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February 9, 2024

The Bible Put God into Charity

Leading to a failed pagan reaction.

The notion that caring for the poor is service of God distinguished Judaism, and later Christianity, from ancient pagan religions. To take an example from this week’s Torah reading of Mishpatim, there is a commandment to provide interest-free loans to the indigent, restrictions on taking collateral for such loans, and an admonition to judges not to “pervert justice” when dealing with the poor. To these teachings, later books of the Pentateuch, along with the rabbinic tradition, add many other obligations to the indigent.

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February 9, 2024

  1. The U.S. Promises Palestinians a State While Demanding Nothing in Return

    A policy that does Palestinians no favors and endangers Israelis.

  2. Hamas’s Fraudulent Casualty Figures

    The perverse numbers game.

  3. In the UK, Terrorizing Politicians Gets Results, Not Outrage

    “I remember a different Britain.”

  4. The Bible Put God into Charity

    Leading to a failed pagan reaction.

  5. How the Eggplant Became a Jewish Vegetable

    A Sephardi culinary love affair.