JL;DR

Rabbi Mordechai Yosef Leiner, the founder of the Ishbitz-Radzyn dynasty, offers a unique interpretation of the story of Joseph and his brothers. He suggests ...

This article discusses a Facebook exchange between individuals representing the charedi and dati-leumi (Zionist-religious) perspectives on Torah and avodas H...

In this essay, the author explores the concept of rationality and its application to beliefs, particularly in relation to Judaism. They discuss the distincti...

The essay explores the concept of rationality in relation to beliefs, specifically in the context of Judaism. It distinguishes between epistemic rationality ...

The late Rabbi Nachum Rabinovich, influential in UK Judaism and a mentor to Rabbi Sacks, believed in a rationalist Judaism blending universal and specific el...

This text addresses the question of why bad things happen to good people, particularly in the context of tragedies that befall the Jewish people. The author ...

This text emphasizes the Jewish belief in resurrection, rejecting the idea of "you only live once." Resurrection is seen as a central principle of Judaism, i...

A 2021 Pew study highlighted the decline of religiosity within American Jewry, particularly among young adults who view their Judaism as purely ethnic or cul...

In Jewish tradition, there are five things in our world that are one-sixtieth of their most extreme forms, including fire, honey, Shabbat, sleep, and dreams....

In this essay, Rabbi Aron Wander explores the historical and moral implications of the Hanukkah story. He discusses the perspective of Rabbi Avraham Chein, w...

The Ishbitz-Radzyn reading of the Joseph narrative focuses on Joseph's character traits and flaws, particularly his trait of self-control and reason, which e...

The Parashah of Mikketz delves into the significance of dreams in the Torah, portraying them as divine messages needing interpretation. Joseph's ability to i...

In this discussion, Susan Neiman and Robert Siegel explore how the "woke" movement, driven by a desire to address historic crimes and stand with the oppresse...

Hanukkah is typically understood as a holiday about light conquering darkness. However, the binary of light as good and darkness as chaotic and evil is a col...

In this week's Parashah Vayishlach, the internal struggles we face on a daily basis are likened to the story of Jacob wrestling with an angel to receive the ...

Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, renowned film critics, are likened to Talmudic scholars Hillel and Shammai by Rabbi Herbert J. Cohen. Despite differing viewpoin...

This article explores Jewish interpretations of suffering and mourning through the biblical texts of Job and Lamentations, particularly in light of contempor...

Dr. Oded Adomi Leshem, a political psychologist from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, delves into the theme of hope in his recent book "Hope Amid Conflict...

The text explores the significance of Isaac's birth in Jewish tradition, highlighting the themes of surprise, joy, and renewal. It emphasizes how Isaac's bir...

This episode delves into the debate between the Tanya and Nefesh HaChaim regarding Torah Lishma, focusing on R Chaim Volozhin's perspective and the importanc...

The text explores the connection between Jewish theology and the natural world, emphasizing the importance of studying nature to deepen religious understandi...

In this episode, the focus is on the legendary confrontation of 1771 involving the Vilna Gaon with R Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk and R Shnuer Zalman of Liozna...

In this episode of "Call Me Back," Mohamed El-Erian discusses the expansion of the BRICS nations and its implications for global economic structures, alongsi...

In this comprehensive discussion, Bret Stephens explores the role and importance of free speech within Jewish ideals and broader society. He argues that libe...

In the exploration of AI within a Jewish legal and cultural context, legal expert Michael M. Rosen discusses how concepts like the golem and dybbuk from Jewi...

Dr. Micah Goodman discusses the internal conflict within Israel, describing it as a clash between citizens seeking empowerment through government and those n...

In this episode of 'Call Me Back', Christine Rosen shares her techno-pessimistic perspective on the AI revolution, critiquing the optimism of previous guest ...

This podcast episode delves into the concerns surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) and explores the distinctions between AI and human intelligence. It di...

Bruce Feiler discusses the evolving nature of careers as highlighted in his new book, "The Search: Finding Meaningful Work in a Post-Career World." He examin...

In Franz Kafka's story "Before the Law," a man from the country seeks entry into a metaphorical law but is continually delayed by a gatekeeper, serving as an...

This article explores the distinction between submission and surrender in liberal Jewish life, arguing that while submission connotes a loss of self to exter...

The article explores the relationship between halakhah (Jewish law) and the presence of God, challenging the notion that halakhah inherently reflects divine ...

Dr. Shivi Greenfield explores the relationship between Judaism and Liberalism in his book "Judaism and Liberalism: A Metaphysical Tale of Two Siblings," sugg...

Salman Rushdie's latest novel, "Victory City," is a vivid, imaginative exploration set in the 1300s, encapsulating his long-standing advocacy for open societ...

In this discussion, the focus is on the Vilna Gaon's response to rationalistic thought, questioning whether rational thought should be completely avoided or ...

In this discussion, the focus is on the Jewish response to the Enlightenment movement, particularly examining the Vilna Gaon's perspective. The Vilna Gaon's ...

Seth Rogovoy explores the connection between Jewish texts and the concept of UFOs, suggesting that ancient Jewish theology may accommodate the existence of e...

Philosopher Micah Goodman discusses the current polarization in Israeli society and the potential for civil conflict, emphasizing the roles of empathy and un...

Nearly half of the top 25 philanthropic donors in America last year were Jewish, with their donations totaling $27 billion, despite economic challenges. Nota...

In this episode of "Call Me Back," Mohamed El-Erian discusses the economic landscape of 2023, addressing concerns about inflation and the potential for reces...

In his latest novels, "The Passenger" and "Stella Maris," Cormac McCarthy introduces his first Jewish characters, Bobby and Alicia Western. While the plot is...

The article highlights Michael Twitty's book *Koshersoul*, which emphasizes his embrace of Judaism's intellectual tradition as a continual process of learnin...

This article delves into the concept of "the idea of the idea" within the context of liberal Zionism, which reflects broader themes in Jewish and religious c...

This article explores the complex interplay between Zionism and the concept of divine power, comparing biblical narratives from Genesis and Deuteronomy with ...

In his thought-provoking article, "Variations on the Shema," Samuel Fleischacker explores the multifaceted nature and significance of the Shema in Jewish lif...

The book 'Radical Amazement' by Julian E. Zelizer is a biography that chronicles the life and enduring impact of Abraham Joshua Heschel, a major Jewish think...

The book "Haifa Republic: A Democratic Future for Israel" by Omri Boehm examines the crisis facing liberal Zionism due to the collapse of the two-state solut...

This episode explores the basic structure of Kabbalah with a focus on the Ari's contributions, as well as the innovations in Kabbalah and Avodas Hashem by th...

Paul du Quenoy reviews Mattias Desmet's book, "The Psychology of Totalitarianism," which extrapolates Hannah Arendt's ideas to argue that contemporary societ...

Frederick Wiseman's new film "A Couple" explores the private realm of marriage, focusing on the relationship between Leo Tolstoy and his wife Sophia. Unlike ...