JL;DR

Robert Capa, the renowned photojournalist, captured iconic moments in history, including Israel's establishment in 1948 by David Ben-Gurion. Despite controve...

Yuval Noah Harari, a Hebrew University professor, has gained worldwide fame for his book "Sapiens," which traces the history of humankind with a focus on cog...

The Altneuschul, or Old-New Synagogue in Prague, is surrounded by folklore that speaks of old stones from the Temple in Jerusalem, the creation of a golem by...

Chana Bloch, renowned for her translations of Yehuda Amichai and others, shines in her own poetry as well. In her latest collection, themes of family, Jewish...

The text talks about God's promise to David, anointing him from the lineage of Jesse, sustaining his authority through spreading praise globally, establishin...

The discussion in this excerpt primarily revolves around the history of Yiddish spelling reforms and the influence of the Soviet Union on these changes. Dara...

The text discusses the historical context of the Middle East, highlighting the impact of the Sykes-Picot Agreement on the region's borders. It emphasizes the...

Reflecting on the parallels between the Conservative Judaism movement and the Zionist enterprise, the author explores the intellectual richness and challenge...

The text discusses the Israelization of Judaism and the Jewish community in France, particularly in light of increasing anti-Semitic attacks. Following terro...

Michael Oren, a former Israeli ambassador to the United States, found himself embroiled in controversy over a reported incident involving a Christmas ham, sh...

Bruno Schulz, a renowned writer and illustrator from pre-war Poland, met a tragic end during the Holocaust. Despite being recognized as a great stylist in hi...

Fania Lewando, a chef and owner of Vilna's Vegetarian-Dietetic Restaurant in pre-Holocaust Poland, highlighted the benefits of plant-based foods in her 1938 ...

"Letters to Vra" by Vladimir Nabokov, translated and edited by Olga Voronina and Brian Boyd, offers a window into the passionate and vulnerable side of Nabok...

Renowned Israeli painter Yosl Bergner, son of prolific Yiddish poet Melekh Ravitch, is celebrated for his artistic talent and family legacy. Ravitch played a...

The discussion revolves around various perspectives on King David in Jewish history and biblical literature. David is a prominent figure in the Hebrew Bible,...

The discussion delves into the significance and interpretations of the Song of Songs in Jewish tradition. Rabbi Akiva's reverence for the book as the "Holy o...

John J. Clayton, a prolific writer known for his engaging novels and short stories, particularly in his recent collection "Many Seconds into the Future: Ten ...

Harvey Shapiro's posthumous poetry collection, edited by Norman Finkelstein, reflects on themes of distance, silence, and spiritual inquiry. Shapiro, a city ...

Larry David's play "Fish in the Dark" is a reflection of American Jewish comedy tradition, seen through the lens of Larry David's distinct style and wit. The...

The text explores the intricate role of figures like Baron Max von Oppenheim in World War I, highlighting his involvement in German-Turkish politics and his ...

Howard Jacobson's novel "J: A Novel" delves into a fictional world where a past atrocity, known as WHAT HAPPENED, is deliberately suppressed, akin to histori...

Philip Roth's novella "The Ghost Writer" features a discussion between the character Nathan Zuckerman and the writer E.I. Lonoff, resembling Bernard Malamud ...

The text discusses various letters in the Spring 2015 edition. It begins with Michael H. Traison praising David G. Roskies for recognizing Grayna Pawlak's co...

"Lincoln and the Jews" explores Abraham Lincoln's interactions with the Jewish community during the Civil War era. Despite most American Jews not having dire...

The Death of Klinghoffer, an opera inspired by the 1985 Achille Lauro hijacking, has faced controversy for its depiction of the events and the character of L...

The discussed texts delve into the historical pursuit of Jewish nationalism and identity across Europe and the United States before the establishment of Isra...

"The Hilltop" by Assaf Gavron is a novel that offers insight into contemporary Israeli society and politics through the portrayal of a small illegal settleme...

"An Officer and a Spy" by Robert Harris reexamines the Dreyfus Affair from the perspective of Lieutenant-Colonel Marie-Georges Picquart, emphasizing his role...

"The Case Against Academic Boycotts of Israel," edited by Cary Nelson and Gabriel Noah Brahm, delves into the passionate anti-Israel sentiments present on co...

The text describes a reflection on favorite books, including works by Saul Bellow, Jeremy Bernstein, Moses of Narbonne, and Martin Buber, among others, that ...

"Love in the Shadow of Death" tells the heartbreaking story of Valy and Karl, two young lovers separated by the events of World War II and the Holocaust. Thr...

In 1919, Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes famously changed his stance on free speech during the Abrams v. United States case, where five Russian-born Jewish ana...

The article discusses the presence of a "fifth question" at Passover Seder - "When do we eat?" and presents a historical and halakhic comparison regarding th...

Hasia Diner's book "Roads Taken" explores the challenging and significant role of Jewish peddlers in forging new communities across the world in the 19th and...

"Sylvia Rafael: The Life and Death of a Mossad Spy" details the life of Sylvia Rafael, a Mossad agent targeted for assassination by Black September terrorist...

The article discusses the rise of anti-Semitism in France, attributing it to a mix of historical Islamic anti-Judaism, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and ...

Joann Sfar, a prominent French comic book creator, delves into Jewish themes in his works, notably exploring the challenges of anti-Semitism and Jewish ident...

In a response to Ethan Katz and Maud Mandel, Shmuel Trigano critiques their perspective on French anti-Semitism, highlighting divergent opinions on the roots...

In the Summer 2015 issue of Letters, several thought-provoking discussions are highlighted. Ruth R. Wisse reviews the novel "J," emphasizing the lack of Jewi...

Fanny and Hilde tells the story of Fanny von Arnstein, a prominent figure in the turn-of-the-19th-century Jewish salon scene in Berlin and Vienna. Fanny, a m...

David Bezmozgis' novel "The Betrayers" explores the complex themes of loyalty, betrayal, and sacrifice within the Jewish context, drawing parallels to real-l...

Morris Dickstein's memoir "The Life of the Flying Aperu" provides an insightful account of his sentimental education, focusing on his Jewish identity and int...

Two analysts, Elliott Abrams and Itamar Rabinovich, discuss the impact of the chaos in Syria on Israel's northern border. The Syrian civil war has caused a h...

Bernard Berenson, a renowned art expert, was a Jewish-born man from Lithuania who converted to Christianity in his youth and later became a leading authority...

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 article discusses the Soviet-Jewish experience through the lens of artists and intellectuals who faced betrayal and persecution under Stalin's regime. It...

Benjamin Harshav, a renowned scholar of Hebrew and Yiddish literature, passed away at 86, leaving a significant legacy in literary studies. His book, "Three ...

The author reflects on a conversation about philosopher Leo Strauss and his idea of esoteric writing, where authors hide true meanings to protect themselves ...

Michael Walzer's exploration delves into the paradox of liberation and secularism in post-World War II India, Israel, and Algeria, focusing on the tension be...

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 ...