JL;DR

This photo essay by Agnieszka Traczewska documents the presence and revival of Hasidic Jewish life in Poland. Traczewska, a non-Jewish Polish photographer, h...

In the 1520s, a black man named David Reubeni appeared in North Africa claiming to be the son of King Solomon and the brother of King Joseph, who ruled a Jew...

The author discusses the significance of Israel's Declaration of Independence in contemporary Israeli society. The Declaration is often displayed on banners ...

In this article, the author recounts their experience of attempting to walk around the Dead Sea, starting from the Jordanian side and intending to finish on ...

"When Canines Were in the Land" is a book edited by Susan Martha Kahn that tells the story of Rudolphina Menzel, a scientist and Zionist who played a signifi...

The author explores the significance of the storytelling aspect of the Passover Seder and its role in the creation of the Jewish nation. The Exodus story, as...

The practice of reading the Song of Songs on Shabbat Chol Hamoed, the Sabbath during the intermediate days of Passover, is unique to Ashkenazi synagogues. Th...

The article is an exchange between Allan Arkush and Eric Alterman regarding Alterman's book, "We Are Not One: A History of America's Fight Over Israel." Arku...

This text is a response to Eric Alterman's book "We Are Not One" by an unnamed author. The responder criticizes Alterman's approach to history, arguing that ...

In this article, the author criticizes a review of his book by Allan Arkush, a chief at the pro-Israel thought police. He argues that Arkush's attack is inep...

The Jewish Review of Books has compiled three humorous reviews for Purim. The first review rates various famous "Brooks," including Mel Brooks and Brooks Bro...

Koren Publishers has released a graphic novel adaptation of the Book of Esther, called "The Koren Tanakh Graphic Novel Esther." The novel is aimed at a young...

The article is a response to critics of the author's previous article, in which he expressed pessimism about the future of Israel. The author clarifies that ...

In this response to Hillel Halkin's concerns about the recent Israeli elections and their consequences, the author disagrees with Halkin's deep pessimism. Th...

The author argues that despite disagreements, democracy is still thriving in Israel and the voters who supported the current government had various reasons f...

The author reflects on their disappointment and fear after losing Israeli elections and discusses various ways they have tried to manage it, including visiti...

The author begins by agreeing with Hillel Halkin's portrayal of the current cultural and political situation in Israel, which is marked by despair and uncert...

The article discusses how Kyrie Irving, the Brooklyn Nets point guard, has faced criticism for his endorsement of a conspiracy theory that claims present-day...

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 ...

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

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 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...

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...

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

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

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...

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 ...

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 ...