JL;DR

The essay discusses the fundamental question of "why be Jewish" in contemporary discourse, focusing on the shift towards emphasizing the act of "doing Jewish...

Moses Mendelssohn, known as the 'German Socrates,' was a pivotal figure in the Jewish Enlightenment, advocating for religious tolerance and intellectual inde...

Rabbi Yakov Nagen discusses the potential for Jewish and Muslim fraternity to be the major breakthrough of the 21st century, emphasizing a universalist appro...

In a reflection on the movie Independence Day, Mark Charendoff draws parallels to the challenges faced by modern Jewish communities, highlighting the need to...

Elana Stein Hain and Leora Batnitzky explore the profound fear of forgetting through a passage from Sifrei Devarim and discuss memory's essential role in pre...

Rabbi Joseph Dweck discusses the limitations of reason and the significance of inductive reasoning in understanding metaphysical concepts such as consciousne...

The weekly Torah portion of Shelach Lecha discusses the spies' report on the land of Israel, emphasizing how our outlook shapes our perceptions of reality. J...

Completing the exploration of Rambam's 13 principles of faith, the discussion here centers on the mysteries of resurrection, touching on unresolved questions...

This engaging episode examines the complex halachic issues surrounding the use of electricity on Shabbat, including electronic water meters and security syst...

Louisiana recently passed a bill requiring public classrooms to display the Ten Commandments, sparking concerns about the separation of religion and state. T...

The Behaalotecha parashah delves into the challenges faced by the Israelites in the desert, highlighting their complaints and false nostalgia despite escapin...

Tzenius, often translated as modesty, holds a deeper meaning revolving around an inner focus on spirituality and self-worth. It directs individuals to look b...

Rabbi Mattisyahu Rosenblum's book "Rays of Wisdom: Torah insights that light up our understanding of the world" delves into the legacy of Rabbi Moshe Shapira...

In "Giving: The Essential Teaching of the Kabbalah," Rabbi Yehuda Lev Ashlag's insights are presented by Rabbi Avraham Mordechai Gottlieb, focusing on Kabbal...

Sarah Hurwitz and Amy E. Schwartz engage in a candid discussion about the evolving Jewish identity post-October 7, exploring how some individuals are discree...

Elana Stein Hain and Yonah Hain discuss the complexities faced by Jews amid rising antisemitism from both political spectrums. Through a Talmudic lens, they ...

"18 Questions, 40 Israeli Thinkers" is a forthcoming podcast in which prominent Israeli voices tackle pressing issues such as Zionism, the Israel-Hamas confl...

The text discusses the concept of "menuchas hanefesh" or inner peace, likening it to a concierge service where all needs are tended to effortlessly. It empha...

The text discusses the contrast between Michelangelo's spiritual journey towards the end of his life, marked by introspection and a realization of potentiall...

"Second Chances: Shakespeare & Freud" by Stephen Greenblatt and Adam Phillips delves into the theme of second chances in life through the lens of literature ...

"Freud's Last Session" is a film that portrays a fictional meeting between Sigmund Freud and C.S. Lewis, exploring their contrasting views on religion amidst...

Chaim Saiman explores the complex nature of halakha, Jewish law, as both a regulatory system and a profound spiritual framework in Jewish life, drawing disti...

Awe, as described by psychologist Abraham Maslow, is a profound feeling of happiness and well-being triggered by grand and sublime experiences, often associa...

The episode delves into the complexities of Maimonides' "Guide to the Perplexed," focusing on its philosophical and theological insights in relation to Jewis...

The text delves into the works of Fyodor Dostoevsky and Stanislaw Ignacy Witkiewicz, comparing their portrayals of societal collapse and ideological tyranny....

Bernard-Henri Levy discusses the challenges faced by Israel in the wake of the October 7 Massacre, reflecting on the world's response and Israel's quest for ...

In this piece, a young person recounts their experience at an Orthodox Jewish seminary during the COVID-19 pandemic quarantine. The narrator forms a connecti...

Evolving uncertainty surrounding major changes has become a central concern, reflecting both societal fear of change and discomfort with the status quo. Thro...

Delphine Horvilleur, the rabbi of Synagogue Beaugrenelle in Paris, France, and a prominent figure in liberal Judaism, has authored a book titled "Living with...

Andrew Doran argues that what we perceive as civilization owes its moral roots to the Jewish biblical tradition, specifically God's covenant with Abraham, wh...

The author reflects on their Jewish identity crisis, which started in their youth when questioning the meaning of Judaism, leading them to atheism due to per...

In Parashat Bechukkotai, it is outlined that following the commandments will lead to blessings, including peace. Reb Natan of Breslov emphasizes that peace i...

Sivan Rahav-Meir delves into Parashat Bechukotai, exploring its themes of blessings and curses while emphasizing the importance of maintaining a strong conne...

The episode reflects on Psalm 94 to contextualize the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly focusing on the importance of defeating Hamas for pe...

Dan Levitt, British Columbia's new seniors advocate, discusses his efforts at the United Nations to secure a binding international convention to protect seni...

Rabbi Dr. Shai Held's book "Judaism is about Love" delves into the distinction between two types of love in Judaism: ahavah rabbah (abundant, passionate love...

The discussion delves into the traditional theodicy in Judaism, questioning the belief that bad events occur as a result of sin. The text critiques Rav Aharo...

The concept of the shadow self, as defined by Carl Jung, refers to the unconscious parts of our personality that we disown, affecting our behavior, emotions,...

Rabbi Schonfeld, Rabbi Garfield, and Rav Aaron Lopiansky delve into various important issues regarding the study of gemara in part two of their discussion. T...

Jewish community belonging and feelings of misfit were discussed through Talmudic stories from the Jerusalem Talmud in this episode, in light of recent globa...

The podcast delves into the complex topic of resurrection based on Jewish eschatological beliefs as outlined in the teachings of Maimonides and other sources...

The episode discusses the complexities surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, focusing on the political landscape in Israel and the influence of exter...

The discussion revolves around the concept of Jewish powerlessness and its impact on Jewish identity and moral development. The text explores how historical ...

Eugene Korn's book, "Israel and the Nations," explores Jewish-Gentile relations and the evolving theological perspectives on engaging with non-Jewish faiths,...

The article contemplates what philosopher Walter Benjamin would think of a viral iPad ad that condenses various forms of art into a sleek tablet using an ind...

Elana Stein Hain and Yonah Hain discuss a Talmudic story from Nedarim 66b, examining miscommunications versus conflicting viewpoints in relationships. The ep...

The text discusses different philosophical perspectives on free will, including libertarianism, determinism, and compatibilism, and their implications for Je...

Shai Held's book, "Judaism Is about Love: Recovering the Heart of Jewish Life," argues that love is a central theme in Judaism, countering historical Christi...

Rabbi Arnie Wittenstein explores the complexities of interpreting ancient Egyptian history, highlighting the challenges with their documentation, which is of...

The Parashah of Shabbat Chol Hamoed discusses the reconciliation between the Israelites and God following the golden calf incident, likened to a marital rift...