JL;DR

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

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,...

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

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...

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...

"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...

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

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 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...

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 ...

"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...

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

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 ...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

"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...

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...

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 ...

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...

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 ...

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...

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

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...

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 ...

Conservative Judaism faces challenges of diminishing numbers and uncertainty about its role, but it remains committed to the Jewish tradition's integration o...

The text discusses the challenges facing Masorti/Conservative Judaism in America, emphasizing that the success of religious teachings is not solely determine...

The essay discusses the future of feminism in the Conservative movement of Judaism. The author argues that adherence to halakha (Jewish law) is not the sole ...

Rabbi Susan Grossman argues for the revitalization of Conservative Judaism, emphasizing the importance of returning to core values and traditions while embra...

Elliot N. Dorff argues that the disconnect between the religious beliefs of leaders and the practices of the Jewish masses is a recurring historical phenomen...

In response to concerns about the decline of American non-Orthodox Judaism following The Pew Research Center's report, Daniel Gordis' piece "Requiem for a Mo...

Various Jewish scholars and rabbis engage in a discussion responding to Daniel Gordis' critique of Conservative Judaism. The debate highlights the movement's...

The Pew Research Center's study, "A Portrait of Jewish Americans," highlights a significant trend where a growing number of American Jews, particularly among...

Anti-Semitism, though once forced underground post-1945, has resurged in recent years, often disguised and submerged. Analyzing over 14,000 emails and letter...

The piece discusses the decline of Conservative Judaism within the broader American Jewish community as depicted in the Pew Research Center's data, highlight...

This article discusses the author's personal experience with T.E. Lawrence's book, Seven Pillars of Wisdom. The author initially stole a copy of the book, bu...

The text discusses various aspects of Jewish observance and identity. It highlights concerns about the diminishing role of religion in Israeli society, the c...