JL;DR

The article discusses the response of the Yiddish literary elite to Isaac Bashevis Singer's Nobel Prize win in 1978 and explores the lesser-known Yiddish wri...

George Lichtheim, a Jewish German immigrant to Jerusalem during World War II, was a writer and journalist who gained knowledge from his weekly meetings with ...

Mordecai Kaplan, a prominent figure in modern American Judaism, kept a journal from 1913 to 1981, offering insights into his evolving views and the challenge...

In "Like a Son of Man" by Israel Knohl, the author explores the nature of the messianic figure in Judaism and Christianity. He argues that the conflict betwe...

"Brotherhood" by Karma Ben-Johanan explores the transformation of the Oberammergau Passion Play, a historically antisemitic play, into a symbol of Jewish-Chr...

In the Winter 2023 issue of the Jewish Review of Books, editor Abraham Socher discusses an essay by Hillel Halkin that challenges the idea of Jews as the cho...

"Tradition and Imagination" discusses Johanna Kaplan's recently reissued story collection, emphasizing her scrupulously attentive portraits of postwar Americ...

In his book "Fragile Finitude: A Jewish Hermeneutical Theology," Michael Fishbane explores the interaction between life and tradition and argues that interpr...

"The Yeshiva and the Rise of Modern Hebrew Literature" by Marina Zilbergerts examines the relationship between traditional Jewish learning in yeshivas and th...

Eric Alterman's book, "We Are Not One," critiques American Jewish support for Israel and the Zionist project. Alterman argues that American Zionists prioriti...

Benny Morris's book, "Sidney Reilly: Master Spy," explores the life of Sidney Reilly, a renowned spy with a mysterious background. Reilly, originally born as...

Matthias B. Lehmann’s book, "The (Railroad) Baron," examines the life and legacy of Baron Maurice de Hirsch, a prominent figure in Jewish history during the ...

This text discusses the views of David Ben-Gurion, the former prime minister of Israel, on the role of religion in the Jewish state. Ben-Gurion initially sid...

In this article, several thinkers respond to Hillel Halkin's essay about the new Israeli government. The responses varied in their perspectives. Emily Amrous...

In this response to Hillel Halkin, the author challenges Halkin's criticism of right-wing Zionist parties and the ultra-Orthodox community in Israel. The aut...

The article discusses the author's disagreement with the focus on demographics in Jewish writings, particularly in relation to Israel's survival. The author ...

The author reflects on the current political situation in Israel, expressing concern over the formation of a coalition government led by a prime minister on ...

"Fleishman Is a Series" is a show based on the 2019 novel by Taffy Brodesser-Akner, available on Hulu. The story revolves around Toby Fleishman, a recently d...

The story of Hanukkah, as most modern Jews know it, involves the victory of the Maccabees over the Greeks and the miracle of the oil that lasted for eight da...

This article discusses lesser-known aspects of the Hanukkah holiday. It explores the debate over the original design of the Hanukkah menorah, with some argui...

The book of Jubilees, written during the Second Temple period, is a creative retelling of Genesis and parts of Exodus that presents alternate storylines and ...

Steven Spielberg's influence on popular culture is undeniable, and in his collaboration with Tony Kushner, they explore the intersection of entertainment and...

This book discusses the life and work of Yudel Rosenberg, the chief rabbi of Montreal in the early 20th century. Rosenberg was a complex figure who was deepl...

This article explores the relationship between Abraham and his two sons, Ishmael and Isaac, in the context of the story of the binding of Isaac. The author a...

Chaim Grade was a prominent Yiddish writer born in Vilna, Lithuania, in 1910. He spent eight years studying in Lithuanian yeshivas before breaking with relig...

The article explores the relationship between Abraham and his sons, Isaac and Ishmael. It highlights the tension and ambiguity surrounding Abraham's love for...

"The Literary Mafia" by Josh Lambert explores the notion of Jewish power in the literary world. Lambert investigates the accusations made by figures like Jac...

Walter Benjamin, a renowned cultural critic of the 20th century, attempted to flee Nazi-occupied Europe in 1940 by hiking over the Pyrenees from France to Sp...

The article explores the enigmatic figure of Monsieur Chouchani, a mysterious teacher who had a profound impact on significant Jewish intellectuals such as E...

"Karaism: An Introduction to the Oldest Surviving Alternative Judaism" by Daniel J. Lasker explores the history and significance of Karaism, a Jewish minorit...

This article discusses the life and legacy of Walter Benjamin, a renowned cultural critic of the 20th century. It highlights his attempt to flee Nazi-occupie...

A.B. Yehoshua, an acclaimed writer who recently passed away, was known for his wry and comedic novels. While he had strong opinions about Jewish life in the ...

Nir Baram's novel, "World Shadow," explores the concept of conspiracy and power in different social spheres. The book follows three interconnected stories—a ...

In John Steinbeck's novel "East of Eden," the Hebrew word "timshel" is presented as an important concept, meaning "thou mayest" and representing free will an...

The book "The Blessings of Manasia," written by Isaac Thangjom and Hillel Halkin, explores the claim that the Kuki-Mizo, a Tibetan-Burmese ethnic group from ...

In his book "Revolutionary Jews from Spinoza to Marx," Jonathan I. Israel explores the role of Jews in the Enlightenment and the impact of radical Enlightenm...

The book "Medicine in the Talmud: Natural and Supernatural Therapies between Magic and Science" by Jason Sion Mokhtarian aims to update the field of Talmudic...

"Recording History: Jews, Muslims, and Music across Twentieth-Century North Africa" by Christopher Silver explores the forgotten history of Jewish musicians ...

Anita Shapira, a historian and author, reflects on her journey to becoming a historian of Israel in her newly published memoir, "It Was Like This." Shapira r...

Miriam Karpilove was a prolific Yiddish author known for her serialized novels. She immigrated to America in 1905 and later went to Palestine in 1926, hoping...

"Frenemies, A Love Story" by Jeffrey Herf is a fascinating history of the international and domestic politics surrounding Israel's founding. The book highlig...

The article explores the history of Jewish Bible translations, starting with William Tyndale's influential English translation in the 16th century. It discus...

In a letter to the Jewish Review of Books, Jason Bedrick discusses the implications of the Carson v. Makin case and the Supreme Court's decision to uphold re...

This text is the first chapter of a poem called "Eugene Nadelman: A Tale of the 1980s in Verse." It follows the story of Eugene, a fourteen-year-old Jewish b...

This text discusses the importance of synagogues as both physical spaces and communities. It highlights the significance of human connections made within syn...

This article discusses the involvement of Jews in the Ukrainian revolution and the ongoing war in Ukraine. It tells the story of Natan Khazin, a young rabbi ...

The poem "Moiss Ville" celebrates a small Jewish community in Argentina. It describes the town as a place where Jews are the main inhabitants, with various J...

In "Revolution, the Jews, and Hitler's Munich," Michael Brenner explores the role of Jews in revolutionary movements and the impact it had on the rise of Hit...

Alex Edelman's one-man comedy show, "Just for Us," combines humor and self-reflection as he explores his Jewish identity. Edelman skillfully weaves together ...

Belonging and Betrayal by Charles Dellheim explores the role of Jewish art dealers in the art world. The book argues that the shift from trade in commodities...