Shemos 20:22 [1] introduces the building of the altar with אם (“If you make an altar…”), implying that it’s an optional mitzvah. However, Rashi [2] cites R’ Ishmael who says that while אם in the Torah usually refers to an optional action, this is one of three exceptions where אם really means כאשר (“when”) and the mitzvah is obligatory. Why then does the Torah describe building the altar with אם rather than כאשר?
Question - updated 9 months, 1 week ago
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is a free content reference work and collaborative annotation tool for making sense of complex topics. It is written collaboratively by volunteers using custom wiki software. The principal goal of the project is to establish and describe writings, claims, and questions which underlie subjects of interest to humanity.
Subject - updated 1 year, 5 months ago
is an article about the recent decision by a California judge to strike down the state’s 32-year old ban on assault weapons [Tx7]. It was written by Eliga Gould, Professor of History at the University of New Hampshire, and published by the The Conversation.
Writing - external - internal - updated 2 years, 3 months ago
is a question related to the recent decision by the FDA to grant approval to an experimental Alzheimer’s drug, Aducanumab, despite significant opposition from the scientific community [Ix4]. When confronted with an intractable, widespread disease, when–if ever–is it acceptable to prematurely grant approval for a questionably effective treatment?
Question - updated 3 years, 4 months ago
is a claim about the FDA’s recent decision to approve an experimental Alzheimer’s drug for use despite a substantial rejection by its own scientific panel of experts on the subject.
Statement - updated 3 years, 4 months ago
is a claim which correlates an individuals desire to be vaccinated with their trust in their government. It is sourced from a 2020 study [TxA] on public perceptions of government responses to COVID-19.
Statement - updated 2 years, 9 months ago
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is an investigative report into the Department of Health and Human Services under President Trump. The report was published by the New York Times on October 29th, 2020. It revealed that the department attempted to use a $265-million dollar public relations campaign centered around COVID-19 in September 2020 to support the president’s reelection bid.
Writing - external - internal - updated 3 years, 5 months ago
is a report that estimates the amount of firearms held by civilians worldwide. The report was created for “small arms survey” and published on their website on june 2018.
Writing - external - internal - updated 3 years, 4 months ago
Writing - updated 6 months ago
is an investigative report by ProPublica into taxation of the ultraweathy in the United States, based on Internal Revenue Service data on the tax returns of thousands of the nation’s wealthiest people.
Writing - external - internal - updated 3 years, 5 months ago
is a retrospective on the past and current challenges facing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It analyzes various factors that led to the CDC’s abysmal response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and considers ways that the agency can be improved as well as roadblocks preventing those improvements. It was written by Jeneen Interlandi and published by the The New York Times Magazine on June 16th, 2021.
Writing - external - internal - updated 3 years, 5 months ago
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