José Faur
Encyclopedia
José Faur is a Sepharadi Hakham
(rabbi), teacher and scholar. He was a Rabbi in the Syrian-Jewish community in Brooklyn for many years and brought many people closer to Judaism and to the Tora. He was also a professor at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America
, the Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies, and Bar Ilan University, and is currently Professor of Law at Netanya Academic College
.
, Argentina
and belonged to the Damascene
Syrian Jewish
community of that city.
Eliahu Freue, cited by Faur as his principal teacher, was the spiritual head of the Damascus community in Argentina and taught Faur the fundamentals of Talmud
, Jewish law
and rabbinics. Other teachers included hakham
im Eliahu Suli, Jamil Harari and Aharon Cohen.
Faur credits these Rabbis for providing him with an outstanding Jewish education.
in Lakewood, New Jersey. The institution was founded and run by the Lithuanian Talmudist, Rabbi Aharon Kotler
.
Faur reminisces about his time at the Yeshiva:
This approach was unusual and seemed at odds with the approach that Rabbi Faur was reared in during his years in Argentina.
It was at the Beth Medrash Govoha
that Rabbi Faur first met and befriended the late Reb Shlomo Carlebach
.
After this he went and taught at the Sephardic Ahi Ezer Congregation and then opened a Yeshiva in a house on Avenue P in Brooklyn NY. During this time, Rabbi Faur brought many people back to halachic observance and created a renaissance in the learning of Tora in accordance with the Sephardic traditions. Ralph Betesh, who late became one of the leaders of the Jewish community, but was a young man at the time of Rabbi Faur's ascendance, recounts how for the first time people heard of great Sephardic luminaries such as Don Yishak Abbarbanel, R. Bahye ibn Pakuda and R. Moshe Hefez. Rabbi Faur's influence in bringing the younger generation back to the traditions of Halacha and Tora was very substantial and many of the community lay and religious leaders were actually students (or students of students) of Rabbi Faur: Dennis Dweck, Rabbi Moshe Shamah, Mickey Cairy...etc.
since the Jews were expelled from Spain in 1492 during the Spanish Inquisition
. He graduated in 1961 with a degree in Semitic Philology and an M.A. in Semitic Languages; the title of his master's thesis was "La Espiritualidad Judia," a basic explanation of Jewish spirituality. In 1963, Faur received his Semicha
(contemporary rabbinic ordination) from hakham
Suleiman Haggai Abadi, head of the Beth Din
(Jewish court) of Jerusalem. Meanwhile, Faur completed his doctorate in Semitic Languages (which he received in 1964), writing a thesis on "The Masorah to the Targum Onqelos." Later that year he left Spain to participate in a three-year fellowship at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York, under the supervision of the eminent professor of Talmud, Saul Lieberman
. In 1966, Faur was ordained as a dayyan (judge) in Family Law (Even Ha'ezer
) by hakham
Matloub Abadi, and was further ordained as a dayyan by hakham
Suleiman Haggai Abadi in 1968, this time in Civil Law (Choshen Mishpat
).
Hence, in the Sephardic tradition of combining study of Tora with a strong academic background, Rabbi Faur was ready to return to teaching both as a Rabbi and a Professor.
im David de Sola Pool
and Matloub Abadi (a leader of the Syrian Jewish community of Brooklyn, originally from Aleppo
(Halab) - see Syrian Jews
), Faur accepted a faculty position at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America
in New York
, where he developed a close relationship with the late Abraham Joshua Heschel
, professor of Jewish Ethics and Mysticism. Faur left the school in 1985, when the Graduate Rabbinical School began admitting women. Rabbi Faur later sued for breach of contract, arguing that by admitting women in such a manner, the seminary was in effect forcing him to resign.
, Rabbi Faur also offered Torah classes to members of the Syrian Jewish
community in Brooklyn
, New York
. This elicited the opposition of certain members of the Haredi community who felt threatened by Rabbi Faur's ability to attract huge crowds to study Tora. Rabbi Faur's approach, based on a solid knowledge of Tora and a broad knowledge of the academic disciplines, was far more interesting and compelling to many people who were looking for a modern and intelligible approach to Tora. Because these Rabbis were not able to attract peple to study, they engaged in a campaign to lible Rabbi Faur, attacking him in public forumns and whenever the opportunity arose. The pretext commonly used to attack Rabbi Faur was that he taught in the JTS. However, as noted by many of Rabbi Faur's supporters, the majority of professors in the JTS were themselves orthodox Rabbis!
Because Rabbi Faur was clearly a strictly observant Jew, if anything more observant than many of his detractors, he received the support of the chief rabbi
of the Syrian Jewish
community in Brooklyn
, Jacob Kassin, who signed an open letter attesting to Rabbi Faur's religious standing. Kassin explained that Rabbi Faur did not agree with the Conservative movement at all and that he had only taught at the school in order to earn a living. In fact, Rabbi Faur's influence was such that many of his students at the JTS themselves became observant Jews.
The Rabbis that opposed Rabbi Faur would not give up. Supported by certain wealthy members of the Syrian community who had a political agenda to keep uneducated Rabbis in the synagogue posts (and this so that they dictate to the Rabbis what proper policy was) these Rabbis engaged in all forms of attacks to slur Rabbi Faur's reputation. In the summer of 1987, Rabbi Faur received support from an unexpected source. The Sepharadi chief rabbi
of Jerusalem, hakham
Chalom Messas
, convened a Beth Din
which examined the allegations against Rabbi Faur and came to the conclusion that he was innocent of all charges. Chief Sepharadi Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu
later affirmed the decision as well. However, the controversy did not abate. The Haredi weekly, Yated Neeman, carried an ad on February 8, 1988, which called for the prevention of "the appointing of a Conservative rabbi to the Syrian Congregation Shaare Zion
in New York
." Aside from his involvement with the seminary, the ad accused Faur of "speaking improperly about great medieval Ashkenazic sages" and that his books "emit an odor of heresy." The declaration was signed by seventeen heads of Sepharadi Yeshivot (Jewish schools). Under intense pressure from Haredi religious leaders, Chalom Messas
and Mordechai Eliyahu
withdrew their earlier support.
Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu would later state the following when asked about the incident: "the greatest Sephardic Hacham living in the US today is Rabbi Faur."
, where he taught until 1993. Faur went on to teach Talmud
part-time at Bar Ilan University in Ramat Gan, Israel
, until 2003. From 1996 until 2007, Faur also taught law
at Netanya Academic College
, which was founded in 1994 by a team from Bar Ilan University in Netanya
, Israel
. Notwithstanding the attacks against him, Rabbi Faur continued teaching and writing young Tora scholars and his works are considered by many to be amongst the most influential and compelling in the Jewish world today.
Hakham
Hakham is a term from Judaism, meaning a wise or skillful man; it often refers to someone who is a great Torah scholar. The word is generally used to designate a cultured and learned person: "He who says a wise thing is called a wise man ["hakham"], even if he be not a Jew"...
(rabbi), teacher and scholar. He was a Rabbi in the Syrian-Jewish community in Brooklyn for many years and brought many people closer to Judaism and to the Tora. He was also a professor at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America
Jewish Theological Seminary of America
The Jewish Theological Seminary of America is one of the academic and spiritual centers of Conservative Judaism, and a major center for academic scholarship in Jewish studies.JTS operates five schools: Albert A...
, the Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies, and Bar Ilan University, and is currently Professor of Law at Netanya Academic College
Netanya Academic College
Netanya Academic College is a private college based in Netanya, Israel. Established in 1994 by a team from Bar-Ilan University, it has an enrolment of around 4,000 undergraduate students...
.
Biography
José Faur was born and raised in Buenos AiresBuenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
and belonged to the Damascene
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
Syrian Jewish
Syrian Jews
Syrian Jews are Jews who inhabit the region of the modern state of Syria, and their descendants born outside Syria. Syrian Jews derive their origin from two groups: from the Jews who inhabited the region of today's Syria from ancient times Syrian Jews are Jews who inhabit the region of the modern...
community of that city.
Early education
He was tutored in Jewish subjects by several Sepharadi Rabbis specially hired by his parents to this end. HakhamHakham
Hakham is a term from Judaism, meaning a wise or skillful man; it often refers to someone who is a great Torah scholar. The word is generally used to designate a cultured and learned person: "He who says a wise thing is called a wise man ["hakham"], even if he be not a Jew"...
Eliahu Freue, cited by Faur as his principal teacher, was the spiritual head of the Damascus community in Argentina and taught Faur the fundamentals of Talmud
Talmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
, Jewish law
Halakha
Halakha — also transliterated Halocho , or Halacha — is the collective body of Jewish law, including biblical law and later talmudic and rabbinic law, as well as customs and traditions.Judaism classically draws no distinction in its laws between religious and ostensibly non-religious life; Jewish...
and rabbinics. Other teachers included hakham
Hakham
Hakham is a term from Judaism, meaning a wise or skillful man; it often refers to someone who is a great Torah scholar. The word is generally used to designate a cultured and learned person: "He who says a wise thing is called a wise man ["hakham"], even if he be not a Jew"...
im Eliahu Suli, Jamil Harari and Aharon Cohen.
Faur credits these Rabbis for providing him with an outstanding Jewish education.
"They never assumed an arrogant attitude toward their students or anyone else. They were accessible to all and encouraged contrary views and free discussion. The truth was the result of a collective effort in which everyone had equal access and share, rather than being imposed by an individual of a superior mind. Following Sephardic educational tradition, the teaching was methodical and comprehensive. Before one began to study the TalmudTalmudThe Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
, it was expected of him to have a solid knowledge of the scripture, MishnayotMishnahThe Mishnah or Mishna is the first major written redaction of the Jewish oral traditions called the "Oral Torah". It is also the first major work of Rabbinic Judaism. It was redacted c...
, the famous anthology Eyn YaaqovEin YaakovEin Yaakov is a compilation of all the Aggadic material in the Talmud together with commentaries. Its introduction contains an account of the history of Talmudic censorship and the term Gemara...
, the Shulhan Arukh and other basic Jewish texts."
Rabbinic education
In 1955, barely in his late teens, Faur was accepted to the prestigious Rabbinic academy, the Beth Medrash GovohaBeth Medrash Govoha
Beth Medrash Govoha is a Haredi yeshiva located in Lakewood Township, New Jersey. It is commonly known as BMG, or Lakewood Yeshiva....
in Lakewood, New Jersey. The institution was founded and run by the Lithuanian Talmudist, Rabbi Aharon Kotler
Aharon Kotler
Aharon Kotler was an Orthodox Jewish rabbi and a prominent leader of Orthodox Judaism in Lithuania, and later the United States, where he built Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood Township, New Jersey.- Early life :...
.
Faur reminisces about his time at the Yeshiva:
"The first lesson I heard by Rabbi Kotler sounded like a revelation. He spoke rapidly, in Yiddish, a language I didn't know but was able to understand because I knew German. He quoted a large number of sources from all over the Talmud, linking them in different arrangements and showing the various inerpretations and interconnection of later Rabbinic authorities. I was dazzled. Never before had I been exposed to such an array of sources and interconnections. Nevertheless there were some points that didn't jibe. I approached R' Kotler to discuss the lesson. He was surprised that I had been able to follow. When I presented my objections to him, he reflected for a moment and then replied that he would give a follow-up lesson where these difficulties would be examined. This gave me an instant reputation as some sort of genius (iluy), and after a short while, I was accepted into the inner elite group.
My years in Lakewood were pleasurable and profitable.... At the same time the lessons of R' Kotler and my contacts with fellow students were making me aware of some basic methodological flaws in their approach. The desire to shortcut their way into the Talmud without a systematic and methodological knowledge of basic Jewish texts made their analysis skimpy and haphazard...The dialecticsPilpulPilpul refers to a method of studying the Talmud through intense textual analysis in attempts to either explain conceptual differences between various halakhic rulings or to reconcile any apparent contradictions presented from various readings of different texts.Pilpul has entered English as a...
that were being applied to the study of Talmud were not only making shambles out of the text, but, what was more disturbing to me, they were also depriving the very concept of Jewish law, Halacha, of all meaning. Since everything could be "proven" and "disproven", there were no absolute categories of right and wrong. Accordingly, the only possibility of morality is for the faithful to surrender himself to an assigned superior authority; it is the faithful's duty to obey this authority simply because it is the authority and because he is faithful. More precisely, devotion is not to be measured by an objective halacha (it has been destroyed by dialectics) but by obedience. Within this system of morality there was no uniform duty. It was the privilege of the authority to make special dispensations and allowances (hetarim) to some of the faithful; conversely, the authority could impose some new obligation and duties on all or a part of the faithful."
This approach was unusual and seemed at odds with the approach that Rabbi Faur was reared in during his years in Argentina.
It was at the Beth Medrash Govoha
Beth Medrash Govoha
Beth Medrash Govoha is a Haredi yeshiva located in Lakewood Township, New Jersey. It is commonly known as BMG, or Lakewood Yeshiva....
that Rabbi Faur first met and befriended the late Reb Shlomo Carlebach
Shlomo Carlebach
Shlomo Carlebach , known as Reb Shlomo to his followers, was a Jewish rabbi, religious teacher, composer, and singer who was known as "The Singing Rabbi" during his lifetime...
.
After this he went and taught at the Sephardic Ahi Ezer Congregation and then opened a Yeshiva in a house on Avenue P in Brooklyn NY. During this time, Rabbi Faur brought many people back to halachic observance and created a renaissance in the learning of Tora in accordance with the Sephardic traditions. Ralph Betesh, who late became one of the leaders of the Jewish community, but was a young man at the time of Rabbi Faur's ascendance, recounts how for the first time people heard of great Sephardic luminaries such as Don Yishak Abbarbanel, R. Bahye ibn Pakuda and R. Moshe Hefez. Rabbi Faur's influence in bringing the younger generation back to the traditions of Halacha and Tora was very substantial and many of the community lay and religious leaders were actually students (or students of students) of Rabbi Faur: Dennis Dweck, Rabbi Moshe Shamah, Mickey Cairy...etc.
Graduate studies and ordination
Rabbi Faur left the yeshiva with a view to fortifying his knowledge of Tora with an academic background. With this in mind, Rabbi Faur sought to follow studies that focused on Semitic Philology. He was the first Jew to be accepted at the University of BarcelonaUniversity of Barcelona
The University of Barcelona is a public university located in the city of Barcelona, Catalonia in Spain. It is a member of the Coimbra Group, LERU, European University Association, Mediterranean Universities Union, International Research Universities Network and Vives Network...
since the Jews were expelled from Spain in 1492 during the Spanish Inquisition
Spanish Inquisition
The Tribunal of the Holy Office of the Inquisition , commonly known as the Spanish Inquisition , was a tribunal established in 1480 by Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile. It was intended to maintain Catholic orthodoxy in their kingdoms, and to replace the Medieval...
. He graduated in 1961 with a degree in Semitic Philology and an M.A. in Semitic Languages; the title of his master's thesis was "La Espiritualidad Judia," a basic explanation of Jewish spirituality. In 1963, Faur received his Semicha
Semicha
, also , or is derived from a Hebrew word which means to "rely on" or "to be authorized". It generally refers to the ordination of a rabbi within Judaism. In this sense it is the "transmission" of rabbinic authority to give advice or judgment in Jewish law...
(contemporary rabbinic ordination) from hakham
Hakham
Hakham is a term from Judaism, meaning a wise or skillful man; it often refers to someone who is a great Torah scholar. The word is generally used to designate a cultured and learned person: "He who says a wise thing is called a wise man ["hakham"], even if he be not a Jew"...
Suleiman Haggai Abadi, head of the Beth Din
Beth din
A beth din, bet din, beit din or beis din is a rabbinical court of Judaism. In ancient times, it was the building block of the legal system in the Biblical Land of Israel...
(Jewish court) of Jerusalem. Meanwhile, Faur completed his doctorate in Semitic Languages (which he received in 1964), writing a thesis on "The Masorah to the Targum Onqelos." Later that year he left Spain to participate in a three-year fellowship at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York, under the supervision of the eminent professor of Talmud, Saul Lieberman
Saul Lieberman
Saul Lieberman , also known as Rabbi Shaul Lieberman or The Gra"sh , was a rabbi and a scholar of Talmud...
. In 1966, Faur was ordained as a dayyan (judge) in Family Law (Even Ha'ezer
Even Ha'ezer
Even Ha'ezer is a section of Rabbi Jacob ben Asher's compilation of halakha , Arba'ah Turim. This section treats aspects of Jewish law related to marriage, divorce, and sexual conduct. Later, Rabbi Yosef Karo modeled the framework of his own compilation of practical Jewish law, the Shulchan Aruch,...
) by hakham
Hakham
Hakham is a term from Judaism, meaning a wise or skillful man; it often refers to someone who is a great Torah scholar. The word is generally used to designate a cultured and learned person: "He who says a wise thing is called a wise man ["hakham"], even if he be not a Jew"...
Matloub Abadi, and was further ordained as a dayyan by hakham
Hakham
Hakham is a term from Judaism, meaning a wise or skillful man; it often refers to someone who is a great Torah scholar. The word is generally used to designate a cultured and learned person: "He who says a wise thing is called a wise man ["hakham"], even if he be not a Jew"...
Suleiman Haggai Abadi in 1968, this time in Civil Law (Choshen Mishpat
Choshen Mishpat
Choshen Mishpat is the Hebrew for "Breastplate of Judgement". The term is associated with one of the four sections of Rabbi Jacob ben Asher's compilation of halakha , Arba'ah Turim. This section treats aspects of Jewish law pertinent to finance, torts, legal procedure and loans and interest in...
).
Hence, in the Sephardic tradition of combining study of Tora with a strong academic background, Rabbi Faur was ready to return to teaching both as a Rabbi and a Professor.
Affiliation with JTSA
In 1967, on the advice of hakhamHakham
Hakham is a term from Judaism, meaning a wise or skillful man; it often refers to someone who is a great Torah scholar. The word is generally used to designate a cultured and learned person: "He who says a wise thing is called a wise man ["hakham"], even if he be not a Jew"...
im David de Sola Pool
David de Sola Pool
David de Sola Pool was an American rabbi and writer.-Early life and education:He was born in London, England, and later received his rabbinic ordination from the Hildesheimer Rabbinical Seminary, located in Berlin, Germany.-Career:In 1907, de Sola Pool was invited to become the minister of...
and Matloub Abadi (a leader of the Syrian Jewish community of Brooklyn, originally from Aleppo
Aleppo
Aleppo is the largest city in Syria and the capital of Aleppo Governorate, the most populous Syrian governorate. With an official population of 2,301,570 , expanding to over 2.5 million in the metropolitan area, it is also one of the largest cities in the Levant...
(Halab) - see Syrian Jews
Syrian Jews
Syrian Jews are Jews who inhabit the region of the modern state of Syria, and their descendants born outside Syria. Syrian Jews derive their origin from two groups: from the Jews who inhabited the region of today's Syria from ancient times Syrian Jews are Jews who inhabit the region of the modern...
), Faur accepted a faculty position at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America
Jewish Theological Seminary of America
The Jewish Theological Seminary of America is one of the academic and spiritual centers of Conservative Judaism, and a major center for academic scholarship in Jewish studies.JTS operates five schools: Albert A...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, where he developed a close relationship with the late Abraham Joshua Heschel
Abraham Joshua Heschel
Abraham Joshua Heschel was a Polish-born American rabbi and one of the leading Jewish theologians and Jewish philosophers of the 20th century.-Biography:...
, professor of Jewish Ethics and Mysticism. Faur left the school in 1985, when the Graduate Rabbinical School began admitting women. Rabbi Faur later sued for breach of contract, arguing that by admitting women in such a manner, the seminary was in effect forcing him to resign.
Opposition of Haredi leaders
While teaching at the Jewish Theological Seminary of AmericaJewish Theological Seminary of America
The Jewish Theological Seminary of America is one of the academic and spiritual centers of Conservative Judaism, and a major center for academic scholarship in Jewish studies.JTS operates five schools: Albert A...
, Rabbi Faur also offered Torah classes to members of the Syrian Jewish
Syrian Jews
Syrian Jews are Jews who inhabit the region of the modern state of Syria, and their descendants born outside Syria. Syrian Jews derive their origin from two groups: from the Jews who inhabited the region of today's Syria from ancient times Syrian Jews are Jews who inhabit the region of the modern...
community in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. This elicited the opposition of certain members of the Haredi community who felt threatened by Rabbi Faur's ability to attract huge crowds to study Tora. Rabbi Faur's approach, based on a solid knowledge of Tora and a broad knowledge of the academic disciplines, was far more interesting and compelling to many people who were looking for a modern and intelligible approach to Tora. Because these Rabbis were not able to attract peple to study, they engaged in a campaign to lible Rabbi Faur, attacking him in public forumns and whenever the opportunity arose. The pretext commonly used to attack Rabbi Faur was that he taught in the JTS. However, as noted by many of Rabbi Faur's supporters, the majority of professors in the JTS were themselves orthodox Rabbis!
Because Rabbi Faur was clearly a strictly observant Jew, if anything more observant than many of his detractors, he received the support of the chief rabbi
Chief Rabbi
Chief Rabbi is a title given in several countries to the recognized religious leader of that country's Jewish community, or to a rabbinic leader appointed by the local secular authorities...
of the Syrian Jewish
Syrian Jews
Syrian Jews are Jews who inhabit the region of the modern state of Syria, and their descendants born outside Syria. Syrian Jews derive their origin from two groups: from the Jews who inhabited the region of today's Syria from ancient times Syrian Jews are Jews who inhabit the region of the modern...
community in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, Jacob Kassin, who signed an open letter attesting to Rabbi Faur's religious standing. Kassin explained that Rabbi Faur did not agree with the Conservative movement at all and that he had only taught at the school in order to earn a living. In fact, Rabbi Faur's influence was such that many of his students at the JTS themselves became observant Jews.
The Rabbis that opposed Rabbi Faur would not give up. Supported by certain wealthy members of the Syrian community who had a political agenda to keep uneducated Rabbis in the synagogue posts (and this so that they dictate to the Rabbis what proper policy was) these Rabbis engaged in all forms of attacks to slur Rabbi Faur's reputation. In the summer of 1987, Rabbi Faur received support from an unexpected source. The Sepharadi chief rabbi
Chief Rabbi
Chief Rabbi is a title given in several countries to the recognized religious leader of that country's Jewish community, or to a rabbinic leader appointed by the local secular authorities...
of Jerusalem, hakham
Hakham
Hakham is a term from Judaism, meaning a wise or skillful man; it often refers to someone who is a great Torah scholar. The word is generally used to designate a cultured and learned person: "He who says a wise thing is called a wise man ["hakham"], even if he be not a Jew"...
Chalom Messas
Chalom Messas
Shalom Messas, , was the Chief Rabbi of Morocco from 1961 until 1978, when he made aliyah to become the Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem, in which position he served until his death...
, convened a Beth Din
Beth din
A beth din, bet din, beit din or beis din is a rabbinical court of Judaism. In ancient times, it was the building block of the legal system in the Biblical Land of Israel...
which examined the allegations against Rabbi Faur and came to the conclusion that he was innocent of all charges. Chief Sepharadi Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu
Mordechai Eliyahu
Mordechai Tzemach Eliyahu ) was a prominent rabbi, posek and spiritual leader. He served as the Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel from 1983 to 1993.-Biography:...
later affirmed the decision as well. However, the controversy did not abate. The Haredi weekly, Yated Neeman, carried an ad on February 8, 1988, which called for the prevention of "the appointing of a Conservative rabbi to the Syrian Congregation Shaare Zion
Congregation Shaare Zion
Congregation Shaare Zion, is an Orthodox Sephardic synagogue located at 2030 Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn, New York. One of the largest Orthodox Jewish congregations in New York, it has an estimated 1,500 worshipers who attend its services Fridays and Saturdays for Shabbat...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
." Aside from his involvement with the seminary, the ad accused Faur of "speaking improperly about great medieval Ashkenazic sages" and that his books "emit an odor of heresy." The declaration was signed by seventeen heads of Sepharadi Yeshivot (Jewish schools). Under intense pressure from Haredi religious leaders, Chalom Messas
Chalom Messas
Shalom Messas, , was the Chief Rabbi of Morocco from 1961 until 1978, when he made aliyah to become the Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem, in which position he served until his death...
and Mordechai Eliyahu
Mordechai Eliyahu
Mordechai Tzemach Eliyahu ) was a prominent rabbi, posek and spiritual leader. He served as the Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel from 1983 to 1993.-Biography:...
withdrew their earlier support.
Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu would later state the following when asked about the incident: "the greatest Sephardic Hacham living in the US today is Rabbi Faur."
Positions after leaving JTSA
In 1987, Faur took a position as the Ezra Sensibar Visiting Professor at the Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, where he taught until 1993. Faur went on to teach Talmud
Talmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
part-time at Bar Ilan University in Ramat Gan, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, until 2003. From 1996 until 2007, Faur also taught law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
at Netanya Academic College
Netanya Academic College
Netanya Academic College is a private college based in Netanya, Israel. Established in 1994 by a team from Bar-Ilan University, it has an enrolment of around 4,000 undergraduate students...
, which was founded in 1994 by a team from Bar Ilan University in Netanya
Netanya
Netanya is a city in the Northern Centre District of Israel, and is the capital of the surrounding Sharon plain. It is located north of Tel Aviv, and south of Haifa between the 'Poleg' stream and Wingate Institute in the south and the 'Avichail' stream in the north.Its of beaches have made the...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. Notwithstanding the attacks against him, Rabbi Faur continued teaching and writing young Tora scholars and his works are considered by many to be amongst the most influential and compelling in the Jewish world today.
Published works
Faur has published eight books and over 100 essays and articles on a wide variety of subjects, ranging from linguistics to historiography to rabbinic law.Books
- The Naked Crowd: The Jewish Alternative to Cunning Humanity, Fort Lee: Derusha Publishing (September 2009)
- The Horizontal Society: Understanding the Covenant and Alphabetic Judaism (2 vol.), Boston: Academic Studies Press (June 15, 2008)
- Homo Mysticus: A Guide to Maimonides's Guide for the Perplexed, Syracuse: Syracuse University PressSyracuse University PressSyracuse University Press, founded in 1943, is a university press that is part of Syracuse University. The areas of focus for the Press include Middle East Studies, Native American Studies, Peace and Conflict Resolution, Irish Studies and Jewish Studies, among others. The Press has an international...
(April 1998) - In the Shadow of History: Iberian Jews and Conversos at the Dawn of Modernity, Albany: State University of New York PressState University of New York PressThe State University of New York Press , is a university press and a Center for Scholarly Communication. The Press is part of the State University of New York system and is located in Albany, New York.- History :...
(February 1992) - Golden Doves With Silver Dots: Semiotics and Textuality in Rabbinic Tradition, Bloomington: Indiana University PressIndiana University PressIndiana University Press, also known as IU Press, is an academic publisher at Indiana University that specializes in the humanities and social sciences. It was founded in 1950. Its headquarters are located in Bloomington, Indiana....
(June 1986).- Translation into Serbian by Ermoza Bahar, Zlatne Golubice sa Srebrnim Tackama, Zemun: Knjizevno Drustvo Pismo (2002)
- Studies in the Mishne Tora (in Hebrew), Jerusalem: Mossad Harav Kook (June 1978)
- R. Israel Moshe Hazzan: The Man and His Works (in Hebrew), Haifa: Academic Publications (1977)
- La Espiritualidad Judía (in Spanish), Universidad Pontifical de Salamanca (1960)
Articles
- "Alepo, Códice de," Enciclopedia de la Biblia vol. 1 (Barcelona, 1961), 321-332.
- "Hilkhot Shehita le-Rab Yehudai Gaon," Talpioth 9 (1965), 194-217.
- "Tosafot Ha-Rosh le Pereq Ha-Maddir," Sinai 57 (1965), 18-42.
- "Tosafot Ha-Rosh le-Massekhet Berakhot," Proceedings of the American Academy for Jewish Research 33 (1965), 1-25.
- "Samkhut Maran esel ha-Posqim ha-Sefaradim," Sinai 59 (1966) 159-166.
- "Hilufe Otiyot Alef be-Yod ba-masora le-Targum Onqelos," Peraqim 4 (1966), 93-97.
- "Ha-Messora le-Targum Onqelos," Sinai 60 (1967), 17-28.
- "Reshima meha-Otiyot ha-Gedolot veha-Qetanot sheba-Miqra meha-Geniza ha-Qahirit," Proceedings of the American Academy for Jewish Research 35, (1967), 1-10.
- "Hiddushim le-Seder Zera'im me-Ketibat Yad ha-Rab Mordekhai Romano," Sinai 60, (1967), 218-224.
- "La doctrina de la ley natural en el pensamiento Judío del medioevo," Sefarad 27 (1967), 218-224.
- "Understanding the Covenant," TraditionTradition (journal)Tradition: A Journal of Orthodox Jewish Thought is a quarterly Orthodox academic journal published by the Rabbinical Council of America in association with Yeshiva University in New York City...
9 (1968), 33-55. - "'Iyyunim be-Hilkhot Teshuba le-Harambam," Sinai 61 (1969), 259-266.
- "Meqor Hiyyuban shel ha-Misvot le-Da'at ha-Rambam," Tarbiz 29 (1969), 42-53.
- "The Origin of the Distinction between Rational and Divine Commandments in Medieval Jewish Philosophy," Augustinaum 9 (1969), 298-304.
- "Yahas Hakhme ha-Sefaradim le-Samkhut Maran ke-Poseq," Rabbi Yosef Caro (Jerusalem: Mossad Harav KookMossad Harav KookMossad Harav kook is a religious research foundation and notable publishing house, based in Jerusalem. Mossad Harav Kook is named after Abraham Isaac Kook and was founded by Yehuda Leib Maimon in 1937....
, 1970), pp. 189–197. - "Reflections on Job and Situation Morality," Judaism (1970), 219-225.
- "Ha-'Aboda Zara ba-Miqra le-Or ha-meqorot ha-Eliliyim," Hagut 'Ibrit be-America vol. 1 (Tel Aviv: Berit 'Ibrit 'Olamit, 1972), pp. 87–100.
- "De-Oraita, de-Rabbanan ve-Dinim Muflaim be-Mishnato shel ha-Rambam, Sinai 67 (1972), 20-35.
- "The Sepharadim: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow," The Sephardic World (Summer 1972), 5-9.
- "Law and Justice in Rabbinic Jurisprudence," Samuel K. Mirsky Memorial Volume (New York: Yeshiva University, 1972), pp. 13–20.
- "A Sense of Language," The Sephardic World (Winter 1973), 25-31.
- "Intuitive Knowledge of God: A Study in Intercultural Ideas between Islam, Karaism, and Rabbanaite Judaism," Ben Zvi Institute (Jerusalem, 1974).
- "Introducing the Materials of Sephardic Culture to Contemporary Jewish Studies," American Jewish Historical Quarterly 63 (1974), 340-349.
- "Hora'at Ha-Miqra ba-Qehilot Ha-Sefardiyot," Sheviley Hahinuch 35 (1974), 42-46.
- "R. Yisrael Moshe Hazzan," Ha-Doar 54 (1975), 189-192.
- "Abraham de BotonAbraham de BotonAbraham Hiyya de Boton was aTalmudist and rabbi, a pupil of Samuel de Medina, who later dwelt for the most part at Salonica as rabbi and leader of a Talmudic academy. The name "Ḥiyya" was given him during a dangerous sickness...
," Ha-Doar 54 (1975), 266. - "Ma Ben Hamor Ze Le-Hamor Ha-Hu," Sinai 76 (1975), 189-192.
- "Hora'at Ha-Talmud Ba-Massoret Ha-Hinukhit Ha-Sefardit," Sheviley Hahinuch 35 (1975) 177-188.
- "Idolatry," Encyclopaedia JudaicaEncyclopaedia JudaicaThe Encyclopaedia Judaica is a 26-volume English-language encyclopedia of the Jewish people and their faith, Judaism. It covers diverse areas of the Jewish world and civilization, including Jewish history of all eras, culture, holidays, language, scripture, and religious teachings...
8 (1973), 1227-1232. Reprinted in Jewish Values (Israel Pocket Library, 1974), 52-60. - "The Legal Thinking of the Tosafot," Dine Israel 6 (1975), 43-72.
- "Sefer Ha-Yobel Li-khbod Professor Baron: Heleq Ha-'Ibri," Ha-Doar 54 (1975), 511-512.
- "Sefer Ha-Yobel Li-khbod Professor Baron: Heleq Ha-Lo'azi," Ha-Doar 54 (1975), 567-568.
- "Early Zionist Ideals Among Sepharadim in the Nineteenth Century," Judaism 25 (1976), 54-64.
- "The Targumim and Halakha," Jewish Quarterly ReviewJewish Quarterly ReviewThe Jewish Quarterly Review is an peer-reviewed academic journal which focuses on Jewish studies. It is published quarterly for the Herbert D. Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies at the University of Pennsylvania by the University of Pennsylvania Press. The current editors are Elliott Horowitz...
66 (1976), 19-26. - "Tehiyat Ha-Lashon Ha-'Ibrit esel Ha-Yehudim Ha-Sefaradim," Ha-Doar 55 (1976), 56-57.
- "The Character of the Sephardic Culture," Jewish Spectator (Spring 1976), 33-35.
- "Some General Observations on the Character of Classical Jewish Literature," Journal of Jewish Studies 28 (1977), 30-45.
- "Sephardim in the XIXth Century: New Directions and Old Values," Proceedings of the American Academy for Jewish Research 44 (1977), 29-52.
- "Intuitive Knowledge of God in Medieval Jewish Theology," Jewish Quarterly Review 67 (1976–1977), 90-110.
- "Sekhar Ha-Rofe Ba-Halakha," Dine Israel 7 (1977), 1-25. Reprinted in French: "Le droit du medecin de percevoir un salaire dans la tradition juive, " Pardes, 8 (1988), 73-92.
- "Vico, Religious Humanism and the Sephardic Tradition," Judaism 27 (1978), 63-71. Spanish translation in: "Vico el Humanismo Religioso y la Tradición Sefardita," Cuadernos sobre Vico 7 (1997), 255-264.
- "Lessons for our day from Sephardic Halakhic Sources," Proceedings of the Rabbinical Assembly 1978 , 57-73. Translated in Italian: "Lezioni per il Nostro Tempo dalle Fonti Halachiche Sefardite," Rassegna Mensile di Israel, 1983 (August), 581-600.
- "The Biblical Idea of Idolatry," Jewish Quarterly Review 69 (1978), 1-26.
- "The Hebrew Personal Pronoun," Perspectives on Jews and Judaism (New York: Rabbinical Assembly, (1979), pp. 45–59.
- "The Inclusion of a Sefardi Dimension in American Jewish Education," Annual Workshop on New Directions in Jewish Education (Proceedings: March 13, 1971). Enlarged Version in ed. Jane S. Gerber, Sephardic Studies in the University (Madison, N. J.: Fairleigh Dickinson University PressFairleigh Dickinson University PressFairleigh Dickinson University Press is a publishing house under the operation and oversight of Fairleigh Dickinson University, the largest private university in New Jersey, USA. FDU Press was established in 1967 by the university's founder Peter Sammartino, in cooperation with the publisher...
, 1996), pp. 19–28. - "On Studying Torah: An Apology," Ikka D'Amre 7 (May 1979), 12-18.
- "The Third Person in Semitic Grammatical Theory and General Linguistics," Linguistica Biblica, Bonn, 46 (1979), 106-113.
- "The Fundamental Principles of Jewish Jurisprudence," The Journal of International Law and Politics, New York University, 12 (1979).
- "Beyond Ordination: The Procedural Aspects," Sh'ma (Feb. 1980).
- "Yahas Megurashe Sefarad vese'esa'ehem le-mosdot Hinnukh,'" Shebet Va 'am (1980), 319-339.
- "Le Penseé Sepharade Moderne: Humanisme Religieux et Sionisme," Les Temps Modernes Paris (1980), 131-145.
- "Monotheism and Magic," Midstream Aug./Sept., 1980, 54-57.
- "Modern Sephardic Thought: Religious Humanism and Zionism,"The Sephardi and Oriental Jewish Heritage (1982), pp. 325-349.
- "Maimonides on Freedom and Language," Helios 9 (1982), 73-94.
- "David Nassy: on Prejudice and Related Matters," Neveh Ya'akov, Jubilee Volume Presented to Dr. Jaap Meijer (The Netherlands: Van Gorcum, 1982), pp. 87–116.
- "Freedom and Linguistic Expression in Maimonides," Semiotica 46 (1983), 61-77.
- "El Antisemitismo en la Mente Sefaradí," Rassegna Mensile di Israel 1983 (August), 394-418.
- "The Splitting of the Logos: Some Remarks on Vico and Rabbinic Tradition," New Vico Studies 3 (1985), 85-103. Reprinted in: Salvación en la Palabra: Homenaje al Profesor Alejandro Díez Macho (Madrid: Ediciones Cristiandad, 1985), 717-733. Spanish translation: "La Ruptura del Logos: Algunas Observaciones sobre Vico y la Tradición Rabínica," Cuadernos sobre Vico 7 (1997), pp. 265–278.
- "Delocutive Expressions in the Hebrew Liturgy," Ancient Studies in Memory of Elias Bickerman (The Journal of the Ancient Near Eastern Society) 16-17 (1984–1985), pp. 41–54.
- 'Aliyyat Qatan li-Qro ba-Tora," Studies in Memory of the Rishon le-Zion R. Y. Nissim, vol. 1 (Jerusalem: Yad ha-Rab Nissim, 5745/1985).
- "La guida degli smarriti: che cosa significa?" La Rassegna Mensile di Israel 52 (1986), 230-232.
- "Safeq Berakhot le-Haqel: Kelal she-Teba'a Ha-Rambam," Asufot 1 (1987), pp. 343–359.
- "Reading Jewish Texts with Greek Eyes," Sh'ma 18/342 (November 27, 1987), 10-12.
- "Francisco Sánchez's Theory of Cognition and Vico's verum/factum," New Vico Studies 5 (1987), 131-146. Spanish translation: "La Teoría del Conocimiento de Francisco Sánchez y el verum/factum de Vico," Cuadernos Sobre Vico 4 (1994), pp. 83–99.
- "Tefillot Keneged Temidim Tiqqenum le-Da'at Ha-Rambam," Asufot 2 (1988), 157-176.
- "Concerning the Term 'Qore be-Iiggeret'" (Heb), Alei Sefer 15 (1988–89), 21-30.
- "God as a Writer: Omnipresence and the Art of Dissimulation," Religion and Intellectual Life 6 (1989), 31-43. Translated to Slavic: in Mezuza, Vol. 55 (Piograd: June 1998), 111-124.
- "Ha-Sugya ha-Kefula: le-Bi'ur ha-Sugya ha-Rishona be-Massekhet Shabbat," Asufot 3 (1989), 467-473.
- "De-authorization of the Law: Paul and the Oedipal Model," Journal of Psychiatry and the Humanities 11 (1989), 222-243. Translated into French: "Délégitimation de la Loi: Paul et le modèle oedipien," Pardès 27 (1999), 159-181.
- "Four Classes of Conversos: A Typological Study," Revue des Etudes Juives 149 (1990), 26-34.
- "Person and Subjectivity: A Linguistic Category," Mentalities 6 (1990), 15-18.
- "Signon ha-Mishna ve-ha-Shinnun be-'al-pe," Asufot 4 (1990), 12-31.
- "Newton, Maimonides, and Esoteric Knowledge," Cross Currents: Religious & Intellectual Life 8 (1990), 526-538.
- "Jewish and Western Historiographies: A Post-Modern Interpretation," Modern Judaism 12 (1992), 23-27.
- "The Jewish Mentality of Francisco Sánchez," Mentalities 7, (1992), 26-38.
- "Correlations: The Iberian and German Experiences," Midstream June-July, 1992, 20-22.
- "Two Models of Jewish Spirituality," Shofar 10 (1992), 5-46.
- "Leishev ba-Sukkah: Between Ashkenaz and Sepharad," Rabbinics Today 1 (October 1992), 5, 8.
- "Texte et société: histoire sociale du texte revele, " ed. Shmuel Trigano, La Société Juive a Travers les Ages vol. 1 (Paris: Librairie Fayard, 1992), pp. 43–113; notes pp. 691–705.
- "Imagination and Religious Pluralism: Maimonides, ibn Verga, and Vico," New Vico Studies 10 (1992), 36-51.
- "The Limits of Readerly Collusion in Rabbinic Tradition," Soundings 56 (1993), 153-161.
- "Law and Hermeneutics in Rabbinic Jurisprudence: A Maimonidean Perspective," Cardozo Law Review 14 (1993), 1657-1679.
- "Judaism and Monolingualism," Cardozo Law Review 14 (1993), 1713-1744.
- "Maimonides on Imagination: Towards a Theory of Jewish Aesthetics," The Solomon Goldman Lectures (The Spertus College of Judaica Press) 6 (1993), 89-104.
- "Sánchez' Critique of Authoritas: Converso Skepticism and the Emergence of Radical Hermeneutics," in ed. Peter Ochs, The Return to Scripture in Judaism and Christianity (New York: Paulist Press, 1993), pp. 256–276.
- "Maimonides' Water-Clock and its Epistemological Implications: Sánchez's modus sciendi and Vico's verum-factum," Jewish Responses to Early Modern Science (The Van Leer Institute, Jerusalem, May 15–18, 1995), pp. 176–185.
- " 'Al Girsa Ahat le-Masekhet Nidda Mi-Tqufat ha-Sbora'im," Tarbiz 65 (1996), 721 – 728.
- "The Character of Apophatic Knowledge in Maimonides' Guide," in ed. Dan Cohn-Sherbok Theodicy (Lewiston, New York: The Edwin Mellen Press, 1997), pp. 65–74.
- "A Crisis of Categories: Kabalah and the rise of Apostasy in Spain," in eds. Moshe Lazar and Stephen Haliczer, The Jews Of Spain and The Expulsion of 1492 (California: Labyrinthos, 1997), pp. 41–63.
- "Basic concepts in Rabbinic Hermeneutics," Shofar 16, (1997), 1-12.
- "The Hebrew Species Concept and the Origin of Evolution: R. Benamozegh's Response to Darwin," Rassegna Mensile di Israel 63 (1997), 43-66.
- "Le Juif unidimensional et le degré zéro du judaism," Pardès 25 (1998), pp. 113–127. Longer English version: "One-Dimensional Jew, Zero-Dimensional Judaism," Annual of Rabbinic Judaism, II (1999), pp. 31–50.
- "Ve-Nishu Hakhme Ummot ha-'Olam et Hakhme Yisrael," ) in eds. Chief Justice of Israel Supreme Court Aharon BarakAharon BarakAharon Barak is a Professor of Law at the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya and a lecturer in law at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the Yale Law School, and the University of Toronto Faculty of Law....
and Professor Menashe Shawa, Minha Le-Yishaq (Jerusalem: Lishkat 'Orkhe-Din, 1999), pp. 113–133. - "Jews, Conversos, and Native Americans: The Iberian Experience," Annual of Rabbinic Judaism III (2000), pp. 95–121.
- "Don Quichotte: un talmudiste au passé souillé," Pardes 29 (2000), 159-168. Enlarged English version: "Don Quixote: Talmudist and mucho más," The Review of Rabbinic Judaism 4 (2001), 139-157.
- "Performative and Descriptive Utterances in Jewish Law" (Heb.). In ed. Arye Edrei, Studies in Jewish Law in Honor of Professor Aaron Kirschenbaum (Dine Israel 20-21, 5760-5761), pp. 101–121.
- "Retórica y hemenéutica: Vico y la tradición rabínica," in ed. E. Hidalgo-Serna, et al., Pensar Para el Nuevo Siglo, vol. 3 (Napoli: La Cittá del Sole, 2001), pp. 917–938.
- "El pensamiento Sefardí frente a la ilustración Europea," in ed. Judit Targarona Borrás et al., Pensamiento y Mística Hispanojudía y Sefardí (Cuenca: Ediciones de la Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha), pp. 323–338.
- "Of Cultural Intimidation and Other Miscellanea: Bar-Sheshakh vs. Raba," Review of Rabbinic Judaism 5 (2002), 34-50.
- "Esoteric Knowledge and the Vulgar," Trumah 12 (2002), 183-191.
- "Anti-Maimonidean Demons," Review of Rabbinic Judaism 6 (2003), pp. 3–52.
- "Newton, Maimonidean," Review of Rabbinic Judaism 6 (2003), 215-249.
- "Sir Isaac Newton—'a Judaic monotheist of the school of Maimonides,'" in ed. Gorge K. Hasselhoff and Otfried Fraisse, Moises Maimonides (Germany: Ergon Verlag, 2004), pp. 289–309.
- "The Status of Jewish Real Estate outside Israel's Territory," (Heb.), Law Review Netanya Academic College, vol. 4, 2005 (in Honour of Prof. Avner H. ShakiAvner ShakiAvner-Hai Shaki was an Israeli politician who served as a government minister in the late 1980s and early 1990s.-Biography:Born in Safed during the Mandate era, Shaki studied law, gaining a PhD from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem...
), pp. 743–791. - "Alphabetic Memory," Mentalities 19 (2005), pp. 21–25.
- "On Martyrdom in Jewish Law: Maimonides and NahmanidesNahmanidesNahmanides, also known as Rabbi Moses ben Naḥman Girondi, Bonastruc ça Porta and by his acronym Ramban, , was a leading medieval Jewish scholar, Catalan rabbi, philosopher, physician, kabbalist, and biblical commentator.-Name:"Nahmanides" is a Greek-influenced formation meaning "son of Naḥman"...
," (Heb.), Annual of Bar-Ilan University, 30-13, 2006 (In Memory of Prof. Meyer Simcha Feldblum), pp. 373–408.
External links
- The José Faur Tora Studies Center (has many articles and a lot of information about Faur's books)
- Moreshet Sepharad (has audio recordings of some of Faur's classes on Talmud given in Deal, NJ)
- Anti-Maimonidean Demons (an article on the so-called "Maimonidean controversy" by José Faur)