Tag Archives: Jonathan Sacks

Ben Franklin’s Jewish Values

Posted on November 6, 2016 by N.S. Palmer

My latest blog post for The Jewish Journal: American founder Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) wasn’t Jewish, but he might as well have been. He shared many of Judaism’s key moral values. One of our most central values is moral seriousness: the … Continue reading →

Posted in Jewish Philosophy, Judaism, The Jewish Journal | Tagged Ben Franklin, Benjamin Franklin, Deism, Dennis Prager, Jewish morals, Jewish Values, Jonathan Sacks, Moral virtues | Leave a comment

Never Give Up Hope

Posted on September 28, 2016 by N.S. Palmer

My latest blog post for The Jewish Journal: War. Terrorism. Riots. Crime. Unemployment. Political corruption. Intolerance. There are many reasons to give up hope. Don’t. If you give up hope, then you give up on the future. If you give … Continue reading →

Posted in Judaism, The Jewish Journal | Tagged Einstein, Fate, Freedom, Hope, Jonathan Sacks, Perseverance, Utilitarianism, William Penn | Leave a comment

The Weirdest Torah Theory You Never Heard

Posted on August 29, 2016 by N.S. Palmer

My latest blog post for The Jewish Journal: It’s a weird theory about the Torah. You’ve never heard of it. And it’s really a thing. Of course, you’ve heard of other theories. The documentary hypothesis says that ancient editors assembled … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Jewish Philosophy, Judaism, The Jewish Journal | Tagged Ancient History, Bicameral Mind, Documentary Hypothesis, Jonathan Sacks, Julian Jaynes, Minds of the Bible, Psychology, Torah, Torah min Hashamayim | Leave a comment

Words, Order, and Tisha B’Av

Posted on July 24, 2015 by N.S. Palmer

By N.S. Palmer One of Judaism’s deepest beliefs, says Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, is “that God is to be found in words, that these words are to be found in the Torah …”1 That’s right in one way, but wrong in … Continue reading →