- Torah and Jewish Thought
- Basics of Jewish Faith
Creation
Question
1) Does the sun go around the earth or does the earth go around the sun? how to understand it?
2) How to understand the light mentioned in Beresheet 1. what is it?
3) Does Hashem have a right and left side? how to understand it?
Answer
1. The earth goes around the sun. Today modern science has clear explanations. I don't see what's difficult.
2. Light, as opposed to darkness. It's not referring to sunlight for the sun was just created on the fourth day.
3. Obviously Hashem doesn't have a right or left, but man needs to know how and "where" to address Him, so He explained how to do so in the Beit HaMikdash, that the Shchina (Divine Presence) was in the west, opposite the entrance from the east. Similarly, at the end of Shmoneh Esreh, as we walk backward, and, as if it were, and "take leave" of speaking to God, we first bow to our left, which is if it were, towards the Shechina's "right". There are kabbalistic explanations but that won't be dealt with in the brief scope of this framework.

Where Does Torah say we have Free Will
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Iyyar 10, 5781

Why pray when bad things happen if all is for good?
Rabbi Chaim Tabasky | 1 Sivan 5765

How was there light before the sun was created?
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Tishrei 30, 5782

Was Torah Corrupted or Changed?
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Av 20, 5781

Rabbi Ari Shvat
Lectures at various yeshivot, michlalot and midrashot. Has published many books & Torani articles and is in charge of Rav Kook’s archives.

Yericho conquest by Yehoshua
Tevet 28, 5771

Kri u'ktiv
Adar II 25, 5771

Davening if Hashem knows future
Adar II 25, 5771

A Day is a thousand years
Adar I 23, 5771

Tehillim for a deceased parent
Rabbi Yoel Lieberman | Tammuz 8, 5773

Popcorn at the cinema
Rabbi David Sperling | Nisan 8, 5773

Bracha on water
Rabbi Elchanan Lewis | Cheshvan 16, 5769

How to kosher a Barbeque Grill
Rabbi David Sperling | Sivan 11, 5776

kabbalistic meaning of water drinking
Rabbi Yoel Lieberman | Sivan 25, 5782

Rabbi has resigned
Rabbi David Sperling | Sivan 30, 5782

Understanding Measurements of Ezekiel's Third Temple
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Tammuz 4, 5782
