JL;DR

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

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

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

The text discusses the case of Ilana Raskin challenging the Jerusalem religious council's attempt to restrict entertainment like belly dancing in venues with...

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...

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

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...

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...

"Moshe Halbertal's intellectual biography 'Maimonides: Life and Thought' delves into the relevance of Maimonides in modern times, exploring his contributions...

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...

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

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

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 ...

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

"The Shtetl Trap" by Jeffrey Shandler discusses the evolving ways in which Jews have used the concept of the shtetl, the Eastern European market town, as a s...

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

The text discusses the complex historical and contemporary role of Ukrainian Jews in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, highlighting their involvement ...

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

The text discusses the evolution of ideas on religion, atheism, and postmodernism, particularly through the analysis of Terry Eagleton's book "Culture and th...

The prevalence of Holocaust fiction in the publishing industry has raised questions about the ethical and artistic considerations of depicting such a horrifi...

Molly Antopol's collection of short stories, "The UnAmericans", explores various characters and their experiences in different historical and cultural contex...

"Abraham Joshua Heschel: The Call of Transcendence" by Shai Held is a rational reconstruction of Heschel's thought, focusing on the idea of transcendence. He...

Saul Bellow's eulogy for Bernard Malamud highlights their shared immigrant backgrounds and American experiences, despite differing literary success. While Be...

Ruth Calderon's entrance into the Knesset sparked interest due to her unique inaugural speech, where she shared a Talmudic legend in its original Aramaic, hi...

During World War I, a significant number of Jews served in various armies, leading to instances of Jews fighting against fellow Jews. The story of a soldier ...

The failure of Secretary of State John Kerry's peace efforts between Israelis and Palestinians was hindered by issues such as Netanyahu's demand for recognit...

"In the Illuminated Dark" is a collection of poetry by Israeli poet Tuvia Ruebner, dedicated to his sister who perished in the Holocaust. Ruebner's work refl...

Haim Gouri, a prominent Israeli poet, celebrated his 90th birthday last year, with a gala event in Tel Aviv, his birth city, despite living in Jerusalem. Gou...

"Fiddler on the Roof" was initially expected to appeal only to Jewish nostalgia but ended up becoming a global phenomenon. Alisa Solomon's book, "Wonder of W...

Rabbi Elijah Guttmacher, known as the Tzaddik of Grtz in 19th-century Eastern Europe, was a miracle worker who received thousands of petitions (kvitlekh) fro...

Menachem Begin, a prominent figure in Israeli politics, faced early condemnation, even being compared to Hitler. However, his legacy has evolved, with differ...

The Spring 2014 edition of Letters discusses a variety of topics. One reader reflects on the existence of an anti-Nazi spy network in Hollywood, questioning ...

The book "Original Sins" by journalist John Judis is a critical examination of President Harry Truman's Middle Eastern policy and the history of Zionism. Jud...

This article discusses the history of Jewish newspapers and the cultural and political impact they had on the Jewish community in the United States during th...

Einat Admony's book "Balaboosta" shares a blend of Mediterranean recipes alongside personal stories of her life as a chef, mother, and wife in New York City,...

"The Mapmaker's Daughter" by Laurel Corona is a historical novel set in Spain during the 15th century, following the life of Amalia Riba, a converso girl wit...

Yosef Hayim Yerushalmi, a prominent Jewish historian, is reflected upon through the lens of his essays and writings, shedding light on his fascination with r...

Ari Shavit's book "My Promised Land: The Triumph and Tragedy of Israel" delves into his family history, experiences, and views on Israel, exploring the count...

Salo Baron's 1942 article challenged the common narrative of Jewish suffering in medieval Europe, arguing that despite facing some discrimination, medieval J...

Avraham Grossman's biography on Rashi, a pivotal figure in Jewish history, explores the life and works of the medieval commentator. Born in Troyes, France, R...

S.Y. Agnon's novel "Shira" follows the story of Dr. Manfred Herbst, an anti-hero professor at The Hebrew University in Jerusalem during the 1930s, as he navi...

Ben Hecht, a renowned writer, delivered a captivating speech at a Los Angeles dinner funded by Mickey Cohen, a notorious gangland boss, as part of a Jewish f...

Eran Elhaik's article on the Khazar ancestry of Ashkenazi Jews has garnered a lot of attention. Elhaik uses genetic data to argue that most contemporary Jews...

The author shares a story about his Israeli roommate, Yoni, who served in the army and had a juvenile sense of humor. The author also mentions a documentary ...

This article discusses the contradictory views of Rabbi Abraham Isaac ha-Cohen Kook and his contemporary disciples, specifically in relation to their attitud...

The article discusses the film "The Monuments Men" directed by George Clooney, which tells the story of the Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives program during...

David Nirenberg's book, "The Anti-Jewish Problem," explores the ways in which Jewish questions have shaped the history of thought. He argues that Judaism is ...

Yossi Klein Halevi's book "Like Dreamers" tells the story of seven paratroopers who helped liberate Jerusalem in 1967 and follows their lives through the 197...

The text discusses the decline of Conservative Judaism and the factors contributing to it. It notes that the movement has failed to inspire congregants with ...