September 18, 2014 · 6:00 am

Rosh Hashanah, Yom Teruah, and the Shofar: By the Numbers

Ancient Israelite blowing a Shofar on Rosh Hashanah . . . (photo source: USA Today Photo Gallery)

Ancient Israelite blowing a Shofar on Rosh Hashanah . . .
(photo source: USA Today Photo Gallery)

If Biblical exegesis were anything like Sabermetrics, no one would think we are commanded to blow the shofar on Rosh Hashanah.

Well, to be precise, the Rabbinic community may continue to believe that we are commanded to blow a shofar on Rosh Hashanah; but Karaites would continue to be skeptical of any claim that such a commandment exists for Yom Teru’ah – the biblical name for what people call Rosh Hashanah.

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Filed under Daniel al-Kumisi, Holidays, Rosh Hashanah, Shofar, Yom Teruah

September 4, 2014 · 6:00 am

Karaites and Beit Shammai: An Alliance for the Ages

Babylonian TalmudThere is a Rabbinic saying that when Mashiach comes, Jews will adopt the opinions of Beit Shammai. I don’t know whether this saying is correct, but I do chuckle every time I hear it.

You see, in one very interesting way, the Shabbat practice of Beit Shammai is virtually identical to the historical Karaite view.

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Filed under Beit Hillel, Shabbat, Shammai

August 27, 2014 · 6:00 am

New Moon, Full Moon, Karaite Moon, Local Moon (?!?)

Crescent new moon in the Land of Israel.

Crescent new moon in the Land of Israel.

We hear a lot these days of “identity politics.” Today, I explore “identity halacha” and realize that my religious Karaite identity is slowly getting turned on its head. And I’m fine with that.

For approximately 15 years, I have been a zealous advocate of using the moon in the Land of Israel to determine when to observe our holidays in the Diaspora. I set this forth in a book. I stated this in a Karaite Fact Card. And I couldn’t count how many times I stated this at the Karaite synagogue.

But over the last year, I’ve come to realize that I might have been wrong.

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Filed under Calendar, Daniel al-Kumisi, Karaite Fact Cards, Moshe Firrouz, New Moon

August 19, 2014 · 6:00 am

Mourners of Zion and Residents of Gaza

The gift that keeps on giving.

The gift that keeps on giving.

Israel’s recent (and maybe ongoing?) war with Hamas prompted me to look into whether there was ever a Karaite Jewish presence in what is now referred to as the Gaza Strip. As far as I know, no Karaites lived in the Strip in 2005 when then Prime Minister of Israel Ariel Sharon evicted the Jewish residents there.

But I was surprised to learn that Gaza (the city, not the strip) featured in several aspects of medieval Jewish life.

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Filed under Aviv, Mourners of Zion, Salmon ben Yeruham

July 29, 2014 · 6:00 am

The Internet is Big Enough

From FrumKaraite, which is among the many new sites promoting a Karaite approach to Tanakh and life.

From FrumKaraite, which is among the many new sites promoting a Karaite approach to Tanakh and life.

Just after I started my blog, a friend whom I met through the Mission Minyan – my Rabbanite congregation of choice these days – told me that my blog was too serious. He thought I needed more satire and shtick. I told him that I pray for the day that there are enough Karaite blogs that one of them can focus on “satire and shtick.”

That day may not be far. And it might already be here.

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Filed under Karaite Sites

July 15, 2014 · 6:00 am

Six Questions & Answers: Moshe Firrouz, Chief Neighbor of the Karaite Community

Moshe Firrouz receiving The Prof. Naphtali Wieder Prize for Scholarship in Medieval History and Exegesis, Ben Zvi Institute for the Study of Jewish Communities in the East

Moshe Firrouz receiving The Prof. Naphtali Wieder Prize for Scholarship in Medieval History and
Exegesis, Ben Zvi Institute for the Study of Jewish Communities in the East

Today, I catch up with Moshe Firrouz. Although I’ve known Moshe personally for almost 10 years, it is still a bit odd for me to refer to him without a title. After all, he is the Chief Hakham of the Karaite Community.

But Moshe cares more about serving Hashem than he does about titles.

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Filed under Judah Hadassi, Moshe Firrouz, Yaqub al-Qirqisani

June 24, 2014 · 6:00 am

Rambam’s Revenge: Rationalism & the Karaite Renaissance

Make no mistake about it, Rambam was bad for Karaism. And despite the whisperings of some Karaites, Rambam was not a closet Karaite. He just wasn’t.

But the Rabbinic community’s growing return to Rambam-based principles is undeniably good for Karaites and Karaism. Today we look at Rambam’s impact on Karaism both historically and today.

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Filed under Maimonides, Rationalism, Yaqub al-Qirqisani