Dignity vs. Duty

In the Jewish marriage contract, the kesuba, the husband obligates himself to financially support his wife.  What if the only available means of supporting his wife is a job that he finds demeaning?  Is a husband obligated to sacrifice his dignity to fulfill his financial duties?

Authentic or Aspirational?

There is a widespread practice to adopt Halachic stringencies incommensurate with an individual's true spiritual level.  The detractors of this practice highlight its inherent inauthenticity.  Its supporters and practitioners claim that by acting as if one is on a lofty spiritual level, one will eventually come to actually achieve a lofty spiritual level.
So what does God want us to be: authentic or aspirational?  To express our real selves or our ideal selves?

Gay Service?

Rav Tzadok Hakohen Melublin writes that every evil inclination can be channeled to good ends, and utilized positively in the service of Hashem.  If so, how do we explain the homosexual drive?  How can the homosexual drive be utilized positively in the service of Hashem?

Defending By Accusing

It has become common practice in contemporary rabbinic literature to resolve ancient Talmudic and medieval disputes by positing that both opinions are essentially true, and each position merely highlights a different aspect of the same core principle.  In asserting that both opinions are true, the implication is that the proponents of both opinions erred in stating that the opposing position is categorically wrong.  Is it better to defend both positions as truthful, implying that the proponents of those positions are both in error, or to acknowledge that one position is right, and the other is wrong?

Are We Moral?

How can we justify purchasing a second shirt with money that can be sent to a homeless family in Japan?  How can we buy a cell phone with money that can be sent to a starving child in Africa?  How can we purchase a second car with money that can be sent to a poverty-stricken widow down the block?

Holy or Inappropriate?

Is it appropriate to read the narratives of the Torah, with all of their violent and sexual details, to young children?  These details often comprise the main part of the narrative - Cain and Abel, Yehudah and Tamar, Dinah, etc.  Were these passages of the Torah only meant for adults?

Belief or Kindness?

Jew A believes in God and in the Divine origin of the Torah, but is nasty and cruel to his fellow human beings.  Jew B does not believe in the fundamentals of Judaism, but is kind and considerate to his fellow human beings.  Who is more favorable in God's eyes? 

Outreach or Honesty?

There are many statements in traditional Jewish sources that conflict with modern sensibilities.  When teaching modern Jewish Americans who are contemplating religious commitment, should we conceal these sources from them, lest they be impeded in their religious progress?  If we are questioned about them, should we distort their meaning to conform to modern sensibilities, for the purpose of encouraging religious observance? 

Him or Us?

Judaism seems to assert two contradictory beliefs.  On one hand, it asserts that God guides history; on the other hand, it asserts that humans have free will.  If humans have free will, can't they choose to move history in a direction contrary to God's plan?

The Jewish Role

Imagine two candidates running for President.  Candidate A is more sympathetic to Jewish causes, but advocates values that are antithetical to Judaism.  Candidate B is indifferent to Jewish causes, but advocates values that conform to Judaism.
Which candidate should Jews support?  Is the role of Jews in contemporary American society to advance their own interests, or to promote their religious values?

Setting Our Children Up For Disaster

Pick up any popular story book for Jewish children, or listen to any popular stories for Jewish children, and you will discover a consistent theme: If you do what is right, things will work out your way in the end.  Children who absorb such a message are bound for disaster when they experience the harsh reality that even if they do what is right, things don't always work out their way.  Why is this educational theme being perpetuated?

Is Prayer Meaningful?

If God always does what is best for us, is prayer relevant?  If the object of our request is good for us, God would grant it to us even if we don't pray; if it is not good for us, He would not grant it to us despite prayer.  What, then, is the purpose of prayer?  Are we perhaps informing God of something He does not already know?

A Common Competition

Imagine that there is one available position in a lucrative business, and two people, A and B, are competing for the position.  Person A makes fifteen phone calls to influential businessmen associated with this particular business, requests an interview, works two days on preparing an attractive resume, but does not think even once about God.  Person B invests only minimal natural effort, just sufficient to avoid requiring a miracle to attain the position, but spends two weeks in supplication before God, begging Him to grant him the position, and trusting that God will fulfill his request.
Who is more likely to get the position?

Strange Gratitude

We express gratitude to God for saving us from dangerous situations.  But isn't God the One Who places us in those situations in the first place?  If someone pushes you off a cliff and then pulls you back just in time, do you thank him for saving your life?