JL;DR

The debate between centralization and the authority of local rabbis in making halakhic decisions within the Modern Orthodox community has important implicati...

The text discusses the concept of Nezirut, or Nazir, which is the act of taking a vow to abstain from cutting hair, touching a corpse, and consuming grape pr...

The character of Boaz in the Book of Ruth is examined as a great leader who goes beyond the call of duty to protect the vulnerable and leave a lasting legacy...

Tzvi Novick explores the piyyut (liturgical poem) "Yatziv Pitgam" written by Rabbenu Tam in the 12th century. Novick argues that the piyyut is a reflection o...

The story follows a group of young Jewish men in a town called Worms. They witness a sorcerer from the east who is killing Jews as he passes through towns. T...

In their book Reading Ruth: Birth, Redemption, and the Way of Israel, Leon Kass and Hannah Mandelbaum provide a commentary on the biblical book of Ruth. The ...

The article discusses the theological dilemma of how to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic from a religious perspective. It explores the question of whether on...

In this letter, Mosheh Lichtenstein discusses the emotional and spiritual impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. He describes how the current crisis is different f...

Using pop culture in the Judaic Studies classroom can be an effective way to help students connect to the material, build their Jewish identity, and succeed ...

In this article, the author reflects on the teachings of the Talmud regarding living through a pandemic. The Mishnah in Masekhet Taanit provides guidelines f...

The article discusses the issue of mandating COVID-19 vaccination from a halakhic perspective. It explores whether halakhah (Jewish law) permits a government...

In this response to an essay by R. Ezra Schwartz, Nathaniel Helfgot discusses the centralization of halakhic decision-making during the COVID-19 pandemic. Wh...

In "Yeshiva Days: Learning on the Lower East Side," Jonathan Boyarin provides an account of his year as a student and observer at Mesivtha Tifereth Jerusalem...

The COVID-19 pandemic has had significant effects on the Modern Orthodox community, particularly in terms of decentralization and centralization. On one hand...

This article argues for a more complex and inclusive approach to Israel education in Modern Orthodox schools. While many educational opportunities focus on c...

Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein, a renowned Jewish scholar and leader, wrote a book titled "Henry More: The Rational Theology of a Cambridge Platonist" which is ba...

In this reflection on the sixth anniversary of the passing of Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein, the author expresses sadness that Rabbi Lichtenstein is no longer al...

This article discusses the relative lack of emphasis on Holocaust education and commemoration in the Modern Orthodox Jewish community. The author notes that ...

In Haym Soloveitchik's Collected Essays: Volume III, the author explores the composition and significance of Sefer Hasidim, a medieval Jewish book. Soloveitc...

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, many Jews are facing a second year of disrupted Passover seders. The original Passover tradition involved families and ho...

"The Haggadah About Nothing: The (Unofficial) Seinfeld Haggadah" by Rabbi Sam Reinstein is a creative and humorous Haggadah that uses Seinfeld references to ...

The author reflects on the meaningful questions asked by children, such as whether God wears pyjamas or if we are images in God's dream. He explains that chi...

The Daf Yomi cycle, which involves daily Talmud learning, will soon be studying Tractate Shekalim, which is different from the usual Talmudic texts. While th...

The Passover Seder may seem like a structured and orderly affair, but a closer look at the Haggadah reveals a disorganized structure that demands explanation...

In this article, Aryeh Klapper discusses the topic of new gezeirot (rabbinic decrees) in the context of changing circumstances and technological advancements...

The article discusses the unique position of Purim and Hanukkah as two of the only Rabbinic-created holidays that have become permanently established in Jewi...

The author reflects on the impact of Donald Trump's presidency on religious conservatives and Orthodox Jews. While acknowledging that Trump pursued policies ...

The article discusses the experiences of women who observe the laws of family purity (taharat hamishpahah) and their use of the mikveh during the COVID-19 pa...

Roberta Rosenthal Kwall's book, "Remix Judaism: Preserving Tradition in a Diverse World," explores the phenomenon of remixing Judaism, where individuals and ...

In this article, David Fried examines the contradictory statements in Parashat Ki Tissa about Moses seeing the face of God. Fried suggests that Moses did see...

In "Beyond the Mussar Schmooze: A Proposal for Modern Orthodox Moral Education," author Anthony Knopf explores the need for enhanced moral education in the M...

The article discusses the similarities between Queen Esther and the character Queen Aster in Louisa May Alcott's short tale. Both Queen Aster and Queen Esthe...

The passage discussed in this article, found in the Talmud in Bava Batra (149a), revolves around a legal problem concerning the inheritance of a convert and ...

Esther in America, edited by Stuart W. Halpern, explores the unique and resonant presence of the biblical book of Esther in the United States. The book highl...

The author discusses the need to reimagine high school education, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. They argue that the traditional model of hi...

The author argues for the reintroduction of home economics classes in Modern Orthodox day schools, emphasizing that it would be a pioneering feminist project...

This book review discusses Aryeh Solomon's "Spiritual Education: The Educational Theory and Practice of the Lubavitcher Rebbe Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson." ...

This article explores the challenges of prayer in a postmodern, doubt-filled world, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and social injustices. The...

The author remembers Rabbi Yehuda Kelemer, who recently passed away, as a shining example of spiritual greatness. Rabbi Kelemer was known for his extreme act...

The article discusses the parallels between the 1936 Berlin Olympics and the upcoming 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. It highlights how no countries boycotted ...

Rabbi Meir Leibush ben Yehiel Michel Wisser, also known as Malbim, was a traditionalist in the 19th century who engaged with Western culture. One example of ...

The article explores the idea of Shabbat as a taste of the world to come, focusing on the first Shabbat observed by the Israelites. The author discusses the ...

The author discusses the role of young children in the Orthodox synagogue in the post-COVID era. They note that many children have not attended regular servi...

The article discusses the significance of the manna in Jewish tradition and its association with the concept of sustenance. Recitation of Parashat ha-Man, th...

In this open letter addressed to shul boards and fellow rabbis, Rabbi Yisrael Motzen highlights the challenges faced by clergy during the pandemic, including...

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to vaccine hesitancy among healthcare workers, with a significant percentage expressing reluctance to receive the vaccine due t...

This article discusses the concept of Rashashian Kavanot as concrete poetry. It explores the use of words and symbols in Jewish tradition, particularly in pr...

The term "Modern Orthodoxy" has been debated within the Orthodox Jewish community, with some arguing that the label is unnecessary and that the disagreements...

This article explores the various responses of Orthodox Jewish communities to COVID-19 restrictions and analyzes them from social, cultural, and theological ...

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many industries, including commercial real estate (CRE), to reassess and evolve their practices. Yechiel Shaffer argues that...