JL;DR

The debate over whether Torah scholars should be exempt from military service in Israel has a long history rooted in Talmudic texts. Today, some 50,000 yeshi...

This text describes the author's experience of undergoing a ritual immersion in a mikveh as part of her conversion to Judaism. It details her initial discomf...

Dr. Paul Shrell-Fox, a rabbi and psychologist at the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem, discusses the development of Jewish intellect with h...

TanakhCast #61 is part of an ongoing exploration of the Tanakh, from Genesis to 2 Chronicles, with discussions on four chapters every two weeks. Listeners ar...

The evolution of Open Orthodoxy is examined through its distinction from traditional Modern Orthodoxy and the shifting needs and values within the Jewish com...

In Alon Shevut, the Herzog Academic College hosts an annual seminar on Tanakh, the Jewish Bible, where participants engage in intense study and debate. This ...

The discussion explores the origin of a Jewish legend regarding how a baby gets its philtrum, a small indentation above the upper lip. Initially observed in ...

The text discusses the concept of gifts of the body within Jewish tradition, focusing on ethical wills, organ donation, and whole body donation. It challenge...

Prof. Roberta Ronsethal Kwall's new book "The Myth of the Cultural Jew" explores the idea that even secular Jews have been influenced by Jewish legal traditi...

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks' Covenant & Conversation: A Weekly Reading of the Jewish Bible Leviticus emphasizes the concept of holiness found in Vayikra, arguing th...

The author struggles with understanding the spiritual significance of Tishah B'Av, a somber day on the Jewish calendar commemorating the destruction of the T...

The discussion explores the complex dilemma of embracing the teachings of revered Jewish figures despite their controversial or immoral actions. Drawing para...

Rabbi Barry Freundel, a prominent Washington rabbi, was sentenced to 6-1/2 years in prison after pleading guilty to 52 misdemeanor counts of voyeurism for se...

Literary critic Adam Kirsch explores Tractate Ketubot in the Talmud, emphasizing marriage and contract law as a subset of civil law. The discussion delves in...

Rabbi Lichtenstein reflects on the source of faith based on personal experiences and mentors like his parents and prominent rabbis Rav Hutner and Rav Aaron S...

Prof. Yossi Turner delves into the evolution of Zionism and the increasing political influence of Jewish communities worldwide in 20th-century Jewish thought...

During the interwar period in Europe, efforts were made to protect Jews through various minority protection schemes, as explored by historian Prof. Carole Fi...

A Jewish man living in Israel describes his commute on the train from Beit Shemesh to Tel Aviv where a group of men create a moving minyan to pray the Shacha...

The OU Press introduces two new books: "Chumash Mesoras HaRav: Sefer Shemos, The Neuwirth Edition," compiled by Dr. Arnold Lustiger, offers a comprehensive c...

In a rare and exciting discovery, silent movie footage from 1923 capturing a brief 12-seconds of the renowned Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan, better known as the C...

Potatoes often get a bad rap for being perceived as fattening due to their carb content, but they are actually nutritious and low in fat, providing essential...

The essay discusses the origins and controversies surrounding popular Purim customs such as drunkenness, Purimspiels (farcical plays), and wearing costumes. ...

"Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem" portrays the struggle of a woman trying to obtain a Jewish divorce document (get) from her husband in Israel’s rabbinic ...

Mishloach Manot, the act of giving food gifts on Purim, does not require the foods to be from different blessing categories, contrary to a common misconcepti...

The misconception that Mordechai and Esther, the heroes of Purim, were uncle and niece is clarified in this piece, stating they were actually first cousins a...

Many Orthodox Jewish occasions involve the consumption of hard liquor like whiskey and scotch, but it's crucial to note that liquor production may involve no...

Rabbi Norman Lamm's "Majesty and Mystery" is a insightful commentary on Megillat Esther and the Maariv Evening Service for Purim. This collection of Rabbi La...

The author, an Orthodox Jew struggling with OCD, recounts their experience of intrusive thoughts and compulsions that interfered with prayer and daily life. ...

Dr. Michael Satlow, a religious studies professor at Brown University, explains the historical processes that led to the Bible becoming regarded as a holy an...

In this personal essay, a convert to Judaism grapples with her love for Christmas traditions and how to navigate celebrating them while being Jewish. Despite...

Four Orthodox rabbinic scholars, Michael Wygoda, J. David Bleich, Michael Broyde, and Itamar Warhaftig, assert that Jewish law permits torturing enemies in c...

Josef Stern provides a thoughtful response to Lawrence Kaplan's critique of his reading of Maimonides' "The Guide of the Perplexed," acknowledging that Maimo...

Josef Stern responds to Lawrence Kaplan's praise of his book "The Matter and Form of Maimonides Guide" by discussing key issues raised. Stern delves into Mai...

In "Silence of the Lambs," the discussion revolves around the concept of sacrifice in both ancient religious practices and modern political and ethical conte...

The text explores the concept of disagreement within Jewish thought, contrasting it with the desire for consensus found in other philosophical traditions. Wh...

The article discusses various recipes for latkes, a traditional Jewish dish commonly enjoyed during Chanukah. The author shares personal memories of making l...

Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm delivered a sermon during Chanukah discussing the order of lighting Chanukah candles and reciting Havdalah, reflecting a clash of princ...

In TanakhCast episode #56, the discussion revolves around exploring and reflecting on 4 chapters of the Tanakh every two weeks, ranging from Genesis to 2 Chr...

Kosherfest, a renowned two-day kosher food expo, featured various trends in kosher food this year, including the arrival of Israels Marzipan Bakery in Americ...

Dr. Moshe Lavee discusses the Cairo Geniza, a collection of Jewish texts found in Egypt detailing ten centuries of Jewish life, revealing a history often ove...

The article discusses how Talmudic sages historically argued for fair wages, an issue still relevant today as the debate over income inequality and minimum w...

The article discusses the relevance of ancient Jewish sabbatical laws, particularly the Shmita, in the modern economy. It explains how the original laws mand...

Dr. David Schorr, a historian at Tel Aviv University, discusses the impact of water laws in British-ruled Palestine on the region's political and legal lands...

Kapparot, a folk custom originating from the early medieval period, involves waving a chicken over one's head, symbolically transferring sins before its slau...

The mitzvah of the Arba Minim (the Four Species) during Sukkot involves holding the lulav, hadasim, and aravot together in one hand and the etrog separately....

The text discusses the case of Ilana Raskin challenging the Jerusalem religious council's attempt to restrict entertainment like belly dancing in venues with...

"Moshe Halbertal's intellectual biography 'Maimonides: Life and Thought' delves into the relevance of Maimonides in modern times, exploring his contributions...

The poem "I Believe" intertwines references to Jewish tradition and practice with the popular TV show Jeopardy!. It includes allusions to Maimonides' 12th Pr...

"Headlines" by Dovid Lichtenstein examines contemporary issues faced by Orthodox Jews through a halachic lens, offering researched analyses based on classica...

In New York City, two mohels have been banned from performing the controversial circumcision rite known as metzitzah b'peh (MBP) after five infants were infe...