Author Description

In “Halakhic Archaeology and Mesorah: An Exploration of the Possibility of Archaeology Solving Halakhic Disputes,” the author examines how the ability of modern science to uncover the past should impact our determination of halakhah. The other articles in the History of Halakhah section deal with the Beit Ha-Mikdash. “New Light on the History of Hanukah and Its Commemoration”argues that Ḥazalshifted the focus of the commemoration of Hanukah from the altar to the menorah after the Temple’s destruction as part of an effort to transfer the holiness of the Temple to the Jewish home. The final article in the section, “Building the Third Temple,”shows how in the six centuries since the destruction of the Beit Ha-Mikdash, three attempts were made to rebuild it, while in the last fourteen hundred years no attempt has been made.<br/>The Jewish Law section deals with important and sometimes controversial issues. The first article is a teshuvah by one of our leading poskim issuing guidance on the artificial feeding in terminally ill patients. In “If Ḥaredim Must Serve in the IDF, Should Young Jewish Men in the Diaspora Also Be Required?”, the author contends that while it is obvious that Israel’s able-bodied men are required to fight Israel’s wars, those in the Diaspora are also required to do so. Two articles deal with the role of women in mitzvot. “May a Woman Recite the Birkat Erusin?” argues that “allowing women to recite the betrothal benediction will likely result in a prohibition of taking G-d’s name in vain.” And, continuing a discussion in the previous edition of Hakirah, Part II of “Women, Tefillah, and Tefillah be-Ẓibbur” considers the arguments for and against requiring women to pray with a minyan. The final article in the section, “The Simchah and Oneg of Yom Tov,” returns our thoughts to the Beit Ha-Mikdash, dealing with the nature of simḥat Yom Tov and how Ḥazal compensate for the loss of the ultimate simḥah that emanates from the Mikdash.<br/>In our Jewis