Post An Unlikely Source of Kindness By declaring her allegiance to God and the Jewish people, Ruth became one of a small number of righteous non-Jews in the Bible who stand out for recognizing God. Jethro,… Read More
Post Choosing Kindness The books of the Writings were written through divine inspiration, without direct communication from God. Since these works were not written through direct communication with God, there was some uncertainty… Read More
Post From Moab to Mount Sinai Every year, the Jewish people read the Book of Ruth on the holiday of Shavuot (Pentecost), which falls out towards the end of May or early June. Shavuot is one… Read More
Post How does Levirate marriage set the stage for the resurrection of the dead? The story of the Children of Israel descending into Egypt, so central to the rest of the Bible, is interrupted by the anomalous story of Judah and Tamar. A deeper… Read More
Post Map of the Journey of Ruth This map features Beit Lechem and the land of Moav, the places where the events of the Book of Ruth take place as described in Ruth 1…. Read More
Post The Story of Ruth The story of Ruth is one of the most beloved stories in the Bible. Verse 1:16 is part of Ruth’s moving speech in which she declares her allegiance to her… Read More
Post The Unconditional Acceptance of the Torah When Moses presented the Jews with the prospect of receiving the Torah at Sinai, they respond: “All that Hashem has spoken we will do!” (Exodus 19:8). This expression of acceptance… Read More
Post The Unexpected Role of Ancestry in Jewish Monarchy In Psalm 39, David writes that he generally guards his mouth and refrains from questioning God, no matter what troubles befall him. But at some point, staying silent becomes too… Read More
Post Why King David descended from a Moabite convert According to one of the Sages, the Book of Ruth was written in order to teach the great reward for doing acts of kindness. Kindness is a point of pride… Read More