David Curwin

Author of "Kohelet - A Map to Eden"

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May 22, 2024, 7:59 AM

Torah, Technology and the Internet: 30 years later

Thirty years ago, on May 22, 1994, I wrote a post on Mail-Jewish, at the time the premier forum for discussing Torah related topics. I titled it "Torah, Technology and the Internet." The post was inspired by an essay by...

Dec 17, 2023, 11:34 AM

Shemini Atzeret – Why Didn’t We Stop?

From Wikipedia:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Holman_Blowing_the_Trumpet_at_the_Feast_of_the_New_Moon_(crop).jpg

In the Torah, each festival day ("Yom Tov") is observed for a single day. However, outside the Land of Israel, the custom arose to extend each holiday to a two-day period. Among these holidays is Shemini Atzeret, celebrated on...

Nov 14, 2023, 12:29 AM

Our destiny from the river to the sea

From the river to the sea Abraham traversed this land repeatedly Then Isaac, Jacob, and his progeny From the river to the sea From the river to the sea We descended to Egypt in slavery But to the land, we would return free From the river...

Oct 12, 2022, 2:46 PM

Between Haazinu and Zot Habracha

At the end of Parashat Haazinu, God informs Moshe for the last time that he will die, and provides the following reason: “You shall die on the mountain that you are about to ascend, and shall be gathered to your...

Oct 3, 2022, 10:27 AM

Between Vayelech and Haazinu

The poem of Haazinu begins in Devarim 32:1. But the introduction to the poem begins in the previous chapter: "The LORD said to Moses: You are soon to lie with your fathers. This people will thereupon go astray after the...

Sep 28, 2022, 10:17 AM

Between Nitzavim and Vayelech

Parashat Vayelech opens with the following verse: “Moses went and spoke these things to all Israel.” (Devarim 31:1) The previous chapters do not indicate that Moshe had traveled anywhere that would require him to go to deliver this address. So the...

Sep 19, 2022, 5:09 PM

Between Ki Tavo and Nitzavim

Parashat Ki Tavo (Devarim 28) contains the blessing and curse that Israel will receive if they keep or break the covenant with God. In the following chapter (Devarim 29), Moshe resumes his speech and urges the people to keep...

Sep 13, 2022, 8:02 AM

Between Ki Tetze and Ki Tavo

Parashat Ki Tetze ends with the mitzva to eradicate Amalek, and presents it as dependent on the completion of all the wars of conquest: “Therefore, when the LORD your God grants you peace from all your enemies around you, in...

Sep 5, 2022, 11:41 AM

Between Shoftim and Ki Tetze

From Devarim 20, Parashat Shoftim instructs us in the laws of war - how to prepare the soldiers, the rules for taking captives, and how to conduct a siege. The next parasha, Ki Tetze, also describes a scenario during...

Aug 29, 2022, 12:49 PM

Between Re’eh and Shoftim

The ending of Parashat Re’eh and the beginning of Parashat Shoftim share a common keyword. Parashat Re’eh ends with the laws of the holiday of Sukkot. Included in those laws is the obligation to include everyone in the celebration: “You...

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About Me

David Curwin is an independent scholar, who has researched and published widely on Bible, Jewish thought and philosophy, and Hebrew language. His first book, “Kohelet – A Map to Eden” was published by Koren/Maggid in 2023. Other writings, both academic and popular, have appeared in Lehrhaus, Tradition, Hakirah, and Jewish Bible Quarterly. He blogs about Hebrew language topics at www.balashon.com. A technical writer in the software industry, David resides in Efrat with his wife and family.

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