Böcker av Abba Engelberg

Discover Moral and Spiritual Wisdom in the Story of ExodusIn The Ethics of Exodus, Rabbi Dr. Abba Engelberg unlocks the ethical and spiritual dimensions of the Exodus story, offering profound insights into leadership, morality, and the human struggle for redemption. Each weekly portion is explored through traditional commentaries and modern perspectives, delivering practical lessons for contemporary life. Ethical Questions for the Book of ExodusShemot: How does Moses' choice to intervene in the suffering of a fellow Israelite, despite his privileged position in Pharaoh's palace, challenge us to act courageously against injustice in our own lives?Va'era: How does Pharaoh's refusal to heed Moses and Aaron, even as his people suffer through the plagues, reflect the ethical dangers of pride and stubbornness in leadership?Bo: Is it ethically defensible for God to limit Pharaoh's free will, even as a response to his wickedness, and what does this teach us about the balance between justice and divine intervention?Beshallach: Why do the Israelites, despite witnessing miraculous events like the splitting of the Red Sea, struggle with gratitude and faith?Yitro: What does Jethro's suggestion to delegate responsibilities to others teach about the ethics of leadership, avoiding burnout, and empowering others in community service?Mishpatim: How do the Torah's civil laws, such as those protecting servants and the vulnerable, challenge us to create a society grounded in fairness, compassion, and justice?Terumah: What can the Israelites' voluntary contributions to the Tabernacle teach us about the ethical significance of generosity and the role of communal effort in achieving spiritual goals?Tetzaveh: Why is Moses' name absent from this portion, and how does this omission highlight the ethical importance of humility and selflessness in leadership?Ki Tissa: How does Aaron's participation in creating the golden calf reflect the ethical complexities of leadership under pressure, and what can we learn from his actions about accountability and repentance?Vayakhel: Why were women especially active in donating to the Tabernacle, and what does this reveal about the ethical importance of inclusion and initiative in communal projects?Pekudei: How does the meticulous accounting of resources in the construction of the Tabernacle emphasize the ethical value of transparency and integrity in leadership?Sources Used Include: Rashi: Provides foundational explanations of the Torah text, resolving narrative questions.Ramban (Nachmanides): Offers mystical, philosophical, and ethical insights, emphasizing the spiritual dimensions of the Exodus story.Midrash Rabbah: Expands on the biblical text with allegorical and homiletical interpretations, highlighting moral lessons and hidden meanings.Maimonides (Rambam): Explores philosophical issues such as free will, divine justice, and human ethics.Sforno: Focuses on ethical and moral lessons, emphasizing divine justice and human responsibility in the narratives and laws of Exodus.Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch: Interprets the Torah with a focus on ethical and societal implications, connecting the biblical laws to modern moral principles.Rabbi Dr. Abba Engelberg combines rigorous academic methodology with deep reverence for sacred texts. His works are recognized for their clarity, accessibility, and ability to engage readers of all backgrounds. As a teacher and lecturer, he has inspired countless students to approach the Torah as both a spiritual guide and a source of practical wisdom.

Explore the Ethical Challenges in the Book of GenesisThe stories in Genesis are some of the most well-known in the Bible, often introduced to us in childhood. But as adults, when we revisit these narratives, we encounter profound ethical questions that simple explanations can no longer resolve. In The Ethics of Genesis, Rabbi Dr. Abba Engelberg provides fresh insights and original answers to the troubling moral dilemmas found in the first book of the Bible.Drawing from traditional Jewish commentaries, Midrashic interpretations, and modern ethical frameworks, this book explores the deeper meanings and implications of Genesis' most challenging moments, offering clarity and relevance for contemporary readers.Key Ethical Questions by ParshaBereishit: Was the punishment of Adam and Eve just, given their limited understanding of good and evil?Noach: Did innocent people drown in the flood, and how does this reflect divine justice?Lech Lecha: Did Abraham sacrifice Sarah's honor to save his own life, and was this morally defensible?Vayera: How could Abraham reconcile his defense of Sodom with his willingness to sacrifice Isaac?Chayei Sarah: Did Abraham's decision to insist on paying for the Cave of Machpelah reflect an ethical lesson about honesty in transactions?Toldot: Was Jacob justified in deceiving Isaac to secure the blessing, and does the end justify the means?Vayeitzei: How did Jacob's work ethic in serving Laban shape the Torah's perspective on labor and fairness?Vayishlach: Was Jacob's preparation to meet Esau an ethical example of balancing diplomacy and self-defense?Vayeshev: How could Joseph's brothers justify their brutal treatment of him, and what does this teach about jealousy?Miketz: Was Joseph's treatment of his brothers upon their arrival in Egypt vindictive or part of a larger moral plan?Vayigash: Did Judah's plea to Joseph reflect true repentance, and what can it teach about taking responsibility?Vayechi: Did Joseph and his brothers fully reconcile, or were their conflicts unresolved even at the end of Jacob's life?Ethical Themes Discussed: Repentance: Insights into the transformative power of repentance in the stories of Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, and Joseph and his brothers.Work Ethic: Jacob's example of diligence and its broader implications for fairness in labor.Physical Beauty: The Torah's perspective on physical appearance and its spiritual and ethical implications.Deception: When is lying permissible, and what are the limits of ethical deception in biblical stories?Divine Justice: The moral tension in stories like the flood and Sodom, where collective punishment is central.Reconciliation: The challenges and nuances of repairing broken relationships, as seen in Joseph's interactions with his brothers.The Ethics of Genesis invites readers to grapple with the moral complexities of these foundational stories, offering new perspectives on themes of justice, repentance, leadership, and reconciliation.Rabbi Dr. Abba Engelberg combines rigorous academic methodology with deep reverence for sacred texts. His works are recognized for their clarity, accessibility, and ability to engage readers of all backgrounds. As a teacher and lecturer, he has inspired countless students to approach the Torah as both a spiritual guide and a source of practical wisdom.

The book of Numbers raises ethical questions central to the Jewish faith. Too often, we learn these Biblical stories as children and never revisit them-or their ethical implications-as adults. The Ethics of Numbers, the fourth in the Ethics series, provides further elucidation of these narratives and concepts. Rabbi Dr. Abba Engelberg presents traditional answers, explained in depth, as well as original interpretations, to difficult quandaries, such as: What is the Jewish view of asceticism, worldly pleasure, and self-deprivation for religious purposes? What is the role of the Korban Pesach and Pesach Sheni in fostering Jewish faith? Did Miriam deserve to be punished with tzara'at for defending the honor of Zipporah? Was the punishment of the spies too severe? What exactly was wrong with Korach's plea? Does Judaism countenance the act of Pinchas and can religion tolerate vigilante justice? What lesson can we learn from Zelophehad's daughters courage in speaking up?