Lehrhaus
Curriculum, Crisis, and Change: Towards a Talmud Curriculum Grounded in Educational Theory
12 Jan 2017
The text explores the impact of educational theory in response to the 1957 Sputnik crisis on Jewish education and specifically Talmud curriculum. Drawing par...
12 Jan 2017
Lehrhaus
Moses Mendelssohn and the Orthodox Mind
9 Jan 2017
Moses Mendelssohn, an influential 18th-century Jewish philosopher, was celebrated for advocating Jewish rights, promoting modernity, translating the Bible in...
9 Jan 2017
Lehrhaus
On the Freedom to Pray: A Response to Professor Jonathan Sarna
5 Jan 2017
Rabbi Jonathan Muskat engages in a thoughtful response to Professor Jonathan Sarna's discussion on the traditional prayer for the government, specifically fo...
5 Jan 2017
Lehrhaus
Praying for Governments We Dislike?
5 Jan 2017
Rabbi Jonathan Muskat suggests revising the traditional prayer for the government to focus on invoking blessings upon the country and its citizens rather tha...
5 Jan 2017
Lehrhaus
Who Will Defend Maimonides? Rav Soloveitchik on the Mishneh Torah and the Guide
2 Jan 2017
Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik's relationship with Maimonides can be seen through his reverence for the Mishneh Torah as a beloved halakhic code, which he defe...
2 Jan 2017
Lehrhaus
Halakhah and Social Change
26 Dec 2016
Rabbi Yosef Bronstein's article delves into the complexities of navigating halakhah and societal changes, particularly regarding gender roles in marriage. He...
26 Dec 2016
Lehrhaus
On Candlelight
26 Dec 2016
The article discusses the popularity and significance of the Maccabeats' song "Candlelight" as a standout Hanukkah pop song filling a void in the genre. Beyo...
26 Dec 2016
Lehrhaus
The Making of “Lights”
22 Dec 2016
The article discusses the creation and impact of the animated film "Lights," a midrash on the Hanukkah story focusing on anti-Semitism and assimilation. The ...
22 Dec 2016
Lehrhaus
There’s No Need to Sacrifice Sacrifice: A Response to Rabbi Herzl Hefter
19 Dec 2016
Tzvi Sinensky responds to Rabbi Herzl Hefter's discussion on the Akeidah, highlighting two main interpretations - The Problem of Choice and The Problem of He...
19 Dec 2016
Lehrhaus
The Prince and the Precedent: Genesis 34 in its Socio-Legal Context
15 Dec 2016
In "The Prince and the Precedent," Alex Maged explores the socio-legal context of Genesis 34 in light of earlier episodes in Genesis involving patriarchs pre...
15 Dec 2016
Lehrhaus
When Elijah’s Mantle Fell: The Judaism of Leonard Cohen
15 Dec 2016
Leonard Cohen's Jewish identity and spirituality are explored in this text, highlighting his farewell song "You Want It Darker" as his most Jewish compositio...
15 Dec 2016
Lehrhaus
Shadal, García Márquez, and the Stain of Honor
12 Dec 2016
"Shadal, Garca Mrquez, and the Stain of Honor" discusses the parallels between Gabriel Garca Mrquez’s novel "Chronicle of a Death Foretold" and biblical stor...
12 Dec 2016
Lehrhaus
“She Should Carry Out All Her Deeds According to His Directives:” A Halakhah in a Changed Social Reality
8 Dec 2016
In the discussion about the ideal Jewish marriage according to Rambam, different interpretations and approaches have emerged in modern times due to changing ...
8 Dec 2016
Lehrhaus
Talking To and About God
5 Dec 2016
Ari Lamm discusses the perception of a lack of direct conversation about God within Modern Orthodox Judaism, attributing this trend to a broader pragmatic ap...
5 Dec 2016
Lehrhaus
And Even If Parents Are Present …
4 Dec 2016
The discussion delves into the upbringing of Yaakov and Esav by Yitzhak and Rivkah, highlighting the importance of individualized education and understanding...
4 Dec 2016
Lehrhaus
The Rabbi-Kid Dilemma: Another Angle
2 Dec 2016
Rabbi Zev Eleff reflects on the challenges faced by rabbis and parents, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing family. Drawing on the example of biblical...
2 Dec 2016
Lehrhaus
The Patron Saint of Rabbis’ Kids
1 Dec 2016
The author reflects on his experience as the son of a prominent Orthodox rabbi and compares it to the story of Yitzhak in the Torah. He discusses the pressur...
1 Dec 2016
Lehrhaus
Rebbe Without Walls: The Slonimer Sensation
1 Dec 2016
Rabbi Shalom Noah Berezovsky, also known as The Slonimer, has achieved significant popularity and deep affection among readers for his Hasidic work, Netivot ...
1 Dec 2016
Lehrhaus
The Joiner
1 Dec 2016
The text follows Manny and Larry, two Jewish brothers living together in a one-bedroom apartment with contrasting lifestyles. Manny is observant and studies ...
1 Dec 2016
Lehrhaus
Conjoined Twins
1 Dec 2016
The poem "Conjoined Twins" by Yehoshua November reflects on the author's father's experience as a resident in a hospital when his young mother gave birth to ...
1 Dec 2016
Lehrhaus
Gedolim Cards and the Commodification of Rabbi-Saints
28 Nov 2016
Rabbi cards, known as Gedolim Cards, became a popular phenomenon among Orthodox Jewish boys in the late 1980s. The brainchild of Arthur Shugarman, these trad...
28 Nov 2016
Lehrhaus
To Rebeccah
25 Nov 2016
This text, written by Aryeh Klapper, explores the themes of beauty, death, and the limitations of human sympathy. The author reflects on the power of imagine...
25 Nov 2016
Lehrhaus
The Vital Principles of Judaism in Our beloved Country: An Early Twentieth Century Thanksgiving Sermon
23 Nov 2016
Rabbi Henry W. Schneeberger delivered a Thanksgiving sermon in 1911 touching on the importance of gratitude, assimilation, and loyalty as American Jews. Comp...
23 Nov 2016
Lehrhaus
Little Women of Valor
23 Nov 2016
"Nashim Teens" is a new Hebrew magazine for religious-Zionist girls, often focusing on fashion and consumerism. The magazine promotes individuality through t...
23 Nov 2016
Lehrhaus
Wise Trader or Deceitful Traitor? Eshet Hayil Reconsidered
21 Nov 2016
The text "Wise Trader or Deceitful Traitor? Eshet Hayil Reconsidered" by Eliav Grossman delves into a critical analysis of Proverbs 31, the chapter that desc...
21 Nov 2016
Lehrhaus
The Troubling Trend of Photoshopping History
17 Nov 2016
Photoshopping historical images within Orthodox Jewish communities to conform to contemporary religious standards is a troubling trend highlighted by Leslie ...
17 Nov 2016
Lehrhaus
Surrender or Struggle? The Akeidah Reconsidered
17 Nov 2016
In this essay, the author explores different interpretations of the story of the Binding of Isaac (Akeidah). The traditional view, influenced by theologian S...
17 Nov 2016
Lehrhaus
Commanding Knowledge
14 Nov 2016
In this text, the author discusses the debate between philosophers Crescas and Rambam from the Middle Ages regarding whether God can command belief in His ex...
14 Nov 2016
Lehrhaus
Wrestling With God: Leonard Cohen’s You Want it Darker
14 Nov 2016
Leonard Cohen's album "You Want it Darker" reflects his ambivalence towards death and God, exploring themes of suffering and mortality. Cohen uses religious ...
14 Nov 2016
Lehrhaus
Abraham and the 1960s – Technocracy and the Journey Inward
10 Nov 2016
This article explores the connection between the biblical story of Abraham and the social and spiritual revolutions of the 1960s. The Tower of Babel tale, ac...
10 Nov 2016
Lehrhaus
Tanakh, Chapter by Chapter
7 Nov 2016
Studying Tanakh from a young age provides a foundation in Jewish history and context for connecting to Jewish practice, with many baalei teshuva embarking on...
7 Nov 2016
Lehrhaus
He Sent Out the Raven
4 Nov 2016
The article discusses the significance of Noah sending out a raven before the dove in the biblical story of the flood. While the text does not explicitly sta...
4 Nov 2016
Lehrhaus
What Could (and Couldn’t) the Rabbis Do?
3 Nov 2016
The discussion explores the translation of a Talmudic passage regarding the perceived suppression of the Book of Kohelet by the ancient sages. The prevalent ...
3 Nov 2016
Lehrhaus
No Ideas But In Things: A Review of “Jerusalem” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
1 Nov 2016
The article reviews the exhibit "Jerusalem 1000-1400: Every People Under Heaven" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which showcases art and artifacts from me...
1 Nov 2016
Lehrhaus
Does Lying Make You A Liar? On Truth And Truthfulness in Rabbinic Thinking
31 Oct 2016
In Jewish tradition, truth is associated with God's reliability and trustworthiness, while people are considered prone to falsehood. The concept of truth is ...
31 Oct 2016
Lehrhaus
Tosefta
28 Oct 2016
The text discusses a series of dialogues involving Rav Hisda, Abaye, and others, reflecting on themes of self-doubt, imperfection, and prayer. Rav Hisda expr...
28 Oct 2016
Lehrhaus
The Wanderings of Adam and Cain – A Tale of Midrashic Migration
28 Oct 2016
The Midrash uses Adam's sin as a cautionary tale to illustrate the severity of sin, comparing his punishment to that of Cain's for murder. The text suggests ...
28 Oct 2016
Lehrhaus
In God’s Country: The “Zionism” of Rashi’s First Comment
28 Oct 2016
Rashi's well-known commentary on the first verse of the Torah asserts the Jewish people's God-given right to the Land of Israel. While this seems straightfor...
28 Oct 2016
Lehrhaus
Jung Earth Creationism: Two New York Rabbis Respond to the Scopes Trial
27 Oct 2016
In response to the Scopes Monkey Trial in 1925, which highlighted the issue of Darwinism, two New York Orthodox rabbis, Leo Jung and David de Sola Pool, offe...
27 Oct 2016
Lehrhaus
Ron Santo and the Jews
23 Oct 2016
In 1968, high school students at the Hebrew Theological College in Skokie, IL, encountered the Chicago Cubs' Ron Santo, a revered baseball player, near their...
23 Oct 2016
Lehrhaus
Can a Court Really Ban Kapparot and Why it Matters for the American Jewish Community
23 Oct 2016
The legality and constitutionality of the traditional live-chicken version of the kapparot ritual, often performed by some members of the Jewish community, i...
23 Oct 2016
Lehrhaus
Looking for Gedolim in All the Wrong Places?
20 Oct 2016
The text discusses the role of "gedolim" (great Torah scholars) in Jewish communities, particularly in Modern/Centrist Orthodoxy and Liberal Orthodoxy. It ex...
20 Oct 2016
Lehrhaus
Kohelet: Seeking to Uncover and Bury
20 Oct 2016
The article discusses the Rabbinic attempt to remove the book of Kohelet from the Biblical canon, referencing a passage in Shabbat 30b. The text points out a...
20 Oct 2016
Lehrhaus
Can We Learn from Jonah’s Happiness?
20 Oct 2016
The article explores the connection between the book of Jonah and the holiday of Sukkot. It highlights the importance of communal joy and happiness during th...
20 Oct 2016
Lehrhaus
Not in the Market for a Gadol
20 Oct 2016
In "Not in the Market for a Gadol," Wendy Amsellem responds to Chaim Saiman's essay on the idea of communities led by a revered rabbinic figure known as a ga...
20 Oct 2016
Lehrhaus
The Market for Gedolim: A Symposium
19 Oct 2016
The symposium titled "The Market for Gedolim" brings together various writers providing reflections on the topic raised by Chaim Saiman's recent work for Leh...
19 Oct 2016
Lehrhaus
New Links in an Old Chain
15 Oct 2016
Prof. Chaim Saiman delves into the differing perspectives on gedolim (great Torah scholars) in Haredi, Centrist Orthodox, and liberal Orthodox communities. W...
15 Oct 2016
Lehrhaus
A Question of Perpsective
15 Oct 2016
The article by Miriam Gedwiser discusses Chaim Saiman's argument that the number of revered leaders in the Orthodox community is influenced by demand as much...
15 Oct 2016
Lehrhaus
The Market For Halakhic Authority: Some Reflections on Gadolnomics
14 Oct 2016
The author of this essay responds to Prof. Chaim Saiman's essay on the relationship between halakhic authority and Liberal Orthodoxy. They argue that the aut...
14 Oct 2016
Lehrhaus
The Function of the Centrist Orthodox Gadol
14 Oct 2016
Chaim Saiman's essay explores the concept of a gadol, a revered Jewish leader, within Centrist Orthodox and Haredi communities, highlighting the centrality o...
14 Oct 2016