Rabbi Francis Nataf is a Jerusalem-based thinker, writer, and educator. He is the author of the Redeeming Relevance in the Torah series and of many articles on religious thought, biblical studies, and current events. He is a senior lecturer of Tanakh (Bible) at Midreshet Rachel v’Chaya, Translation and Research at Sefaria and Associate Editor of the Jewish Bible Quarterly. Most important, however, is his reputation for independent thought and creativity, which simultaneously puts him to the right and to the left of everyone he knows.
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Theme photo – Sun Setting in the West from the Jordan River courtesy of Rabbi David Mescheloff
REDEEMING RELEVANCE ON THE TORAH SERIES
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In this book, Rabbi Francis Nataf brings a sophisticated approach to some of the central themes in Genesis offering profound and relevant teachings from the Torah’s first book. Redeeming Relevance comes highly recommended from such notable Jewish leaders as Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm and Rabbi Dr. Aharon Lichtenstein.
Rabbi Nataf draws on his keen literary awareness and deep knowledge of the text, Midrash and commentaries to provide original readings of some of the major stories in the book of Exodus. Through careful and creative textual analysis, he shows that we can still find new and provocative text-based insights.
”Francis Nataf overcomes ‘Vayikra Avoidance Syndrome’ with an ambitious set of essays that treat the book as a whole and justify its centrality in the Torah. He offers stimulating and sometimes provocative theses about… Kohanim and Israelites, Jews and gentiles, and flesh and blood.” –Rabbi Aryeh Klapper, Dean, Center for Modern Torah Leadership
This volume focuses on some of the text’s most perplexing stories in the Book of Numbers. It weaves them into discussions about the individual and the community, religious leadership and its abuse, and about communication and disappointment. Taking a new look at Judaism’s most basic text, Rabbi Nataf reads the Bible in ways that make it more accessible and more exciting to study.
A fresh look […], this volume focuses on topics such as mortality, personal vision, identity, humanity, and religion and state. Rabbi Francis Nataf shows his talent for discovering previously untouched facets of the Torah and connecting them to Jewish tradition. The clarity of the insights and patterns presented shows how a personal analysis of the biblical text can lead to living a more spiritually rewarding and ethically correct life.
THE PARSHA (ETC.) BLOG
Jews can do more about global poverty
In my latest article at Lehrhaus, I argue that the halakhot of charity to non-Jews represent a case in which today’s circumstances are radically different from when Jewish law was formulated, such that it requires major review and revision. Moreover, it seems to me that we cannot ethically proceed without also keeping in mind that absolute poverty today exists…
Finding God’s Benevolent Hand
Like many people of faith, I yearn to see God’s presence in the world. And like most religious Jews, I see the return to Jewish statehood as an expression of that presence. It is relatively easy to see God in our nation’s great victories. More difficult is to find Him in the apparent setbacks of…
God’s Idolatrous Gentile Priests
There are more Jews attending synagogue on Yom Kippur than any other day of the year. One thing that draws those who otherwise never attend is the desire to identify with the Jewish people. While there is something to be said for that, it can easily get overblown and even destructive. It should be clear…
Rabbi Francis Nataf 