by Ram ben Ze'ev “An Orthodox Gay Shul” Is a Contradiction — And Israel Must Not Normalise It There is a modern habit of attaching holy words to unholy ideas in order to neutralise criticism. The Nations have done this to us for centuries: they rename, reframe, soften, and then demand we accept their distortion as “progress.” And now, in our own day, Jews have begun doing it to themselves — taking words that belong to Torah, using them as branding, and then expecting the ציבו

by Ram ben Ze'ev When Death Becomes Theatre: The Idolatry of Public Praise The modern world has developed a ritual which it treats as sacred: the instant public tribute. A famous person dies, and within minutes a chorus begins. Social media floods with accolades, praise, affectionate “rememberings,” and grand pronouncements, as though death itself confers holiness — as though the grave has the power to sanctify a life that was never virtuous. Men who were alive yesterday as c

by Ram ben Ze'ev G-D Does Not Have a “Wife”: The Academic Reinvention of Idolatry There is a particular kind of modern arrogance that dresses itself in a tweed jacket, calls itself “historical inquiry,” and then proceeds to vandalise holiness with the confidence of a man who has never stood in awe of anything. We see it today in the increasing number of so-called historians who suggest — with a smirk disguised as scholarship — that G-D had a “wife,” that she was worshipped

by Ram ben Ze'ev Caring for Parents, Dwelling in the Land, and the Cost of Language Creep An English reader encountering the phrase “honouring one’s parents” is already standing on unstable ground. The Hebrew commandment is not about ceremonial honour, reverence, or emotional esteem. It is about responsibility, provision, and care. The Torah speaks in the language of action, not sentiment. When we translate this obligation as “honour,” we unintentionally soften it, moralise i

by Ram ben Ze’ev America First—or Empire First? Trump’s Venezuelan Rubicon Full Disclosure I write this as a long-time supporter of President Donald J. Trump. I voted for him in 2016, again in 2020, and once more in 2024. My support has always been grounded in his rejection of endless wars, globalist interventionism, and the idea that America should act as the world’s policeman. Precisely because of that support, what follows matters. If the future leadership of the Republica

by Ram ben Ze'ev When Protection Is Withdrawn: The Halakhic Meaning of the Tenth of Tevet The fast of the Tenth of Tevet is not a historical reenactment nor a gesture of mourning directed outward. From a halakhic perspective, it is an inward act, rooted in responsibility rather than accusation. The siege of Jerusalem that began on this day is remembered not because of the cruelty of our enemies, but because of what was revealed about ourselves when Divine protection was withd

by Ram ben Ze’ev Christmas and the Invention of a Birth Date Christmas is presented to the world as a celebration of a birth said to have taken place on 25 December. That claim is repeated so often that it is assumed to be historical fact. Yet when examined carefully—using the very text relied upon by its proponents, alongside historical, agricultural, astronomical, and Jewish considerations—the December birth narrative collapses entirely. What remains is not history, but con

by Ram ben Ze'ev Reclaiming the Language of Revelation Language is never neutral, and within Judaism it is never accidental. Every word we use either preserves the inner truth of Torah or subtly reshapes it. When foreign terms are introduced, normalised, and repeated often enough, they do not merely translate our tradition; they reframe it. Over time, that reframing alters how Torah is understood, taught, and lived. The phrase עשרת הדברים (Aseret HaDibrot, Ten Utterances) sta

by Ram ben Ze'ev The Illusion of Profit: Why Strategy’s Bitcoin ‘Gains’ Cannot Be Realised There is a dangerous misunderstanding spreading among retail investors, and it centres on one word: profit . In recent months, Strategy’s public filings and presentations have increasingly framed Bitcoin price movements in terms of operating income, net income, and earnings per share. To the untrained eye, this implies something intuitive and reassuring: that Strategy is generating prof