Category Archives: Mysteries & Origins

Do Angels Have Free Will?

‘Abraham and the Three Angels’ by James Tissot

This week’s parasha, Vayera, begins with Abraham’s famous encounter with three angels (Genesis 18). Abraham gives them water to wash their feet and proceeds to feed them a multi-course meal. There brings up a classic question: did the angels actually eat? Are angels not entirely spiritual beings? How could they have their feet washed, and physically consume Abraham’s food? Are angels biological beings, or not? And, relatedly, do angels have any kind of free will, or are they simply “robotic” agents of God?

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Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them in the Torah, Part 2

In Part 2, we explore the origins, symbolism and significance of the phoenix, mermaids, and other hybrids like centaurs, satyrs, and werewolves, as well as vampires and golems. Also, an in-depth exploration of witchcraft and wizardry, the qualifications for being elected to the ancient Sanhedrin, and what does Frankenstein’s monster have to do with the Golem of Prague?

Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them in the Torah

Unicorns, phoenixes, dragons, mermaids – what does the Torah (and other holy texts) say about these mythical creatures? Could they be real, and what spiritual significance do they carry? Find out in this fun class where we also explore narwhals and dugongs in the Tabernacle, the great battle of Behemoth and Leviathan, Greek myths of the Pegasus and the Chimera, dinosaurs in Tanakh, the Stone of Scone, and the true origins of King Arthur’s Excalibur.