Steven Pinker examines Common Knowledge in his work: When Everyone Knows That Everyone Knows…: Common Knowledge and the Mysteries of Money, Power, and Everyday Life (2025, Scribner.) Dr. Pinker’s Common Knowledge is a term meant to describe human interactions and the knowledge of the individuals interacting. The Sukkoth Holiday- the Festival of Booths- Torah PortionContinue reading “Next Level Common Knowledge: Sukkoth”
Category Archives: educational programming
V’zot Haberachah’s Ten Commandments’ Moment
Before the Torah’s finale, Moses charged parents to educate their children. In the Torah’s final portion, V’zot Haberachah, Moses charges the Levites to educate the Israelite nation. In Moses’ blessing to the tribe, he assigns them a special assignment. Forever more, the Levites were tasked to provide covenantal education to the nation. This tasking raisesContinue reading “V’zot Haberachah’s Ten Commandments’ Moment”
Ha’Azinu’s Ten Commandments’ Moment
These go to eleven Nigel Tufnel Moses, in the Ha’Azinu Torah Portion, lectures to the Children of Israel their covenantal responsibilities. In his speech, Moses raises parental responsibilities of the requirement to teach their progeny the commandments. While the Decalogue served as a Community Code of Conduct, the Commandments did not fully lay out theContinue reading “Ha’Azinu’s Ten Commandments’ Moment”
Failure Was Academic: Shoftim
Can scriptural interpretation’s depth be enhanced by both personal experience and education? Is it possible to become a better student? A Torah Portion Shoftim analysis can answer these questions. Education My undergraduate studies, legal studies, and life circumstances offer a unique perspective to a Shoftim Torah Portion passage which addresses academics. The passage reveals theContinue reading “Failure Was Academic: Shoftim”
Scripture’s Impactful Reference in Antiquity: The Balak Passage That Changed History
A Torah Portion Balak’s impactful passage resonates in history. It was referenced as part of a historical event from antiquity. In the post-biblical Book of the Maccabees, the portion Balak is cited during a transformative event; an event that shaped present day history and theology. The Balak passage, however, due to its graphic and violentContinue reading “Scripture’s Impactful Reference in Antiquity: The Balak Passage That Changed History”
Peak Justice or Cognitive Disaster? Vayelech
Ignorance of the law is no excuse While a Torah Portion Vayelech Commandment is symbolically magnificent, in modernity it presents as a pedagogical disaster. The utopian directive, on paper, delivers knowledge of the law to the entire populace. From a cognitive science perspective, however, the commandment is a failure. Can this problematic teaching methodology explainContinue reading “Peak Justice or Cognitive Disaster? Vayelech”
Which Ten Commandments Should Be Placed In Schools?
Posting of the Ten Commandments is a complicated matter. The reason being is that there was many versions of the Decalogue. Thus, there is the following question. “If the Ten Commandments are to be posted in United States’ Public Schools, which version should it be?” While the journey to this inquiry is complicated, the answerContinue reading “Which Ten Commandments Should Be Placed In Schools?”
Ten Commandments’ Values
Laws signal societal values. For instance, Driving While Intoxicated Laws message many societal values. Human life and private property are to be valued; they speak to decency and disfavor with public intoxication as well. Arguably, they offer a faint endorsement for sobriety. The Decalogue promotes values as well. The Ten Commandments are endowed with aContinue reading “Ten Commandments’ Values”
In Simplicity
If “Don’t Steal”, “Respect Each Other”, “Don’t Lie”, “Keep Your Promises” & “Respect Your Parents” were Elementary School Classroom Bulletin Board signs, what would you think?…Random sentiments? A pattern? If the Ten Commandments were posted on that very Elementary School Classroom Bulletin Board, what would you think?…Random sentiments? A pattern? This exercise’s take-away is theContinue reading “In Simplicity”
Setting Things In Stone? Mishpatim
“And he took the scroll of the covenant and read in the people’s ears” Exodus 24:7 The Torah Portion Mishpatim illustrates the challenges of legal literacy. In antiquity, was it possible for a fledgling nation to disseminate the concepts of societal boundaries and affirmative duties upon its citizenry? If so, what methodology could be employedContinue reading “Setting Things In Stone? Mishpatim”
