JL;DR

In the 1940s, Rabbi Stephen S. Wise and Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver were key figures in American Zionism. While initially working together, they faced conflicts...

In Reservoir Hill, Baltimore, a formerly Jewish neighborhood now sees an increase in Jewish families alongside African-American residents. The rabbi of Beth ...

"Above and Beyond" is a documentary produced by Nancy Spielberg and directed by Roberta Grossman, focusing on the untold story of foreign volunteers who came...

In his article "Strange Journey: A Response to Shmuel Trigano," the author reflects on Shmuel Trigano's analysis of the rise of anti-Semitism in France, attr...

"Nothing Is True and Everything Is Possible: The Surreal Heart of the New Russia" by Peter Pomerantsev examines the blurred lines between reality and PR in c...

Frank Herbert's iconic science fiction novel "Dune" presents a futuristic universe where religion is a potent force influenced by Judaism and other faiths, p...

In this conversation between Abraham Socher and Leon Wieseltier, they discuss various topics such as Yosef Yerushalmi, the renowned historian who was Wieselt...

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

Despite the vast knowledge found in the Babylonian Talmud about classical Jewish life, law, and culture from the 3rd to the 6th century C.E., there has been ...

Jonatan Meir's publication of a three-volume set delves into Joseph Perl, an 18th-century maskil from Galicia who actively promoted the Haskalah ideology whi...

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

"A Dual Inheritance" by Joanna Hershon follows the lives of two Harvard friends, Hugh and Ed, representing contrasts in upbringing and character. The narrati...

Shlomo Sand, a well-known anti-Israel Israeli intellectual and history professor, challenges traditional Jewish narratives in his book "How I Stopped Being a...

In Edith Brotman's book "Mussar Yoga," a unique combination of the Jewish ethical movement of Mussar and yoga practice is explored, aiming to cultivate ethic...

POLIN, the Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw, was conceived as a tribute to Jewish life in Poland rather than another Holocaust memorial. It was...

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...

The Winter 2015 edition of Letters featured various perspectives on Israel, ethics in warfare, and Jewish historical figures. Discussions included refuting t...

Helena Rubinstein, a pioneering Jewish female entrepreneur, transformed the beauty industry through her sheer entrepreneurial and marketing skills, amassing ...

Jacob Glatstein, the renowned Yiddish poet, wrote autobiographical novels titled Ven Yash iz geforn and Ven yash iz gekumen in response to his trip to Poland...

Götz Aly's book "Why the Germans?" delves into the historical roots of German anti-Semitism leading to the Holocaust. Aly argues that envy of Jewish economic...

In the Fateless: The Beilis Trial a Century Later, the text discusses Mendel Beilis's notorious trial in 1913, accused of a blood libel murder in Tsarist Rus...

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 discusses the evolving international perception of Israel post-1967, attributing the shift to various factors such as the revolutionary left's suppo...

The text discusses the prevalence of anti-Semitism in modern discourse, particularly in the context of criticisms leveled against Israel. It highlights examp...

The text discusses a review by Richard Wolin of Bettina Stangneth's translated book about Adolf Eichmann, sparking a discussion on Hannah Arendt and the conc...

Richard Wolin criticizes the interpretation of Hannah Arendt's "banality of evil" thesis, pointing out factual errors and challenging the emphasis on Martin ...

David B. Dennis's works shed light on how Nazis utilized culture for political ends, as outlined in "Valhalla in Flames." Dennis examined the Völkischer Beob...

In "Letters Fall 2014," different writers offer critiques and responses regarding various topics. The Cardinal Dulles Inspiration discusses the influence of ...

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...

An ex-member of the European Parliament reflects on the bias and hostility towards Israel among European political and academic elites. The discussion touche...

Daniel Mendoza, a celebrated bare-knuckle prizefighter in late-Georgian London, was born to British-born parents of converso background in 1764. Despite a tu...

Hannah Arendt's analysis of the Adolf Eichmann trial in "Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil" stirred controversy with her proposition th...

The response to Amy Newman Smith's article "Killer Backdrop" questions the focus and criticisms of Holocaust-related fiction, wondering if any examples meet ...

Amy Newman Smith and Erika Dreifus engage in a discussion regarding the quality and ethical considerations of fiction based on the Holocaust and Nazi era. Sm...

Konstanty Gebert in response to "The Ukrainian Question" discusses the differing perspectives in Eastern European countries like Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, a...

In "Yankel's Tavern: Jews, Liquor, & Life in the Kingdom of Poland," Glenn Dynner challenges the myth of Jewish sobriety and explores the deep intertwining o...

Daphne Merkin's new collection of essays, "The Fame Lunches: On Wounded Icons, Money, Sex, the Bronts, and the Importance of Handbags," explores themes of me...

In "Sephardi Lives: A Documentary History, 1700-1950," Professors Julia Phillips Cohen and Sarah Abrevaya Stein explore the lives and experiences of Sephardi...

Yihye Haybi, a Jewish man from Yemen, worked at a medical clinic where he excelled as a medical assistant and photographer, despite photography being illegal...

In "A Replacement Life" by Boris Fishman, the theme of fakery and manipulation of identity in the Jewish context is explored through protagonist Slava Gelman...

The article responds to Dovid Katz's views on the ethical complexities surrounding Ukrainian nationalism and Russian separatism, particularly in relation to ...

Stefan Zweig, a highly-translated and polarizing author in the 1930s, was both envied and criticized by his peers for his success which some saw as a symbol ...

Nathan Birnbaum, often forgotten in the history of Zionism, played a significant role in the early movement. Despite initial tension with Theodor Herzl, Birn...

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

The text discusses the ethical considerations surrounding Israel's military operations, particularly focusing on Operation Protective Edge against Hamas. It ...

The text reflects on the final days of the author's father, a man who found solace and purpose in philosophy throughout his life. As he faces a terminal illn...

Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson's role as an editor and publisher in spreading Hasidic teachings through the Chabad publishing house, Kehot, has been overlo...

In the Summer 2014 issue of Letters, different authors address key points in recent articles. Saul Newman clarifies the relationship between his grandfather,...

Martin Heidegger's recently published Black Notebooks reveal his deep entanglement with National Socialism, anti-Semitism, and belief in the superiority of t...