Gideon
Respectful Disobedience

Respectful Disobedience

By Rabbi Elie Mischel Change or continuity? Revolution or tradition? Throughout the modern age, our society has been caught between the values of tradition and stability on the one hand, and the need for change and improvement on the...

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Gideon’s Proud Legacy of Respect

Gideon’s Proud Legacy of Respect

By Rabbi Elie Mischel The Hebrew Bible is careful with its words. When introducing a new protagonist, the Bible rarely tells us about their background. Famously, the story of Abraham begins when he is already 75 years old, forcing the...

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The Greatness of Gideon

The Greatness of Gideon

By Rabbi Eliezer Mischel As a synagogue rabbi in New Jersey, I often thought of the classic insight that “no good deed goes unpunished.” While celebrating happy events like weddings and bar mitzvahs, I would praise a particular congregant...

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