Jewish Review of Books
Some Kind of Genius
27 Mar 2019
Adina Hoffman's biography "Some Kind of Genius" delves into the complex life of Ben Hecht, a multifaceted personality known as a playwright, journalist, and ...
27 Mar 2019
Jewish Review of Books
The Fire Now
27 Mar 2019
Deborah E. Lipstadt's book "The Fire Now" delves into the pressing issue of contemporary anti-Semitism, drawing on her experiences and interactions with fict...
27 Mar 2019
Jewish Review of Books
A Letter to Mama
27 Mar 2019
"A Letter to Mama" by Isaac Bashevis Singer tells the story of Sam Metzger, who immigrated to America, built a successful life, but neglected to write to his...
27 Mar 2019
Jewish Review of Books
Ungoverning the Western Wall
15 Mar 2019
The last thirty years have seen ongoing tensions at the Western Wall between Women of the Wall, advocating for women's prayer rights, and haredi Jews resisti...
15 Mar 2019
Jewish Review of Books
The 2,000-Year-Old Women
8 Mar 2019
"Two highly praised novels of 2018, Dara Horn's 'Eternal Life' and Sarah Perry's 'Melmoth,' feature Jewish women born in ancient Judea who are still alive to...
8 Mar 2019
Jewish Review of Books
Books on the Cheap
21 Feb 2019
The author reflects on his time spent browsing used bookstores in Dallas in the 1980s and shares memorable encounters related to finding books like Henry For...
21 Feb 2019
Jewish Review of Books
Was Lincoln Jewish?
12 Feb 2019
The text explores the claim that Abraham Lincoln may have had Jewish ancestry based on a story reported in the Hebrew newspaper Ha-Magid in the 1860s. The st...
12 Feb 2019
Jewish Review of Books
Tragedy and Comedy in Black and White
28 Jan 2019
The article discusses the portrayal of ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities in recent media, focusing on the contrast between tragedy and comedy in these depict...
28 Jan 2019
Jewish Review of Books
The Home Front
7 Jan 2019
Allan Arkush reflects on his experiences teaching Jewish history at the Nevele Grand Hotel's Elderhostel program, sharing insights into stories from Elderhos...
7 Jan 2019
Jewish Review of Books
Books vs. Children
20 Dec 2018
The discussion delves into the tension between writers and their children, highlighted through anecdotes about Saul Bellow's family dynamics. Author Rivka Ga...
20 Dec 2018
Jewish Review of Books
Yiddish Heroism, Hebrew Tears
20 Dec 2018
"Black Honey, The Life and Poetry of Avraham Sutzkever" is a documentary highlighting the story of Avraham Sutzkever, a prominent Yiddish poet who survived t...
20 Dec 2018
Jewish Review of Books
Chaim of Arabia: The First Arab-Zionist Alliance
20 Dec 2018
In 1919, Zionist leader Chaim Weizmann met with Emir Faisal, a key figure in the Arab revolt against the Ottoman Empire, leading to an agreement where Arabs ...
20 Dec 2018
Jewish Review of Books
Who Tried to Kill Spinoza?
20 Dec 2018
The article delves into the alleged assassination attempt on the philosopher Baruch Spinoza, speculated to have been orchestrated by a member of the Portugue...
20 Dec 2018
Jewish Review of Books
Doron Rabinovici and the Crisis of European Jewish Identity
20 Dec 2018
Doron Rabinovici, an Israeli author living in Vienna, explores the complexities of Jewish identity in postwar Austria through his novels, essays, and politic...
20 Dec 2018
Jewish Review of Books
Freethinker
20 Dec 2018
Melanie Phillips' memoir "Guardian Angel" delves into her upbringing in postwar Britain, depicting a complex family dynamic where a strong but frail mother a...
20 Dec 2018
Jewish Review of Books
Lenin and Maimonides
20 Dec 2018
The book "Lenin and Maimonides" explores the complex relationship between Judaism and Bolshevism through the lens of literature, history, and ideology. It de...
20 Dec 2018
Jewish Review of Books
Workday Jews
20 Dec 2018
Chad Alan Goldberg and Eliyahu Stern present contrasting perspectives on the Jewish experience with modernity. Goldberg's "Modernity and the Jews in Western ...
20 Dec 2018
Jewish Review of Books
The Homecoming
20 Dec 2018
British playwright Harold Pinter, known for his groundbreaking works like "The Birthday Party" and "The Caretaker," expressed strong support for Israel despi...
20 Dec 2018
Jewish Review of Books
Confusion and Illusions: 1939
20 Dec 2018
In "Confusion and Illusions: 1939," authors Jehuda Reinharz and Yaacov Shavit discuss the challenges faced by Jewish leaders in Europe, the United States, an...
20 Dec 2018
Jewish Review of Books
Historical Agency
20 Dec 2018
Mark R. Cohen's book delves into the historical partnership between Yeshua and Khalluf, two Jewish merchants in the 11th century, as revealed through documen...
20 Dec 2018
Jewish Review of Books
Counting Jews
20 Dec 2018
In "A Deadly Legacy: German Jews and the Great War," Tim Grady explores the complex role of German Jews during World War I. Highlighting how more than 12,000...
20 Dec 2018
Jewish Review of Books
Digital Anti-Semitism: From Irony to Ideology
20 Dec 2018
The text discusses the rise of digital anti-Semitism, focusing on the evolution from ironic online memes to dangerous ideologies that fuel acts of violence l...
20 Dec 2018
Jewish Review of Books
Letters, Winter 2019
20 Dec 2018
In the excerpted letters, two main discussions are encapsulated. Firstly, Dr. Howard Smith reflects on Isaac Newton's approach to reconciling science and rel...
20 Dec 2018
Jewish Review of Books
Pittsburgh Jews, Squirrel Hill, and the Tree of Life
20 Dec 2018
Pittsburgh's Jewish community, particularly in Squirrel Hill, was deeply affected by the tragic events of October 27, 2018, when a gunman attacked the Tree o...
20 Dec 2018
Jewish Review of Books
Robert Alter’s Bible: A Symposium
20 Dec 2018
Robert Alter, a scholar and critic, has undertaken the ambitious project of translating the Hebrew Bible with a focus on its literary artistry, accompanied b...
20 Dec 2018
Jewish Review of Books
Manufacturing Falsehoods
13 Dec 2018
In "Manufacturing Falsehoods," journalist Ben-Dror Yemini refutes false allegations against Israel made by NGOs, academics, and the media, aiming to correct ...
13 Dec 2018
Jewish Review of Books
A Golem in Argentina
10 Dec 2018
"The Silence of Malka" is a graphic novel set in a Jewish settlement in Argentina at the end of the 19th century, featuring a golem created to help a struggl...
10 Dec 2018
Jewish Review of Books
In Memory of Judah Maccabee
4 Dec 2018
Eliezer Ben-Yehuda's father-in-law, Shlomo Naftali Hertz Jonas, lamented the absence of Judah Maccabee in prayers during Hanukkah, emphasizing Maccabee's imp...
4 Dec 2018
Jewish Review of Books
Raising the Asmonean Banner
29 Nov 2018
The text discusses the theme of navigating cultural identities and historical allegiances, highlighting the story of the York Massacre in 1190 and the poetry...
29 Nov 2018
Jewish Review of Books
Zionisms Abound
27 Nov 2018
Historian Gil Troy has published an expanded version of Arthur Hertzberg's renowned anthology on Zionist thought, titled "The Zionist Ideas: Visions for the ...
27 Nov 2018
Jewish Review of Books
We Do Not Agree on Herzl and We Still Need Hertzberg
27 Nov 2018
Allan Arkush responded to Gil Troy's defense of his book, "The Zionist Ideas," in relation to Arkush's critique regarding Theodor Herzl's transformation into...
27 Nov 2018
Jewish Review of Books
We Agree on Herzl
27 Nov 2018
Gil Troy responds to Allan Arkush's review of his book "The Zionist Ideas," emphasizing the mischaracterization of his interpretation of Theodor Herzl's Zion...
27 Nov 2018
Jewish Review of Books
Of Were-Owls and Wandering Jews
20 Nov 2018
In the discussion of "Of Were-Owls and Wandering Jews," the text explores different works of literature with Jewish themes or characters. It delves into the ...
20 Nov 2018
Jewish Review of Books
Return to Me
15 Nov 2018
Chaim Potok's posthumous collection of plays offers insight into the struggles of mid-20th-century Jewish intellectuals balancing traditional Judaism with mo...
15 Nov 2018
Jewish Review of Books
“The Cruiser” and the Jews
7 Nov 2018
In this article, the author reflects on his fascination with Israel and his collection of books on the subject. He discusses one of his favorite books, "The ...
7 Nov 2018
Jewish Review of Books
Bellow, His Biographers, and the “Quivering Schmucks”
6 Nov 2018
Zachary Leader's biography, "The Life of Saul Bellow: Love and Strife, 1965-2005," delves into the intense adoration and obsession that some fans, like Barne...
6 Nov 2018
Jewish Review of Books
Jewish Pittsburgh in Pictures
2 Nov 2018
This article provides a poignant visual journey through the Jewish history of Pittsburgh, particularly focusing on the Tree of Life congregation and its surr...
2 Nov 2018
Jewish Review of Books
Unspun
25 Oct 2018
The author announces his plan to write a book on Jews and fantasy literature. He discusses the novel "Spinning Silver" by Naomi Novik, which is set in a late...
25 Oct 2018
Jewish Review of Books
Hollywood and Jerusalem
25 Oct 2018
The author reflects on an encounter in Hollywood where he pitched a screenplay about George Catlin, a painter who documented Native American life in the 19th...
25 Oct 2018
Jewish Review of Books
My Father, Milton Himmelfarb
18 Oct 2018
Milton Himmelfarb, a prominent figure in American Jewish life, would have turned 100 years old. Known for his analysis of Jewish voting patterns, he argued t...
18 Oct 2018
Jewish Review of Books
Reader Review Competition
11 Oct 2018
The Jewish Review of Books is hosting its first reader review competition, inviting participants to submit reviews of Jewish books published in 2018 that hav...
11 Oct 2018
Jewish Review of Books
The Jewish Preview of Books—October 2018
9 Oct 2018
Rachel Scheinerman outlines an exciting selection of Jewish-themed books scheduled for release in October 2018, covering diverse topics from philosophy and m...
9 Oct 2018
Jewish Review of Books
Korean Talmud, Is Modern Orthodoxy like Classical Reform? and Jesus and the Baal Shem Tov
27 Sep 2018
The first essay discusses the unexpected popularity of the Korean Talmud in South Korea, with scholars examining whether the fascination reflects admiration ...
27 Sep 2018
Jewish Review of Books
The Peculiar History of the Etrog
20 Sep 2018
Rachel Scheinerman explores the intriguing history and symbolism of the etrog, an exotic citrus fruit integral to the Jewish festival of Sukkot. Originating ...
20 Sep 2018
Jewish Review of Books
The Book of Radiance
14 Sep 2018
Daniel Matt's translation and commentary on the Zohar, a foundational text of Kabbalah, delves into the profound mystical teachings of Jewish mysticism. The ...
14 Sep 2018
Jewish Review of Books
Letters, Fall 2018
14 Sep 2018
Ardie Geldman from Efrat, Israel, expresses concerns regarding the declining state of American Jewry as compared to the resilient nature of Israeli Jewry, hi...
14 Sep 2018
Jewish Review of Books
Tweets and Bellows
14 Sep 2018
In "Tweets and Bellows," the discussion revolves around the importance of writing and literature in regaining control of narratives and accessing the deeper ...
14 Sep 2018
Jewish Review of Books
Visualizing Hasidism
14 Sep 2018
The text discusses the material dimension of Hasidism, focusing on the sacred objects and artistic creations associated with the movement. It highlights the ...
14 Sep 2018
Jewish Review of Books
Torah U’Madda
14 Sep 2018
The text discusses Modern Orthodox Judaism in America, highlighting its diversification and complexity, especially in areas such as dating preferences, relig...
14 Sep 2018
Jewish Review of Books
Lost from the Start: Kafka on Spinoza Street
14 Sep 2018
The text delves into the complex legal battle over Kafka's manuscripts and estate following the death of Esther Hoffe. The narrative explores the conflict be...
14 Sep 2018