Evil, Forces of

Look at the news and, unfortunately, you'll see a lot of really bad things, which is both heartbreaking and a seeming impossibility from a spiritual and theological perspective: How does a good G-d allow for such evil in His world? Many have grappled with...

Philosophers and mystics are fond of pondering G-d’s oneness, perfectness, goodness, omniscience and amazingness. War, disease, school classrooms and the view from the New Jersey Turnpike get blamed on us.

In this portion, we read G-d's Thirteen Attributes of Mercy: "G-d, G-d, compassionate G-d and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in kindness and truth, preserver of kindness for two thousand generations. " In the word "notzar" (preserver of kindness) t...

I think it’s telling that, in over forty years of leadership, the Lubavitcher Rebbe left New York City only three times: to visit the children at Camp Gan Israel and Camp Emunah, Chabad overnight camps in the Catskill Mountains . . .

What is the Jewish view of Satan?

Question: The Torah records that Abraham gave presents to the children he had with Hagar. Rashi says that they were filled up with tumah (dark spiritual forces). Why would Abraham do that? Why not just throw it away and give something good to them? Answer...

Question: I'm bothered by the prayer that calls for the destruction of our enemies. What if I don't want my enemies to be "uprooted, smashed, destroyed, lowered and subjugated"? Maybe I wish for them understanding and wisdom to realize that they're doing ...

I will never understand, Father. Why can't the world be simple? Why do we need to fight for our souls? Why can't the good side get along with the... other side?

To answer this question, first consider this: Why is it that the powers of evil seem so much more apparent than those of good? The answer requires us to study the nature of good and evil. Goodness is true. It's real. It's an absolute existence. Evil is fa...

Timna’s actions seem righteous and altruistic. Why would this result in a child who represents the very paradigm of evil?