Daily Podcasts Video Research
Lehrhaus Intention and Inquiry: A Halakhic Case for Ta’amei Ha-Mitzvot 9 Feb 2025
Dovid Campbell explores the concept of taamei ha-mitzvot (the reasons for the commandments) and their potential role in fulfilling the halakhic requirement o...
9 Feb 2025
Lehrhaus Bati Le-Gani and the Triumph of Humanity 5 Feb 2025
Eli Rubin's piece "Bati Le-Gani and the Triumph of Humanity" explores the rich historical and theological contributions of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn (...
5 Feb 2025
Lehrhaus Considering The Changing Landscape in Modern Orthodox Israel Education 5 Feb 2025
Modern Orthodox Jewish Day Schools face new challenges in Israel education post-October 7, as the traditional approach emphasizing nuanced understanding of b...
5 Feb 2025
Lehrhaus Bringing the Bible’s Commentators to Life 3 Feb 2025
Avigail Rock's book, "Great Biblical Commentators: Biographies, Methodologies, and Contributions," translated by Yoseif Bloch, offers a compelling exploratio...
3 Feb 2025
Lehrhaus Edwin Salomon’s ‘Like Animals’ Existential Art: A Retrospective in honor of his 10th Yahrzeit 30 Jan 2025
Edwin Salomons' existential art is explored in this retrospective, highlighting his unique contribution to Israeli and Jewish art despite facing marginalizat...
30 Jan 2025
Lehrhaus Edwin Salomon’s ‘Like Animals’ Existential Art: A Retrospective in honor of his 10th Yahrzeit 30 Jan 2025
Edwin Salomon, a Jewish Israeli painter born in Romania, is remembered in a retrospective marking the 10th anniversary of his passing. His art, deeply influe...
30 Jan 2025
Lehrhaus Is Modern Orthodoxy Ready to Accept Rabbi Yitz Greenberg? 27 Jan 2025
Rabbi Yitz Greenberg, a significant yet controversial figure within Modern Orthodoxy, is examined in Steven Gotlib's review of Greenberg's latest work, "The ...
27 Jan 2025
Lehrhaus To Be a Stiff-Necked People 21 Jan 2025
Renowned author Rabbi Zachary Truboff explores the concept of being a "stiff-necked people," drawing insights from the teachings of the Piaseczner Rebbe, Rab...
21 Jan 2025
Lehrhaus The Widow Mandelbaum Dreams 20 Jan 2025
Goldie Mandelbaum, a widow living in the small Jewish community of Khmelnytsky, experiences life-altering dreams of her late husband, Moshe, who advises her ...
20 Jan 2025
Lehrhaus “Endless Light” and Boundless Soul 15 Jan 2025
In his latest poetry collection, "The Concealment of Endless Light," Yehoshua November delves deep into the essence of the human soul and its connection to t...
15 Jan 2025
Lehrhaus Shiva From Afar 14 Jan 2025
Devora Steinmetz reflects on modern bereavement practices in light of traditional Jewish law, focusing on the phases of mourning—aninut and shiva—and the inf...
14 Jan 2025
Lehrhaus Letters to the Editor: Raphael Jospe and Zach Truboff 13 Jan 2025
Raphael Jospe challenges the usage of the term "tinkering" in the intellectual context of Jewish theology, arguing that figures like Louis Jacobs were not me...
13 Jan 2025
Lehrhaus The Rome not Taken: Pompey, Pigs, and the Implosion of Hasmonean Eschatology 12 Jan 2025
Aton Holzer's article explores the Hasmonean admiration for the Roman Republic as depicted in I Maccabees, where Judas Maccabee sought an alliance with Rome....
12 Jan 2025
Lehrhaus Man vs. Prophecy? A New Look at the Classic Discussion of Predetermination in the Izhbitz School 9 Jan 2025
Reuven Boshnack explores the complex interplay between free will and predetermination within the Izhbitz school, particularly through the lens of R. Shmuel D...
9 Jan 2025
Lehrhaus From Burning Candles to ‘Burning’ People 30 Dec 2024
Admiel Kosman delves into the symbolism of light in Jewish tradition, from the external display of Hanukkah candles to the inner illumination of holy individ...
30 Dec 2024
Lehrhaus Mikeitz and the Miracles of Hanukkah: A Study of Metaphors and Interpretations 26 Dec 2024
David H. Schwartz explores the metaphorical parallels between the stories of Joseph and Hanukkah, prompting a deeper understanding of Hanukkah's core theolog...
26 Dec 2024
Lehrhaus A Year in Review – 2024 24 Dec 2024
Reflecting on 2024, The Lehrhaus highlighted significant contributions to Jewish thought and literature amidst global and cultural challenges. Key discussion...
24 Dec 2024
Lehrhaus Three Poems from “A Prayer of Six Wings” 23 Dec 2024
Owen Lewis explores profound themes in his three poems from "A Prayer of Six Wings," weaving together Jewish historical, religious, and philosophical element...
23 Dec 2024
Lehrhaus Coherence, Contradiction, and the Philosophy of Chabad 19 Dec 2024
Ariel Evan Mayse reviews Yosef Bronstein's new book, "Engaging the Essence: The Torah Philosophy of the Lubavitcher Rebbe." This work examines the teachings ...
19 Dec 2024
Lehrhaus What Sons Receive: A Collection of Poems 18 Dec 2024
Yael Unterman's collection of poems, "What Sons Receive," explores the complex legacies passed down from fathers to sons within a Biblical and emotional fram...
18 Dec 2024
Lehrhaus The Meeting 12 Dec 2024
In "The Meeting," Harris Bor offers a poetic reimagining of the biblical encounter between Esau and Jacob. The narrative captures the tension and unspoken em...
12 Dec 2024
Lehrhaus Modern Orthodox Theology in a Post-Soloveitchik World 11 Dec 2024
In his review, David Fried discusses Daniel Ross Goodman's book "Soloveitchik's Children," which examines the theological impact of R. Joseph B. Soloveitchik...
11 Dec 2024
Lehrhaus The Quest for an Objective Halakhic Standard by which to Judge Artistic Expression: A Case Study from the Eighteenth-Century Synagogue Menorah 8 Dec 2024
The article explores the halakhic challenges and rabbinic debates surrounding the construction of artistic seven-branched menorahs in the eighteenth century....
8 Dec 2024
Lehrhaus Autonomy Comes Apart, the Mesorah Cannot Hold:Rav Soloveitchik’s Afterlife in the 21st Century 8 Dec 2024
Levi Morrow explores the enduring influence of Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik on 21st-century Jewish thought through a review of recent publications, including a ...
8 Dec 2024
Lehrhaus The Quest for an Objective Halakhic Standard by which to Judge Artistic Expression: A Case Study from the Eighteenth-Century Synagogue Menorah 4 Dec 2024
In the 18th century, members of a Jerusalem synagogue crafted a seven-branched candelabra, reminiscent of the Temple Menorah, prompting rabbinic disapproval ...
4 Dec 2024
Lehrhaus Extra-Communal Philanthropy – Forbidden, Permitted, or Mandated? 3 Dec 2024
Mikey Lebrett examines the Orthodox Jewish perspective on extra-communal philanthropy, delving into whether it is forbidden, permitted, or mandated by halakh...
3 Dec 2024
Lehrhaus A Temple in Our Days:  A Long-Overdue Conversation  2 Dec 2024
The article by Meir Kraus explores the increasing movement within Israeli religious society advocating for the rebuilding of the Temple on Temple Mount. This...
2 Dec 2024
Lehrhaus The Myth of the Judaic Puritans 27 Nov 2024
Yisroel Benporat critically examines the persistent myth that Puritans in early America embraced aspects of Judaism, debunking claims such as Cotton Mather w...
27 Nov 2024
Lehrhaus Tablets Shattered (And Restored?): Jewish Identity Here and Now 26 Nov 2024
Steven Gotlib reviews Joshua Leifer's book "Tablets Shattered: The End of an American Jewish Century and the Future of Jewish Life," focusing on the evolutio...
26 Nov 2024
Lehrhaus Dance Lessons for Jews 21 Nov 2024
Baruch November's collection of poems, including "Dance Lessons for Jews," explores themes of identity, spirituality, and cultural belonging. Through vibrant...
21 Nov 2024
Lehrhaus Ought Judaism Be Tinkered With? 19 Nov 2024
In his review of Miri Freud-Kandel's book on Louis Jacobs, Steven Gotlib explores the complex interplay between traditional Jewish theology and modern though...
19 Nov 2024
Lehrhaus Ishmael and Moses: Everything Is Foreseen or Freedom Is Given? 17 Nov 2024
David Curwin's analysis of the stories of Ishmael and Moses reveals striking parallels that underscore themes of parental care, intervention by higher powers...
17 Nov 2024
Lehrhaus Letters to the Editor: Responses to Zach Truboff on Religious Zionism and Yosef Lindell on Selihot 15 Nov 2024
The essay provides responses to two recent Lehrhaus articles on Religious Zionism and the nature of Selihot. Yitzchak Blau critiques Zach Truboff's portrayal...
15 Nov 2024
Lehrhaus Shammai Vs. Hillel: The Angel Is In The Details 4 Nov 2024
Chaim Trachtman discusses the contrasting perspectives of Hillel and Shammai, two famed Talmudic sages, especially in their views on women in marriage and le...
4 Nov 2024
Lehrhaus Husbandry 31 Oct 2024
"Husbandry" by Ben Corvo is a reflective piece that intricately illustrates the often romanticized story of Noah's Ark through a more gritty and realistic le...
31 Oct 2024
Lehrhaus Where God Is Found 29 Oct 2024
In Dov Frank's reflective piece, the author explores the evolution of their relationship with God, from childhood experiences in a religious household to fin...
29 Oct 2024
Lehrhaus Every Day is New Under the Sun 15 Oct 2024
Wendy Zierler reflects on the recurring challenges of life through the lens of Kohelet, juxtaposed with Lea Goldberg's poetic midrash, "Shirei Sof Ha-Derekh....
15 Oct 2024
Lehrhaus Can Religious Zionism Do Teshuvah? 10 Oct 2024
The piece explores the concept of teshuvah (repentance) within the framework of Religious Zionism, focusing on historical and contemporary responses to crise...
10 Oct 2024
Lehrhaus What is Ne’ilah? 10 Oct 2024
Neilah, the concluding prayer of Yom Kippur, is a deeply introspective and pivotal moment for Jews worldwide, marked by a profound connection with God. In th...
10 Oct 2024
Lehrhaus On Yom Kippur, determinism and national unity 10 Oct 2024
The article explores the philosophical dilemma of free will versus determinism in the context of Yom Kippur, emphasizing how this tension influences Jewish t...
10 Oct 2024
Lehrhaus Why Can’t Selihot Be More Like Kinot? 8 Oct 2024
Yosef Lindell explores the challenges and potential solutions for enhancing the Ashkenazi Selihot experience, which often feels rushed and lacks the depth of...
8 Oct 2024
Lehrhaus Until It Is Enough: Conversations about Shiurim for Yom Kippur  2 Oct 2024
Sarah Osborne explores the complexities surrounding the practice of eating in "shiurim" on Yom Kippur for those who cannot safely fast. Drawing on personal n...
2 Oct 2024
Lehrhaus The Shofar as a Mekonenet, a Singer of Laments 2 Oct 2024
The article explores the multifaceted symbolism of the shofar in Jewish tradition. Its unadorned, natural form, mandated by Halakhah, underscores its role as...
2 Oct 2024
Lehrhaus Yom Teruah 1 Oct 2024
Avi Schild's poignant piece, "Yom Teruah," reflects on the cries and anguish associated with the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, often called Yom Teruah, the...
1 Oct 2024
Lehrhaus Teshuvah: A Radical, Refreshing, and Renewing Approach 29 Sep 2024
Yiscah Smith explores the transformative potential of teshuvah (repentance) as taught by the Piaseczner Rebbe, emphasizing a holistic return to the Divine ra...
29 Sep 2024
Lehrhaus “Our Eyes”: The Kenites and the Druze 19 Sep 2024
The tragic July 2024 incident where a Hezbollah rocket struck Golan Heights, killing twelve Druze children, highlights the complexities within the Druze comm...
19 Sep 2024
Lehrhaus These Days 11 Sep 2024
Reflecting on the Ten Days of Awe, the narrator contemplates life as seen through the lens of recent changes—their new marriage and the upcoming Yom Kippur. ...
11 Sep 2024
Lehrhaus Saturday Afternoon 8 Sep 2024
The article, introduced by Judy Taubes Sherman, explores the discovery of a short story titled "Saturday Afternoon" by her father, Leo Taubes. Written during...
8 Sep 2024
Lehrhaus Bedecked in Splendor 6 Sep 2024
The article "Bedecked in Splendor" reflects on the profound spiritual legacy of Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook, particularly his emphasis on the laws an...
6 Sep 2024
Lehrhaus The Grand Conversation: Bringing Jewish Ideas to the Literature Classroom 1 Sep 2024
This article explores how Jewish day schools, particularly within the Modern Orthodox tradition, strive to blend Jewish and secular studies, with a focus on ...
1 Sep 2024