Jewish Scene
Report: Future of Judaism studies at risk
Tomer Velmer
Published: 09.03.11, 14:36
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1. oh, it's judaism STUDIES
mike ,   israel (formerly usa   (03.09.11)
i thought it was another existential threat. my bad.
2. Future of Judaism studies by warped apostate
Chaim   (03.09.11)
who distort the laws are at risk of losing their heretic influence. GREAT! Jews should study under Orthodox Jews only.
3. "Judaism Studies" in yeshiva
Kyle ,   Southpark, CO, USA   (03.09.11)
Yeshivas specialize in "Judaism studies." Oh you mean "Judaism studies" with a secular bias? People don't go for that any more?
4. Are you kidding me?
blash ,   Jerusalem   (03.09.11)
Judaic studies are RISING in Israel. It's just that, instead of going to a university to learn, you go to a yeshiva. You can't propose to teach Judaism and (for example) teach that the Torah had multiple authors, while expecting to be taken seriously by someone who wants to know Judaism genuinely.
5. The world knows more about Jewish thought..
Edithann ,   USA   (03.09.11)
We've seen it's results over the centuries..and pointedly without question these last 60+ years... People don't get to be '4th' on the list of most reviled countries without that those Jewish thoughts... There is no value in hating all those not 'Chosen'.... TATA..
6. The problem isn't just investments in more "financial" depts
Raymond in DC ,   Washington, DC USA   (03.09.11)
The report claims that Israeli universities have opted to invest in more "financial" departments, like management and the exact sciences. But that isn't fully reflective of what's really going on. On the one hand, we have the shutdown of the country's only department of nuclear engineering, and the shrinking of its only department of aeronautical engineering at Technion. Many departments are being financially short-changed - yes, even in the sciences where staff positions and research budgets are consistently shortchanged. It's why so many of Israel's best and brightest leave. On the other hand, we have the growth of "gender" studies and women's studies in many of Israel's major universities. (They, like the political science departments, are hotbeds of Israel's left.) But when secular leftists have influenced even Jewish issues (cf. Shlomo Sand), it's hardly surprising that many Jews will choose to pursue interest in the field elsewhere. So departments shrink.
7. Good! Wanna study Torah, go to yeshiva
Yerushalmi ,   Jerusalem   (03.09.11)
8. How about studies of Jewish regional history from 632-1948?
Eitan ,   Chicago   (03.09.11)
Israelis don't realize that the land they live on was purchased probably twice (once from the owners, again with massive indemnity payments to Bedouins with false claims,and once again with the blood of Jewish farmers) from Sursuk, Tayan, Kabani, and others. Or that some moshavot and kibbutzim needed to be rebuilt in the 1920s, 1929, 1936, and 1948 from Arab attempts at ethnic cleansing. Can they tell the difference between a Druze who's lived in the area since the Crusades, and the Algerian followers of 'Abd el-Kader, who arrived in the 19th century, or a Hawrani tribe that swept in only a century ago? Do they realize that the British transferred virtually all state land to Bedouin marauders, created concentration camps to house concentration camp victims, and turned over their armories to the Arabs in 1947? Or who to thank for living without the constant threat of malaria? This is what's missing from the curriculum.
9. to study religion
(03.09.11)
is like to study poetry ...iam an engeneer but like poetry i have my knowledge from books from tv from pc.the same about religion to evry one work and study in the univesity do not prevent people to seek knowledge and even to search and report and teach in religion lessons
10. just curious... do they really study maimonides in the yeshi
eporue ,   europe   (03.10.11)
vas ??? just so, i would think, they aint really his biggest fans...?
11. to #4
me   (03.10.11)
Apparently you have no clue about torah and tanakh at all, if so you were aware that obviously it was written by different authors.
12. yeshiva rabbis & grads ignorant of of Tora, lack answers
Thinking Jew ,   Israel   (03.10.11)
13. Agree with #12, but
Jonathan ,   Israel   (03.10.11)
this is what Maimonides already knew. Teaching Jewish Thought myself at an Israeli Univ. I see more and more yeshiva grads coming to us to learn more, better. No wonder with R. Aviner and the like as yeshiva heads. But then (#4), if you already KNOW that the Torah CAN'T have different authors before you start studying, then your place isn't at the university, that's right.
14. to #11
Esther ,   Tel aviv   (03.10.11)
You're the one who has no clue. Tanakh was written by different author (prophets, etc...), Torah was not!
15. 12-13-True... of some (2nd try)
Paqid Yirmeyahu ,   Ra'anana, Israel   (03.11.11)
but not all. While I don't always agree with R. Aviner, I'm puzzled why 13 singled him out --an electronics engineer with a Masters in mathematics; particularly when there are yeshivah rabbis who forbid the study of math, science and history. Perhaps universities imposing a humanities (code for secular) agenda on Judaic thought are no less guilty, and no less ignorant in failing to apply science and mathematical logic to their studies of Judaic thought. Certainly, that is a failing that archeology has suffered and is now remedying by bringing in scientific disciplines and well-credentialed scientists to contribute to the field. "Judaic thought" would do well to do the same. Otherwise, it remains a superficial study, hardly less so than many anti-knowledge yeshivot, that deserves to disappear. Of course, I'm also baffled what criteria ynet is using to suppress my right to free speech. As a test, I submitted several messages under an anonymous alias and, magically, ynet published them. My messages are being rejected on no other basis than me being the writer. Further, Jewish posters then agree with them!!! That's the state of Israeli media (and Jewish thought) today. Perhaps this will awaken some of the editors who suppress POVs that most threaten their secular agenda? Those yeshivah grads today are so ignorant of history, science and Torah that some even argue that Rambam endorsed Qabalah, which is the opposite to historical documentation. Some of these people have a 5th grade education and it boggles my mind how Jews could imagine such deliberate ignorance could represent the Omni-Scient Creator. Exactly the opposite. Judaic thought is in desperate need of an intelligent approach and methodology to interpreting Torah and Halakhah according to rational, intelligent and logical criteria--especially as applied to documented history, including the 1st-4th centuries C.E. Paqid Yirmeyahu Paqid 16, The Netzarim, Ra'anana, Israel Israeli Torah-reverer Jew: Teimani, Baladi, Dor Dai Advocate for Logic as Hermeneutic Halakhic Authority Welcoming all who choose to keep Torah (When questions to me go unanswered, they have refused to post it. Find our reply in our Web Café at www.netzarim.co.il)
16. 15 - time to take a hint?
mike ,   israel (formerly usa   (03.11.11)
not being published here? there's an entire internet out there to say what you want. that reputation you've displayed here seems now to be a big negative. and it's nobody's fault but your own that no one comments on, much less visits, your website. it's not bias, ignorance, or prejudice - people know something fishy when they see it. really, christian-bashing and religious pretense only carries you so far.
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