Abu Dhabi health dept., Israeli health org pledge to cooperate

Abu Dhabi’s Health Department on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding with Maccabi Health Services’ Khan Sagol Maccabi Research and Innovation Center pledging to increase cooperation in healthcare research and technological innovation, the organizations announced. Goals of the memorandum The move comes as part of the Abu Dhabi Health Department’s Healthier Abu Dhabi initiative. The […]

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In Defense of Sacrifices 

Reading of sacrifices in the Bible, many are mortified to think that ancient Israelites would slaughter animals at the Temple. It seems primitive, bloody — even barbaric. As someone who has not eaten chicken or meat in over thirty years, I nonetheless want to defend the practice.  When we buy meat, most of us do so after […]

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Nazir 9

Figs are delicious — dried, fresh, whatever. Yum! But nazirite vows aren’t about what’s delicious, but about what’s defined by the Torah. And Numbers 6:4 is very clear that a nazirite shall abstain from wine, grapes and any kind of intoxicant. It says nothing about figs. So the mishnah on today’s daf asks: What happens […]

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Can You Make Kiddush On Anything Other Than Wine?

Kiddush is a blessing traditionally made over a cup of wine that sanctifies Shabbat and holidays. Kiddush, which means “holiness” in Hebrew, is also recited at Havdalah and at lifecycle events, such as weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs and the bris.  When saying Kiddush over wine or grape juice, the blessing is: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה׳ אֱֹלהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ […]

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