JL;DR

In a 2015 episode, historian Prof. Anita Shapira, known for her expertise in Zionism, delves into her biography of David Ben-Gurion, the first prime minister...

Ronen Bergman's book "Rise and Kill First" delves into Israel's history of targeted assassinations, spanning from pre-statehood to the present day. The book ...

In the Talmudic period (200-500 CE), Jews had ceased being tempted by idol worship, focusing instead on co-existing with pagan societies. The text emphasizes...

The article discusses the ongoing controversy surrounding the Mortara Affair, where a Jewish boy was taken from his family and raised Catholic in Bologna in ...

The text explores the perplexing crisis of faith experienced by the Israelites in the Wilderness of Sin shortly after being saved from the Egyptians. Despite...

"The Cross" by Lamed Shapiro is a powerful Yiddish story set in wide-open America, following a hobo whose life is marked by tragedy and violence from a bruta...

Literary critic Adam Kirsch is engaging with the Talmud through the Daf Yomi cycle, focusing on Tractate Avodah Zarah which discusses laws against idolatry. ...

Liat Maggid-Alon, a historian, delves into the emergence of the Jewish bourgeoisie in Egypt during the early-to-mid 20th century, analyzing how modernity, re...

Glenn Simpson, co-founder of Fusion GPS, released an op-ed calling for the release of his Senate testimony. Questions have arisen over the credibility of the...

In the novel "Eternal Life" by Dara Horn, the story revolves around Rachel, the mother of Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai, who becomes immortal after making a vow ...

The text describes a personal journey within a Jewish shtiebel, focusing on the author's interactions with Rabbi Moshe Halevi Steinberg. The shtiebel is port...

"Eternal Life" by Dara Horn is a novel that imagines the story of Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai's mother, Rachel, who takes a vow at the Temple, granting her imm...

Arthur Szyk, a prominent Jewish artist, is recognized for his iconic illustrations in The Haggadah, a Passover favorite imbued with modern and ancient imager...

"Sons and Soldiers" by Bruce Henderson tells the stories of German-Jewish soldiers who escaped the Third Reich to become combat interrogators for the U.S. Ar...

Romain Gary, a Lithuanian Jew who considered himself a quintessential Frenchman, led a remarkable life filled with self-invention and multiple personas. From...

Samuel C. Heilman's book "Succession, Secession! Who Will Lead Us? The Story of Five Hasidic Dynasties in America" explores the notion of zera kodesh, or hol...

Steven Weitzman explores the complexities of Solomon's legacy and the quest for Jewish origins in his book "The Origin of the Jews: The Quest for Roots in a ...

"The Story of the Jews, Volume Two: Belonging, 1492-1900" by Simon Schama and "Et Hadashah (A New Age: Eighteenth-Century European Jewry, 1700-1750)" by Shmu...

The text discusses the historical prominence of Jewish revolutionaries from the 19th to the mid-20th century, mentioning figures like Zalkind Hourwitz, Rosa ...

The text delves into the significance of the Torah in Judaism, discussing its origins and relationship with physical objects like Torah scrolls. It highlight...

Joseph Roth, a talented yet troubled writer, is described as a mournful figure by Volker Weidermann in his book "Ostend." Roth, a prolific Austrian novelist ...

The text delves into the complex and often cruel history of Jews in Poland, highlighting the strained relationship between Jews and Poles over the centuries....

In the 1570s, Italian Jewish Renaissance figure Azariah de Rossi translated and published The Letter of Aristeas, a second-century BCE work recounting the tr...

George Benjamin, a prominent figure in Canadian history, made significant contributions by becoming the first Jew elected to a municipal office in Canada in ...

Sir Geoffrey Nice, known for prosecuting war criminal Slobodan Milosevic, discusses international justice in his book "Justice for All and How to Achieve It,...

This episode of Unorthodox delves into the cultural and historical significance of nose jobs within American Jewish communities, examining both personal narr...

Paul Valéry's poem "La Jeune Parque" or "The Young Fate" from 1917 remains enigmatic even a century later, showcasing Valéry as the last of the Symbolists wi...

In a thought-provoking exploration, the essay discusses a theoretical dialogue between Rabbi Nahman of Breslov and Franz Kafka about the symbolic significanc...

In "The Dark Circle" by Linda Grant, set in a 1950s London TB clinic, twin teenagers navigate the liminal space between recent collective death and impending...

Ian Black, former Middle East editor of The Guardian, discusses his book "Enemies and Neighbors" on the conflict between Arabs and Jews in Palestine and Isra...

The article challenges the traditional understanding of Hanukkah as a conflict between Judaism and Greek culture by suggesting a more nuanced view of histori...

The discussion addresses the evolving concept of social justice in today's society and its impact on the Jewish community. It highlights a shift from traditi...

Dr. Isabella Ginor and Gideon Remez from Hebrew University's Truman Institute discuss their book, "The Soviet-Israeli War, 1967-1973," exploring the USSR's i...

Dr. Isabella Ginor and Gideon Remez discuss the Soviet Union's military involvement in the 1967-1973 Egyptian-Israeli conflict, drawing parallels to Russia's...

The list of the best Jewish children's books of 2017 showcases diversity, moving beyond Holocaust and shtetl narratives to present Jewish characters in vario...

Ori Weisberg reflects on his service as an Israeli Defense Forces soldier during the First Intifada, sharing how the experience profoundly altered his perspe...

A Twitter post asking for names of women "badder" than Taylor Swift led to a discussion highlighting strong Jewish women throughout history. Examples include...

"The Chosen" by Chaim Potok is a compelling novel about the friendship between two Jewish boys in Brooklyn during World War II. The book is praised for its d...

The text discusses how the Kurds have historically been betrayed due to the doctrine of political realism exemplified by Henry Kissinger's actions. Realism p...

William Pachner, a renowned artist known for his work as Esquire's art director and his influential World War II illustrations, has died at the age of 102. P...

Isabella Ginor and Gideon Remez, scholars at the Hebrew University's Truman Institute, delve into their book "The Soviet-Israeli War 1967-1973," revealing li...

"Married Life" by David Fogel is a disturbing novel set in interwar Vienna where a group of Jewish friends gather at a café, highlighting the tension of Euro...

Jonathan Israel discusses his book "Expanding Blaze: How the American Revolution Ignited the World, 1775-1848" on the impact of the American Revolution globa...

Noa Shusterman and Adam Basciano of IPF discuss the Balfour Declaration's significance with British history teacher Michael Davies, focusing on its impact on...

In this episode of Israel Policy Pod, Noa Shusterman and Adam Basciano discuss with UK history teacher Michael Davies the centenary of the Balfour Declaratio...

This episode of Unorthodox features Eddy Portnoy, a senior researcher at the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, discussing his book "Bad Rabbi: And Other St...

This episode of Unorthodox features Eddy Portnoy discussing his book "Bad Rabbi," which explores the colorful personalities and stories from the Yiddish pres...

Literary critic Adam Kirsch delves into Tractate Makkot of the Talmud, exploring the punishment of conspiring witnesses, who give false testimony to cheat ot...

Margaret Lambert, also known as Greta Bergmann, was a talented Jewish high jumper in Germany whose Olympic dreams were dashed due to Nazi persecution in the ...

The article discusses the impact of Holocaust literature and cultural representations on the American Jewish psyche, focusing on the need to move beyond idea...