Hakirah: The Flatbush Journal of Jewish Law and Thought

Large View 

In the year of 2004, a small group of friends who study Torah together every Shabbos decided to create a Torah journal that would allow members of the Flatbush community to publish articles on Jewish law and thought.

Now, a year later, they are offering to the general public the first fruits of their labor, the inaugural volume of Hakirah: The Flatbush Journal of Jewish Law and Thought. This first issue, dedicated to the memory of Joel Fruchter, z"l, contains an eclectic mix of nine articles, seven of which are in English and two in Hebrew. The journal, which will be published yearly, contains articles pertaining to Jewish law and thought, midrash and a book review.

The quality of the journal including its cover, the layout and the content is exceptional. It is obvious that neither time nor expense was spared to produce a high quality scholarly journal that would be appealing to both the bibliophile and the Torah scholar.

The topics covered by the articles are interesting and diverse. The reader should be cautioned, however, that these are not articles that can be read while standing on a single foot. The articles reference primary Halachik sources that are quoted by the authors to argue their point. The reader should be ready to read each source and to think through with the author as it is examined and analyzed.

This first issue of Hakirah contains contributions from both rabbonim and laymen, representing a wide spectrum of opinions. Some articles contain insights into halachah and Talmudic sources: The nature of a seudah eaten erev Shabbos is analyzed, and the validity of making Shabbos early is challenged. A discussion of the sin of Nadav and Avihu leads to a deeper understanding of the nature of Ketores in Avodas Yom Kippur.

In other articles, matters of hashkafah affecting attitudes toward Torah study and the performance of mitzvos are examined: Two local rabbonim question, respectively, whether Chumash is being taught properly, and whether chumros are always desirable. Chazal`s attitude towards understanding the events of their day is examined, the Torah`s imperative of Yedias Hashem is analyzed, and the importance of studying the Talmud Yerushalmi is explored in the book review.

The editors of Hakirah hope that the journal will be used by the community as a forum for those who have been studying in depth to disseminate the results of their study for careful review. Members of the community are also encouraged to comment on the articles that they have read and subsequent issues will allow considerable space for the readers` comments and the authors` responses.