JL;DR

As discussions about returning to pre-pandemic synagogue experiences take place, it is important to shift focus from simply going back to "normal" to reimagi...

The article discusses the significance of greetings on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur and proposes reviving the tradition of sending physical Rosh Hashanah car...

In this article, the author explores the experiences of Jewish physicians during the Bubonic Plague in 1631 in Padua, Italy. The author discusses the histori...

Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz played a pivotal role in the opening of a Yeshiva in Soviet Russia in 1989. He recognized that the Soviet Ministry of Cults had no inte...

In this article, Elli Fischer discusses the presence of diseases and plagues in the Tokhehah, a section of Deuteronomy that outlines the curses that will bef...

In this article, the author recounts a conversation he had with a missionary who argued that the curse of the law in Judaism prevents salvation. The missiona...

In this poem, the poet reflects on the nature of worship and the concept of God. She sees God as a metaphor and questions what God represents. She argues tha...

Naomi Seidman's book, "Sarah Schenirer and the Bais Yaakov Movement: A Revolution in the Name of Tradition," fills a gap in the study of modern Jewish histor...

Repentance is a powerful concept in Judaism, but it can be difficult to understand how it brings about change. Two statements from Jewish sages shed light on...

In this article, the author argues that prophecy is a mitzvah, a religious obligation, for all Jews. They discuss the views of Rabbi Soloveitchik, who believ...

The article discusses the ethical implications of participating in a COVID-19 human vaccine challenge trial from a Jewish perspective. It explains that tradi...

Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, who recently passed away, was a mentor and guide to the author. He inspired a deep sense of devotion to the Jewish people and the impo...

Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, known for his monumental translation of the Talmud and his work in education, was born into a secular family but became religious as a...

This poem by Hillel Broder reflects on the experience of walking along a closed boardwalk during the COVID-19 pandemic. The speaker and their companion take ...

Rashi's commentary on Masekhet Eruvin in the Talmud contains numerous diagrams, representing about half of the total diagrams found in his commentary. While ...

This article explores an obscure minhag (custom) related to wearing tefillin, specifically the practice of not eating or drinking until the impressions of th...

In "Philosophy and Exegesis: Which Leads? A Review of Aaron Kollers Unbinding Isaac," Zvi Grumet discusses Aaron Koller's book, "Unbinding Isaac: The Signifi...

In the kinnah "Yom Akhpi Hikhbadti," Rabbi Yehudah ha-Levi retells the story of Zechariah's murder and the subsequent massacre by Nebuzaradan, but with a uni...

This poem by Jennie Mintz explores the horrors of the Holocaust, particularly the dehumanizing and indiscriminate nature of the Nazi atrocities. The poem des...

In this article, the author reflects on the legacy of Rabbi Yehuda Amital, the founding rosh yeshiva of Har Etzion, as he navigates his role as a rabbi durin...

This text is a personal reflection on the author's last conversation with Rav Amital, a prominent Jewish religious leader. During their conversation, Rav Ami...

Psalm 121 is a popular psalm that has been recited and studied throughout history. It is a song of ascent, likely sung by pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem....

The author recounts a childhood memory of visiting the Baltic Coast in the Soviet Union with his father. They stayed in a house built by a man named Vigor an...

The author describes their experience returning to synagogue for a prayer service during the COVID-19 pandemic. The service was different from what they were...

Alexander Kaye's book, "The Invention of Jewish Theocracy: The Struggle for Legal Authority in Modern Israel," explores the history of religious Zionism's dr...

The author reflects on the role of fathers in raising young children by examining the biblical and Talmudic sources. He notes that in many Jewish texts, youn...

The article explores the impact of COVID-19 on mental health and discusses Halakhic approaches to mental illness in light of the pandemic. It highlights the ...

This article discusses the history of the controversy surrounding the use of bathtub mikvaot in Jewish law. It focuses on the advocacy of Rabbi David Miller ...

The article discusses Moses' complaint in Numbers 11:12, where he states that he cannot nurse or carry the Israelite people. The author argues that Moses' re...

The author explores the concept of "pidyon shevuyim" (redemption of captives) in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. He references a historical precedent wher...

Rabbi Nachum Eliezer Rabinovitch was an influential and renowned scholar in the Orthodox Jewish world, yet remains relatively unknown outside of Israel. This...

After Adam: The Books of Moses by Laurance Wieder is a genre-bending biblical saga that re-centers the personal bond between the Jewish people and their inti...

"After Adam: The Books of Moses" by Laurance Wieder offers a unique perspective on the Jewish understanding of God. While many American Jews view God as an i...

This eulogy reflects on the life and impact of Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm, as remembered by his granddaughter. The author emphasizes the personal relationship she...

This article is a personal reflection on the life and contributions of Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm, who was a prominent leader in American Orthodoxy for over six d...

The author discusses the role of emotions in Judaism, particularly in relation to Jewish law (Halakhah). While it is often said that Halakhah doesn't care ab...

This article explores the narrative triangle of the stories of Lot and his daughters, Judah and Tamar, and Ruth and Boaz. The author suggests that the shocki...

In this article, the author explores the connection between Torah study and mourning in Jewish tradition. They discuss the use of the word "rinah" (song) in ...

The article discusses the individualized aspects of the Shalosh Regalim, the three pilgrimage holidays in Judaism (Pesach, Shavuot, and Sukkot). While these ...

In this imaginative piece by David Zvi Kalman, Moshe encounters God on Mount Sinai, who performs a magic trick with a deck of cards. As God manipulates the c...

The article discusses the importance of reciting blessings before studying Torah and the role these blessings play in religious continuity. The author explor...

The article discusses the piyut (liturgical poem) called "Ve-Atah Banim Shiru La-Melekh" and its connection to the holiday of Shavuot. It explains that while...

Rabbi Yaakov Leiner, a Hasidic master, offers a contemporary reading of the midrash that states the Torah was given in the morning and the ordinances in the ...

The author suggests that the traditional customs of Sefirah, the period between Pesach and Shavuot, are not about mourning Rabbi Akiva's 24,000 students who ...

The author reflects on her family's recent move from a suburban Jewish community in New Jersey to Israel, discussing the complexities and conflicts they expe...

The article discusses the case of the Diamond Princess cruise ship, where passengers were quarantined on board after some tested positive for coronavirus. Th...

This article discusses how Jewish thinkers reconcile the tension between determinism and human purpose. It examines the perspective of Rabbi Jacob Lorberbaum...

Rav Nachum Eliezer Rabinovitch, a revered figure in the Modern Orthodox/Religious Zionist world, left a significant impact through his roles as a Rosh Yeshiv...

Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai's Torah teachings, particularly on the unity of human relationships and their connection to God, are celebrated during Lag ba-Omer, e...

The author reflects on the tradition of Lag ba-Omer bonfires in Israel, highlighting its environmental impact and lack of Halakhic basis. He compares it to t...