The Just Still Lives by His Faith

''The majority of these articles deal with subjects which may trouble the thinking believer, and perhaps even more so the person who has not yet come to terms with belief in the Torah and its interpreters, the carriers of our sacred tradition. This is why I have chosen the above quotation from Habakkuk as the title of this book.'' ~ From the foreword by Eliyahu Munk

Contents

The Book of Jonah as an Indictment of the Jewish People

Discrepancies Between Chronicles and the Book of Kings

Are There Really 613 Biblical Commandments?

On the Who, When, and How, of Prayer

Solar and Lunar Eclipses and Their Impact on Society

Leviathan in the Bible, the Talmud, and in Our Liturgy

Amalek, Then and Now

Yiftach and His Daughter

A Strange הלכה – Mayim shelanu

On the Phenomenon of the Scapegoat for Azazel

Reflections on G-d’s Impartiality and the concept of זכות אבות

Prophets Who Misunderstood the Visions Granted Them

Lip- service in Lieu of Animal- sacrifice?

How Does the Bible Relate to the Death Wish of a Person?

Imperfections in Nature

Judaism and Collective Punishment

Does G-d Favour Democracy as a Form of Government?

Yaakov – Yisrael

Contradictions in the Laws About Vows

Is There a Limit to G-d’s Power?

Does a Prophet Forfeit His בחירה?

In Defence of Nadav and Avihu

Why Were Jacob’s Remains Embalmed?

Reflections on the Appointments of Successors by Our Leaders of Old

Dilemmas Inherent in Acceding to Popular Demands

Hair (Human and Animal) as Viewed by the Bible, the Talmud (Halachah) and Aggadah

Ruth as the Ideal Convert

Son or Daughter – Whom Do You Prefer (Is Preferable in the eyes of G-d)?

Discretion Versus Transparency

Are the Jewish People Lovable?

Examination of Marit Ayin Related Legislation in the Shulchan Aruch

Non- observance of the Challah Legislation as a Cause of Death during Childbirth

Parshat Balak: The Evil Eye

קדוש השם – אמונה – והשואה

From Metaphysics to Physics

The Torah’s Major U- turn

God’s “Racism” Versus His “Impartiality”

Why Two תוכחות?

Michal Daughter of King Saul and Wife of King David

Cloning – the Ultimate Form of Idolatry

Why Does Man Shun G-d? Is G-d Frustrated with Man?

Hereditary Elitism?

A Nation in the Making

Torah Versus Time

Two Toras, Why?

Extra Dimension

Chidushei Torah

About the Author

Mr. Eliyahu Munk was born in Frankfurt on Main, where he received his education at the Samson Refael Hirsch Realschule, as well as at the Yeshivah headed by Rabbi Dr. Joseph Breuer, ZT''L.

After emigrating to England, he continued his studies at the Yeshivah in Gateshead.

He served in Jewish education, primarily in Toronto, Canada for close to 30 years, before making aliyah to Israel in 1978. During his years in Canada he also pursued a business career while teaching. Since settling in Jerusalem, Mr. Munk has been busy translating numerous classical Torah commentaries into English. Publication of the Torah commentary by Samuel David Luzzatto (Sha'dal), brings the number of authors whose works Mr. Munk has translated to 14, comprising 53 volumes totaling over 23,000 pages.

It is this editor's hope that the volume submitted herewith will be as enthusiastically received by his ever increasing circle of readers as have his earlier efforts.