Lehrhaus Of Prayer in Solitude 23 May 2023
In "Of Prayer in Solitude," Dov Frank explores the experience of praying alone in nature, away from the traditional Jewish community. He contemplates whether...
23 May 2023
Lehrhaus When Kaddish Becomes Currency: Mapping Out the Mechanics of Merit 21 May 2023
The article explores the mechanics of reciting the Kaddish prayer on behalf of others and the theological assumptions underlying this practice. It discusses ...
21 May 2023
Lehrhaus A Call for Order: Maimonides and the Mishnah 18 May 2023
The question of why the tractate Gittin (divorce law) comes before Kiddushin (marriage law) in the Talmud has been pondered by many. While there is no logica...
18 May 2023
Lehrhaus What’s Divine about Divine Revelation? 16 May 2023
In this article, Professor Tamar Ross clarifies her theology of revelation in response to criticism from other scholars. She argues that an infinite eternal ...
16 May 2023
Lehrhaus Mi-Simhah Le-Yagon, Mi-Yom Tov Le-Eivel: The Changing Meaning of Sefirat Ha-Omer 15 May 2023
This article explores the origins and meaning of the period of Sefirat Ha-omer, a time associated with mourning and restrictions in Jewish practice. The cust...
15 May 2023
Lehrhaus Trajectories of Tradition: King David on Skin Lesions and Tent Impurities 11 May 2023
This article explores the interpretation of King David's request to God regarding the recitation of Psalms in relation to the study of the laws of skin lesio...
11 May 2023
Lehrhaus Behind Every Revelation Lurks an Interpretation: Revisiting “The Revelation at Sinai” 2 May 2023
The author, Tamar Ross, responds to a review of the book "The Revelation at Sinai: What Does Torah from Heaven Mean?", edited by Yoram Hazony, Gil Student, a...
2 May 2023
Lehrhaus The Pregnant Sotah: A Case Study in the Ethics of Abortion 23 Apr 2023
This essay explores the Jewish view of abortion through an analysis of the case of the pregnant Sotah in the Talmud. The Sotah ritual, described in Numbers 5...
23 Apr 2023
Lehrhaus The Philosopher and the Mystic? 19 Apr 2023
Diana Lobel's book, "Moses and Abraham Maimonides: Encountering the Divine," offers a nuanced comparison of the religious and philosophical beliefs of Moses ...
19 Apr 2023
Lehrhaus Passover’s Rupture and Reconstruction 3 Apr 2023
In this article, the author explores the evolution of the Passover Seder and its focus on the Exodus story in the absence of the Temple and the korban pesah ...
3 Apr 2023
Lehrhaus When the Sea Parted 2 Apr 2023
The author, Bruce Black, uses vivid imagery to describe the feeling of being stuck in the past but also yearning to move forward. He likens this struggle to ...
2 Apr 2023
Lehrhaus Rabbi Yohanan Reads the Book of Job 29 Mar 2023
Rabbi Yohanan, a sage in the third century CE, repeatedly teaches the book of Job and concludes with the idea that everyone, both humans and animals, are des...
29 Mar 2023
Lehrhaus A Jewish Perspective on God’s Presence in Islam 23 Mar 2023
The author explores the Jewish perspective on the presence of God in Islam. They discuss how Islam has deeply influenced Jewish culture and history, both pos...
23 Mar 2023
Lehrhaus Listen to Her Voice: The Eternal Message of an Infertile Prophetess  22 Mar 2023
The article reflects on the author's personal experience of infertility and how it relates to the biblical stories of Rachel, Rebecca, and Sarah. The author ...
22 Mar 2023
Lehrhaus A Letter to Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse 21 Mar 2023
In this powerful letter, the author addresses survivors of child sexual abuse in the Jewish community. They describe the contradictory experiences and expect...
21 Mar 2023
Lehrhaus Practicing Neo-Hasidism: Insights from Arthur Green’s Writings 16 Mar 2023
Neo-Hasidism refers to the engagement with Hasidic texts and practices by individuals who are not part of a Hasidic community. There are two main camps of ne...
16 Mar 2023
Lehrhaus Reclaiming the Musical Past: Leon Modena and Salamone Rossi in Context 13 Mar 2023
The text discusses the practice of a cappella harmony in synagogue liturgy, a custom that dates back to Rabbi Leon Modena in 1604. Modena faced criticism for...
13 Mar 2023
Lehrhaus The Shepherd’s Veil 9 Mar 2023
The text tells the story of Moses reflecting on his journey as the leader of the Jewish people. He remembers his encounter with God at the burning bush, wher...
9 Mar 2023
Lehrhaus This Graphic Novel is a Bible Commentary. But What Kind? 5 Mar 2023
The review discusses a graphic novel interpretation of the biblical book of Esther. The author argues that illustrated sefarim (sacred texts) should be taken...
5 Mar 2023
Lehrhaus From Har Ke-gigit to Kiyemu Ve-kibelu: a Journey of Homo Religiosus 2 Mar 2023
The author reflects on his personal journey as a gay Torah Jew and relates it to the narrative of the acceptance of the Torah by the children of Israel. He d...
2 Mar 2023
Lehrhaus The Agagites 1 Mar 2023
This text tells a story set in ancient times, where a captured king named Agag is brought before King Saul of Israel. Agag pleads for his life, offering to s...
1 Mar 2023
Lehrhaus On Building a Better World: The Tension in Jewish Thought between Yeridat ha-Dorot and Aliyat ha-Dorot 28 Feb 2023
The article explores the tension in Jewish thought between the idea of yeridat ha-dorot, the decline of the generations, and aliyat ha-dorot, the ascent of t...
28 Feb 2023
Lehrhaus The Deed 26 Feb 2023
In this poem titled "The Deed," Yehoshua November reflects on his personal journey as a Jew. He wrestles with the influence of his upbringing in a household ...
26 Feb 2023
Lehrhaus From Storage Cities to the Tabernacle: Building a New Civilization 23 Feb 2023
The first half of the book of Exodus tells the epic story of the Israelites' freedom from slavery in Egypt and the establishment of a covenant with God. The ...
23 Feb 2023
Lehrhaus Judaism and its Others: A Review Essay 22 Feb 2023
The book "Judaisms Challenge: Election, Divine Love, and Human Enmity" edited by Alon Goshen-Gottstein explores the question of how Jews should confront non-...
22 Feb 2023
Lehrhaus The Legacy of Rav Moshe Kahn zt’’l 16 Feb 2023
This essay pays tribute to Rav Moshe Kahn ztl, a beloved and influential teacher of Torah, particularly to women. Despite not being widely known, Rav Kahn ha...
16 Feb 2023
Lehrhaus Tzaddik ve-Ra Lo: Revisiting the Problem of Evil in Chaim Grade’s My Quarrel with Hersh Rasseyner 14 Feb 2023
Chaim Grade's story "My Quarrel with Hersh Rasseyner" engages with the problem of evil and the question of divine justice in the face of the Holocaust. In th...
14 Feb 2023
Lehrhaus Letters to the Editor: Responses to Jeff Fox on Football 12 Feb 2023
This article is a response to an article by R. Jeffrey Fox, who argued that watching football may be a halakhic prohibition. The author disagrees with this v...
12 Feb 2023
Lehrhaus American Football: A Case Study in the Limits of Halakhah and the Claim of Ethics 9 Feb 2023
This article explores the ethical implications of watching American football, particularly in light of the brain damage that players often suffer. The author...
9 Feb 2023
Lehrhaus The Written Law 7 Feb 2023
In this humorous and imaginative piece, David Zvi Kalman presents a dialogue between Moses and God discussing the challenges of transmitting and preserving t...
7 Feb 2023
Lehrhaus Of Split Wood and Waters 2 Feb 2023
In this article, the author explores the significance of God's redirection of the Israelites from the land of the Philistines to the Sea of Reeds (Yam Suf) d...
2 Feb 2023
Lehrhaus Miriam’s Song and the Persistence of Music in Dark Times 30 Jan 2023
The Song at the Sea (Exodus 15) and the role of music within the lives of the Israelites during their enslavement in Egypt is explored. The Torah mentions Mi...
30 Jan 2023
Lehrhaus Beyond the Walls of the Synagogue: Prayer as a Virtue 26 Jan 2023
This essay explores the concept of prayer beyond its traditional understanding as a religious act bound to specific times and locations. The author draws on ...
26 Jan 2023
Lehrhaus Sexual Assault: A Torah Analysis and Its Modern Implications 24 Jan 2023
This article explores the topic of sexual assault from a Torah perspective and its modern implications. It draws parallels between different cases of sexual ...
24 Jan 2023
Lehrhaus Confronting Biblical Criticism: A Review Essay 19 Jan 2023
"The Revelation at Sinai: What does Torah from Heaven Mean?" is a book that explores the concept of revelation and its significance in Judaism. It presents a...
19 Jan 2023
Lehrhaus Mishnah with Meaning: Review of The Soul of the Mishna by Yakov Nagen 12 Jan 2023
"The Soul of the Mishna" by Yakov Nagen is a collection of 72 essays that explore the meaning and depth of the Mishnah, emphasizing that it is not just a man...
12 Jan 2023
Lehrhaus Professor Menahem Hayyim Schmelzer’s Beloved Books  9 Jan 2023
Professor Menahem Hayyim Schmelzer, a highly respected scholar and librarian at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, passed away in December 2022. He ...
9 Jan 2023
Lehrhaus Not Everything I Needed to Know in Life I Learned in Rabbinical School 3 Jan 2023
In this article, Nathaniel Helfgot discusses two important aspects of being a rabbi or Jewish educator that are not often emphasized in rabbinical training. ...
3 Jan 2023
Lehrhaus A Year in Review – 2022 29 Dec 2022
In 2022, the Lehrhaus team published over one hundred original pieces, becoming a center for conversations and ideas in the Modern Orthodox community. They a...
29 Dec 2022
Lehrhaus Nine Crazy Nights? 27 Dec 2022
The article discusses the question of why Hanukkah is an eight-day holiday, even outside of Israel where most other holidays have an additional day added. Th...
27 Dec 2022
Lehrhaus Hanukkah: A Poem by Avrom Liessen 26 Dec 2022
"Hanukkah" is a poem by Avrom Liessen that reflects on the author's childhood memories of the holiday. Liessen, who had wandered away from his religious upbr...
26 Dec 2022
Lehrhaus Hanukkah or Hanoch-ah: Illuminating the Origins and Trajectory of an Apocalyptic Holiday 26 Dec 2022
This article explores the absence of a tractate dedicated to the festival of Hanukkah in classical rabbinic literature. While references to Hanukkah can be f...
26 Dec 2022
Lehrhaus Does a Women’s Friday-Night Prayer Belong As Part of Menorah Lighting? 22 Dec 2022
The author discusses the practice of lighting Hanukkah candles in between the prayers of minhah and maariv, as a communal obligation. The author's students a...
22 Dec 2022
Lehrhaus Do You Believe In Miracles? 20 Dec 2022
The author discusses the skepticism around the miracle of the oil lasting for eight days during Hanukkah and the denial of miracles in general in the context...
20 Dec 2022
Lehrhaus You light candles 19 Dec 2022
This poem by Bruce Black reflects on the act of lighting candles in the context of Hanukkah. The speaker contemplates the concept of miracles and the flame's...
19 Dec 2022
Lehrhaus Letter to the Editor: Response to Ben Greenfield on the Forefathers’ Attributes 15 Dec 2022
In response to Ben Greenfield's essay that argues the Zohar Hadash interpreted the attributes of hesed, gevurah, and emet as qualities the forefathers wrestl...
15 Dec 2022
Lehrhaus The Role of Vulnerability in Jewish Life 14 Dec 2022
This article explores the concept of vulnerability in Jewish life. It argues that vulnerability, defined as admitting one's own incompleteness or weakness, p...
14 Dec 2022
Lehrhaus Joseph and The Imagery of Clothing 12 Dec 2022
The article discusses the role of clothing in the Joseph narrative in the Book of Genesis. Clothing is used as a symbol throughout the story, starting with t...
12 Dec 2022
Lehrhaus Hesed, Gevurah, and Emet: Do These Attributes Actually Describe our Forefathers? 8 Dec 2022
In kabbalistic and Hasidic thought, each of the forefathers is associated with a defining characteristic - Avraham with kindness (hesed), Yitzhak with streng...
8 Dec 2022
Lehrhaus Halakhah: Navigating Between Unity and Plurality 4 Dec 2022
In the book review of "Staying Human: A Jewish Theology for the Age of Artificial Intelligence" by Harris Bors, the author explores the tension between unity...
4 Dec 2022