JL;DR

The author discusses the idea of streamlining High Holidays services in American Modern Orthodox congregations. He suggests that there is a need for a health...

In this article, the author explores the story of the Akeidah (the Binding of Isaac) from a new perspective. They discuss Aaron Koller's book, "Unbinding Isa...

The story of Lot's wife turning into salt is often seen as a punishment for disobeying the angels' command, but this interpretation raises questions about th...

In this article, Alan Jotkowitz discusses the theological response needed in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, racial unrest, and environmental crises. He s...

The author explores the question of whether the Torah endorses ethnonationalism or universalism. While some argue that the Torah supports ethnonationalism, c...

This article explores the perspectives of prominent Rabbinic authorities on the topic of public protests, focusing on two contexts: the United States and Isr...

The article explores the biblical narrative's view of cities and their founders. It notes that cities and their founders are often looked down upon in the Bi...

In this article, Melissa R. Klapper explores the involvement of Jewish women in the suffrage movement in America. She highlights the diversity of the suffrag...

The article discusses the conflicting views and emotions that arise in the Upper West Side community due to the conversion of hotels into homeless shelters. ...

In this poem titled "Backyard Prayer (Covid-19)" by Akiva Shapiro, the author describes a scene of prayer during the pandemic. The masked faces of worshipper...

The author explores the concept of "aveirah li-shmah," which refers to a sin performed in the name of God. While traditional scholars generally maintain that...

Shemini Atzeret is a holiday that follows Sukkot, but its specific nature is not clearly defined in the Torah. One interpretation, found in a well-known midr...

This text explores the complex personality of King Solomon (Shlomo) as depicted in the book of Kings and Chronicles. While Chronicles portrays Shlomo as the ...

The author reflects on the issue of "manels" (all-male panels) in Jewish institutions and argues that the problem goes beyond gender representation. She poin...

The article discusses the story of Jonah and the reasons for his desire to run away from his mission. The author suggests that Jonah's fear of punishment and...

The author explores the concept of teshuvah (repentance) and its relationship to physical journeys and escape from one's surroundings. They discuss the idea ...

Yehiel Poupko's upcoming collection of poems, titled "What Is Lost," explores themes of sin, repentance, and forgiveness in Jewish tradition. The first poem ...

The article discusses a Talmudic passage that presents a debate about whether one should confess and atone for sins that have already been confessed and aton...

The poem "Erev Rosh Hashana" by Hillel Broder explores themes of fear and hope as the world approaches its end. The poem suggests that amidst the chaos and u...

The author reflects on her own experiences with childbirth and infertility, connecting them to the stories of barren women in the Bible. She highlights the i...

As we reflect on the past year during Rosh Hashanah, a Jewish holiday that focuses on our shared humanity, we must also consider the iniquity of inequity in ...

This article discusses the intentions of Rav Elhanan Nir for Rosh Hashanah, focusing on his series of four poems entitled "Intentions" (Kavvanot). The first ...

In this article, Mali Brofsky responds to a paper by Dr. Shana Strauch Shick and Dr. Yoel Finkelman on women's participation in public discourse within Moder...

The "manel phenomenon," in which all-male panels dominate public discussions in the Modern Orthodox community, is a concerning issue. The absence of women's ...

Professor Yaakov Blidstein, a highly respected scholar, recently passed away. He was known for his deep understanding of Jewish texts and his ability to inte...

As discussions about returning to pre-pandemic synagogue experiences take place, it is important to shift focus from simply going back to "normal" to reimagi...

The article discusses the significance of greetings on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur and proposes reviving the tradition of sending physical Rosh Hashanah car...

In this article, the author explores the experiences of Jewish physicians during the Bubonic Plague in 1631 in Padua, Italy. The author discusses the histori...

Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz played a pivotal role in the opening of a Yeshiva in Soviet Russia in 1989. He recognized that the Soviet Ministry of Cults had no inte...

In this article, Elli Fischer discusses the presence of diseases and plagues in the Tokhehah, a section of Deuteronomy that outlines the curses that will bef...

In this article, the author recounts a conversation he had with a missionary who argued that the curse of the law in Judaism prevents salvation. The missiona...

In this poem, the poet reflects on the nature of worship and the concept of God. She sees God as a metaphor and questions what God represents. She argues tha...

Naomi Seidman's book, "Sarah Schenirer and the Bais Yaakov Movement: A Revolution in the Name of Tradition," fills a gap in the study of modern Jewish histor...

Repentance is a powerful concept in Judaism, but it can be difficult to understand how it brings about change. Two statements from Jewish sages shed light on...

In this article, the author argues that prophecy is a mitzvah, a religious obligation, for all Jews. They discuss the views of Rabbi Soloveitchik, who believ...

The article discusses the ethical implications of participating in a COVID-19 human vaccine challenge trial from a Jewish perspective. It explains that tradi...

Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, who recently passed away, was a mentor and guide to the author. He inspired a deep sense of devotion to the Jewish people and the impo...

Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, known for his monumental translation of the Talmud and his work in education, was born into a secular family but became religious as a...

This poem by Hillel Broder reflects on the experience of walking along a closed boardwalk during the COVID-19 pandemic. The speaker and their companion take ...

Rashi's commentary on Masekhet Eruvin in the Talmud contains numerous diagrams, representing about half of the total diagrams found in his commentary. While ...

This article explores an obscure minhag (custom) related to wearing tefillin, specifically the practice of not eating or drinking until the impressions of th...

In "Philosophy and Exegesis: Which Leads? A Review of Aaron Kollers Unbinding Isaac," Zvi Grumet discusses Aaron Koller's book, "Unbinding Isaac: The Signifi...

In the kinnah "Yom Akhpi Hikhbadti," Rabbi Yehudah ha-Levi retells the story of Zechariah's murder and the subsequent massacre by Nebuzaradan, but with a uni...

This poem by Jennie Mintz explores the horrors of the Holocaust, particularly the dehumanizing and indiscriminate nature of the Nazi atrocities. The poem des...

In this article, the author reflects on the legacy of Rabbi Yehuda Amital, the founding rosh yeshiva of Har Etzion, as he navigates his role as a rabbi durin...

This text is a personal reflection on the author's last conversation with Rav Amital, a prominent Jewish religious leader. During their conversation, Rav Ami...

Psalm 121 is a popular psalm that has been recited and studied throughout history. It is a song of ascent, likely sung by pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem....

The author recounts a childhood memory of visiting the Baltic Coast in the Soviet Union with his father. They stayed in a house built by a man named Vigor an...

The author describes their experience returning to synagogue for a prayer service during the COVID-19 pandemic. The service was different from what they were...

Alexander Kaye's book, "The Invention of Jewish Theocracy: The Struggle for Legal Authority in Modern Israel," explores the history of religious Zionism's dr...