JL;DR

Leora Batnitzky's book "How Judaism Became a Religion" offers a fresh perspective on the evolution of modern Jewish thought, focusing on the shift towards de...

Baruch (Benedictus) Spinoza's treatise, "Theological-Political Treatise," sparked controversy for its radical theological and political ideas. Spinoza challe...

Saadi Besalel a-Levi's memoir, "Singing Gentile Songs," offers a unique insight into 19th-century Salonica, shedding light on the lost Ottoman and Jewish wor...

Karl Marx's rare empathetic depiction of the Jews of Jerusalem during the Crimean War in 1854 depicts their misery amidst Muslim oppression and intolerance, ...

In "The Scandal of Kabbalah," Yaacob Dweck explores Leon Modena's work, Ari Nohem, written in 1639 but published only in 1840 due to its controversial conten...

In "Ben-Gurion: A Political Life" by Shimon Peres, the book explores the leadership and legacy of David Ben-Gurion, emphasizing his pivotal role in the found...

In a Jewish community in Uzbekistan, the dissolution of the Soviet Union prompts mass emigration, notably by the Bukharan Jewish Borukhov family, who relocat...

The text discusses the historical accusations of host desecration against Jews, particularly in post-Reformation Poland. It examines how these accusations we...

"100 Years of Kibbutz: The Story of the Kibbutz Movement" edited by Eliezer Saks commemorates the centennial of the kibbutz movement, tracing its origins wit...

The discussion delves into the topic of Jewish secularization in the 18th century, touching on books like "Secularism and Sabbateans." It explores how tradit...

Rabbi Aryeh Leib Ginsburg, a prominent 18th-century scholar known as Shaagat Aryeh, gained a reputation for his fearless criticism of earlier rabbinic author...

Born in Zamosc, Poland in the 19th century, Rosa Luxemburg, a prominent figure in socialist parties in Poland and Germany, dedicated her life to fighting cap...

In August 1929, Arab riots in Jerusalem and Palestine resulted in the deaths of over 400 Jews, leading to a complex response in the Jewish community. The New...

Marc Lee Raphael's "The Synagogue in America: A Short History" provides a concise and comprehensive look at the synagogue's evolution in the United States, d...

The National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia tells the story of American Jews' pursuit of freedom since 1654, divided into three eras: Foun...

"Worms: A City of Jewish Memory" examines the historical significance of Worms for German Jews, contrasting it with Newport's role for American Jews. The boo...

The text discusses the role of Arab Bedouins in World War I, particularly in the context of the British defense of the Suez Canal against the Ottoman Empire ...

In her book "The Kabbalistic Culture of Eighteenth-Century Prague," Sharon Flatto revisits the legacy of Ezekiel Landau, the Noda Biyehudah, challenging the ...

In 16th-century Safed, Rabbi Moses Hagiz recounts a tale of a Portuguese converso who, influenced by his Christian background, bakes loaves of bread as an of...

In 1785, Moses Mendelssohn, a prominent Enlightenment philosopher and a symbol of religious tolerance, found himself embroiled in a controversy sparked by Fr...

"Hank Greenberg: The Hero Who Didn't Want to Be One" is a biographical book discussing the life of Hank Greenberg, a Jewish baseball player who achieved grea...

In "That in Aleppo Once," the authors Hayim Tawil and Bernard Schneider discuss the historical journey of the Aleppo Codex, a significant annotated copy of t...

Solomon Schechter's discovery of the Cairo Geniza in 1896, a collection of discarded Hebrew and Judeo-Arabic manuscripts from the Ben Ezra Synagogue, reveale...

Sayyid Qutb, an Egyptian intellectual, went from a liberal nationalist to an Islamist figure, with his radical views detailed in works like "Milestones" whil...

Simon Dubnov, a prominent Jewish historian and public intellectual in Russia, explores the debates surrounding Jewish emigration from Russia in the late 19th...

The correspondence between Jewish intellectuals Hannah Arendt and Gershom Scholem, spanning from 1939 to 1964, reveals a complex relationship between two inf...

"16mm Postcards: Home Movies of American Jewish Visitors to 1930s Poland" is an exhibit at the Yeshiva University Museum showcasing films taken by American v...

Anthony Grafton and Joanna Weinberg's study delves into the life of 16th-century French Huguenot classicist Isaac Casaubon, shedding new light on his scholar...

Rabbi Nosson Scherman, an editor known for the ArtScroll Revolution, donated the Schottenstein Edition of the Talmud to the Library of Congress, revolutioniz...

Simon Wiesenthal, known for his work as a Nazi hunter, faced controversy for his handling of Kurt Waldheim's Nazi past despite Waldheim aiding him previously...

In a literary review, Jacob Paul's novel "Sarah/Sara" follows the story of Sarah Frankel, an Orthodox woman who embarks on a kayaking journey in Alaska after...

The book "Let My People Go" by Gal Beckerman chronicles the struggle for Soviet Jewry from the 1960s to the early 1990s, detailing how individuals like Natan...

Elias Bickerman, a renowned Jewish historian of the ancient world who worked closely with Jewish studies masters, notably refused to learn Hebrew despite his...

The text discusses various perspectives on Franz Kafka and his works, challenging common perceptions and myths surrounding the author. It questions the idea ...

Arthur Goldreich, an undercover ANC operative and close collaborator of Nelson Mandela, was imprisoned by the South African government in 1963, escaped, and ...

David Ruderman, a professor of history at the University of Pennsylvania, challenges the prevailing view of Jewish history as made up of separate local narra...

Photographing the Jewish Nation: Pictures from S. An-sky's Ethnographic Expeditions delves into Solomon Iudovin's photographs documenting traditional Jewish ...

The text explores the historical relationship between the kibbutz movement and the State of Israel, detailing the challenges faced by the kibbutzim since the...

The text discusses a legend involving Rashi (Rabbi Solomon ben Isaac of Troyes) and Godfrey of Bouillon, a leader of the First Crusade. In the story, Godfrey...

Moses Montefiore, a wealthy and influential English Jew in the 19th century, embarked on a significant journey to Russia in 1846 to advocate for greater righ...

"The Prophet's Wife" is a review of Milton Steinberg's works, particularly focusing on his novel "As a Driven Leaf" and his unfinished manuscript "The Prophe...

"Life is with People" is a significant portrayal of Eastern European Jewish life that nostalgically captures the essence of shtetl culture in a buoyant and a...

The article examines the recognition of prominent Jewish figures through street names in Israel, particularly focusing on Moses Mendelssohn. It discusses the...

In "Capitalism and the Jews" by Jerry Z. Muller, the complex relationship between capitalism and Jewish identity is explored. The book delves into historical...

Christopher R. Browning's book "Remembering Survival: Inside a Nazi Slave-Labor Camp" examines survivor testimonies from a Polish town's slave labor camps du...

The text explores the Old-New Debate surrounding Theodor Herzl, the Founding Father of Israel, and his relationship with Ahad Haam, a Jewish intellectual and...

The autobiography of Rabbi Jacob Emden, a sage and heresy-hunter in the 18th century, is highlighted in this text. Translated by Rabbi Jacob J. Schacter, the...

The article reflects on the Columbia space shuttle disaster a decade later, focusing on the personal impact on the family of Israel's first astronaut, Ilan R...

The author reflects on the complex relationship with their uncle in Havana, a communist who stayed behind in Cuba after their family fled in 1962. Despite at...

Florence, New Jersey, houses an unusual historical artifact: Adolf Hitler's toilet from his yacht, the Aviso Grille. After the vessel was scrapped post-WWII,...