and women have in all ages been ready to lay down their lives in its observance. Why?

Circumcision - is it justified?

Women's voices

Religious IDF soldiers have been vilified for refusing to attend performances in which women singers appear. What is the issue?

Women's voices

Where did Jewish surnames come from?

Ask the rabbi: Surnames, walking aftere G-d, .blessings and curses.

Where did Jewish surnames come from?

Changing the Ten Commandments

Why was the wording altered in Va'etchanan?

Changing the Ten Commandments

Was Yeshua a Christian?

What did Jews think of him? Most had never heard of him; but both his supporters and opponents were Jews.

Was Yeshua a Christian?

Unchaining the Agunah

In Judaism, husband and wife must sever the relationsihp, hence a recalcitrant husband can mean a 'chained' wife.

Unchaining the Agunah

What is "Jewish time?"

Insights into Judaism: Jewish time, flying fringes, where to pray and more.

What is "Jewish time?"

What should be said in a eulogy?

Insights into a Jewish rite of passage and more..

What should be said in a eulogy?

Chaos is back

The deep meaning of the world "midbar" - translated "desert", but whose root is the same as that of speech - and more insights in Judaism.

Chaos is back

How Judaism views pornography

Judaism isn’t prudish, nor does it think that sex is wicked or shameful.

How Judaism views pornography

Women and copy-cat feminism

This is the best-educated generation of women in human and Jewish history and that speaks for itself..

Women and copy-cat feminism

What sort of Jewish State?

The world knows quite well that we are a Jewish and democratic State. Arab deeds leave no doubt that they know the facts. Do we? Op-ed.

What sort of Jewish State?

Being nice to terrorists

Are Jews supposed to see everyone in a positive light?

Being nice to terrorists