JL;DR

Jeremy Dauber examines the Jewish roots and broad cultural influence of MAD magazine through a collection of essays edited by David Mikics. Initially launche...

Melting Point, written by British Rachel Cockerell, presents a layered family history that delves into the randomness of Jewish existence in the 20th century...

Scott D. Seligman's book delves into the dramatic events surrounding the 1902 funeral of New York City's Chief Rabbi Jacob Joseph, the East Side's response t...

"Haunted Heritage" explores the unique place of Jewish country houses within British and European heritage, tracing their complex history through a lavishly ...

Stuart Nadler's novel "Rooms for Vanishing" intricately explores the impact of the Holocaust through the lens of a fragmented Viennese family, scattered acro...

Kenneth Turan's book, "Louis B. Mayer and Irving Thalberg: The Whole Equation," delves into the complex partnership between two legendary figures of Hollywoo...

Arnold Eisen, former chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary, offers a candid exploration of faith and theology in his new book, catering to nonacademi...

In an insightful interview, Abraham Socher engages with renowned author Cynthia Ozick to explore her prolific writing career and her new collection, "In a Ye...

Stuart Halpern explores the complex concept of 'return' in the Book of Ruth, focusing on the word "shuv," which typically implies a return to a previous plac...

The Australian Jewish community, historically one of the most secure outside of Israel, is facing unprecedented levels of antisemitism following the October ...

Delmore Schwartz, a literary prodigy immortalized as Von Humboldt Fleisher in Saul Bellow's "Humboldt's Gift," is remembered more for his tragic life and pot...

In "Seder Maziqin: Law and Magic in Late Antique Jewish Society," Avigail Manekin-Bamberger explores the interplay between magic and rabbinic law in Babyloni...

David J. Halperin's book, "Intimate Alien: The Hidden Story of the UFO," investigates the enduring American fascination with UFOs through the lenses of relig...

Yehoshua November's latest poetry collection, "The Concealment of Endless Light," straddles the boundaries between the kabbalistic and the everyday. Despite ...

Norman Manea, a prominent Romanian author from the historic Jewish community of Bukovina, navigates themes of memory, identity, and survival in his literary ...

Allan Arkush reviews Richard Kreitner's book "Fear No Pharaoh," which examines the complex and often uncomfortable role American Jews had in the institution ...

A two-part letter section on Polish-Jewish historical relations and American Revolutionary history illustrates complex themes. Michael Schwartz corrects an e...

Exploring the origins of the beloved Passover Seder songs "Echad Mi Yodea" and "Chad Gadya," Yosef Lindell delves into their historical roots, which potentia...

"The Brutalist," a film by Brady Corbet, dives into the immigrant experience in post-World War II America through the lens of Hungarian Jewish architect Lász...

Yenta Serdatsky's short story "The Shopkeeper on East Broadway" explores the Jewish immigrant experience in New York City through the lens of an idealistic s...

Shulamit Reinharz's memoir, "My Father's Resistance," uncovers the hidden life and untold acts of resistance by her father, Rabbi Max Rothschild, primarily d...

Mira Balberg explores the complex dynamics between adult children and their aging parents through a personal lens, juxtaposing a self-help book she found wit...

Irving Greenberg explores the often-overlooked Jewish doctrine of resurrection of the dead, contrasting it with more commonly discussed concepts like the wor...

"In Dissent," authored by Benjamin Nathans, delves into the history and significance of the Soviet dissident movement, highlighting key figures and events. T...

Jeremy Dauber explores "One Little Goat," a graphic novel by Dara Horn and Theo Ellsworth, that offers a unique twist on the Passover Seder. The story intert...

Asaf Hazani's book, developed from his field notes as an IDF reserve colonel during the Gaza conflict following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, provides ...

The exhibition "The Book of Esther in the Age of Rembrandt" at the Jewish Museum offers a captivating exploration of Queen Esther's influence on 17th-century...

Matti Friedman reflects on the parallels between the Yom Kippur War memoir 'Adjusting Sights' and Israel's recent conflicts, focusing on the personal story o...

Alexandra Popoff's response to Gary Saul Morson's review of her biography of Ayn Rand debates the interpretation of Rand's literary influences and Jewish ide...

Joseph Epstein, renowned for his wit and formidable career as a writer and editor, has ventured into the personal realm with his memoir "Never Say You've Had...

Malka Z. Simkovich explores the origin and significance of the term "diaspora" as coined during the translation of the Hebrew Torah into the Greek Septuagint...

The article explores the influential role of Bernard Lazare, a Jewish writer, in the early developments of the Dreyfus Affair, focusing on how his work prece...

Richard Kreitner reviews Adam Jortner's book "A Promised Land," which recasts early American Jewish history by integrating more evidence-backed narratives. J...

Akiva Schick's review of Benjamin Resnick's novel "Next Stop" explores a dystopian narrative where Israel has mysteriously vanished, sparking authoritarianis...

In a reflective narrative, Mordechai Yavin-Jesselson—a respected academic, rabbi, and writer—contemplates his life after the death of his wife, Paulina, and ...

The film "A Real Pain," directed by Jesse Eisenberg, follows two American Jewish cousins, David and Benji, on a heritage trip to Poland post their grandmothe...

"A Real Pain," a film by Jesse Eisenberg, explores the journey of two Jewish American cousins, David and Benji, as they navigate a heritage tour in Poland af...

The article discusses the complexities of Simone Weil's personal and intellectual life through her family correspondence, translated into English as "A Life ...

Elliot Kaufman revisits "To Jerusalem and Back," Saul Bellow's 1976 literary-political travelogue, exploring its enduring relevance amidst Israel's ongoing t...

Paul Mendes-Flohr, a renowned scholar of Jewish philosophy and a leading authority on Martin Buber, passed away at 83. Raised in Brooklyn amid humble beginni...

Mark Glanville, recounting his experiences as a Jewish teenager entrenched in the violent world of British football hooliganism, reflects on the allure of ca...

Vasily Grossman's poignant essay, written but censored in 1948, is a moving tribute to the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising and its fighters. Composed for the fifth an...

Frederick C. Beiser's book delves into the tumultuous period for Jews in Germany during the 1870s, exploring the rise of antisemitism which emerged despite t...

Eli Rubin examines the aesthetic philosophy of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, focusing on his preference for a straight-branched menorah inspired by Maimonides’ draw...

The article explores the evolution and symbolism of the Chabad menorah design, tracing its roots to the Lubavitcher Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson's interp...

Jeremy Borovitz reflects on the harrowing Yom Kippur of 2019 when a far-right gunman attempted to attack the synagogue in Halle, Germany, where he and others...

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, which opened in 2021, faced criticism for inadequate representation of Jewish contributions to Hollywoo...

David Weiss Halivni, a prominent Talmud scholar, spent his life reconciling the ancient text's often convoluted interpretations with a search for clear, obje...

The "Letters, Fall 2024" section includes responses that touch on various aspects of Jewish life and academia. A collective of Jewish studies scholars expres...

Amichai Chasson's article delves into the profound relationship between Yehuda Amichai and Jerusalem, exploring how the city permeated his poetry and life. D...