Another side of Achav

Until now, we have offered a great many details both from the text of the book of Kings as well as midrashic traditions regarding the great wickedness of King Achav (Ahab). (See, for example, here.) We will now examine another side of Achav, and along with it, a remarkable quality of the Jewish nation. We […]

Beware of Demons During These Days

Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim, Laws of Tishah b’Ah: “One must take care, from the 17th of Tamuz until the 9th of Av not to walk alone from [the end of] the 4th hour (appx. 10AM) until [the end of] the 9th hour (appx. 3PM) (because at that time, Ketev Meriri reigns [sic]), and [the teachers] […]

Eliyahu at Mount Carmel: the Real Story (UPDATED July 20)

B’Midbar Rabah 23:9: When Eliyahu said to the worshippers of Baal, ‘Choose for yourselves one bull and make [your offering] first, for you are the majority’ (I Kings 18:25), four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and four hundred and fifty prophets of Asherah gathered together, but they could not move the bull’s foot from […]