Lehrhaus
Our Torah—Illustrated?
24 Jun
In the Torah, unique bracket-shaped markings known as inverted nuns are found surrounding Numbers 10:35-36, evolving over 2000 years with various interpretat...
24 Jun
Lehrhaus
Aspects of My Father’s Philosophy of Jewish History
18 Jun
Aaron Zeitlin delves into his father Hillel Zeitlin's philosophical and theological perspectives on Jewish history, emphasizing the unique national identity ...
18 Jun
Lehrhaus
First Fruits: A Selection of Poems on Mishnah Bikkurim 3
10 Jun
The text discusses the Mishnah tractate Bikkurim, focusing on Chapter 3's visual description of the Shavuot procession and the communal journey to the Temple...
10 Jun
Lehrhaus
Giving Shape to Abstraction: Illustrating Redemption in the Book of Ruth
9 Jun
The article discusses the challenge of illustrating the Book of Ruth, focusing not on the plot but on the theme of redemption. The author emphasizes the abst...
9 Jun
Lehrhaus
Living in an Old Book with Poet Haim Gouri (1923-2018)
3 Jun
Haim Gouri's poem "I Live at This Time in an Old Book" reflects on living in an old country intertwined with Jewish history, exploring themes of old age, hop...
3 Jun
Lehrhaus
Book review of For Women and Girls Only: Reshaping Jewish Orthodoxy through the Arts in the Digital Age
30 May
The book "For Women and Girls Only: Reshaping Jewish Orthodoxy through the Arts in the Digital Age" by Dr. Jessica Roda explores how Orthodox Jewish women ha...
30 May
Lehrhaus
Voices from Outside the Cave: Women and the Story of Rabbi Shimon bar Yohai
27 May
The text discusses the story of Rabbi Shimon bar Yohai and the women in his life: his mother (Eishet Yohai), wife (Eishet Shimon), and daughter-in-law (Eishe...
27 May
Lehrhaus
The Culture of Learning in Women’s Torah Study
23 May
The author discusses the importance of creating a culture of learning for women in Torah study, particularly in Gemara and Talmud, similar to the vibrant env...
23 May
Lehrhaus
Judaism is About Two Kinds of Love
22 May
Rabbi Dr. Shai Held's book "Judaism is about Love" delves into the distinction between two types of love in Judaism: ahavah rabbah (abundant, passionate love...
22 May
Lehrhaus
The Non-Blaspheming “Blasphemer” and the Broader Ethic of the Episode
16 May
The article discusses the narrative of the "blasphemer" in Leviticus and challenges the common translation of the sin as blasphemy. The story focuses on Ben ...
16 May
Lehrhaus
Rethinking Disability: Let’s Do Better
13 May
The article discusses the difference between the Medical Approach and the Social Model of disability, using the example of a controversial video by Mr. Beast...
13 May
Lehrhaus
Judaism and Christianity: A Star-Crossed Affair?
8 May
Eugene Korn's book, "Israel and the Nations," explores Jewish-Gentile relations and the evolving theological perspectives on engaging with non-Jewish faiths,...
8 May
Lehrhaus
“Filling In” and “The Poet of Auschwitz?”
5 May
"Temima Weissmann reflects on the fragments of memory and history in the poems 'Filling In' and 'The Poet of Auschwitz?' In 'Filling In,' she evokes the stru...
5 May
Lehrhaus
Revolution in the Temple
26 Apr
The essay discusses a rabbinic story about the sage Hillel's ruling on offering the Passover Sacrifice in the Temple, highlighting its different versions in ...
26 Apr
Lehrhaus
Pesah as Zeman Simhateinu: What Does it Mean to Rejoice Over Victory?
18 Apr
In the discussion of Pesah as Zeman Simhateinu, the text delves into the tradition of referring to the last days of Pesah as a time of rejoicing over victory...
18 Apr
Lehrhaus
Buying Jewish Whiskey
17 Apr
The text discusses the legal intricacies and religious significance of the practice of selling chametz (leavened food) before Passover, focusing on the forma...
17 Apr
Lehrhaus
Put a Mirror on Your Seder Table
14 Apr
The article emphasizes the importance of including the stories of enslaved Jewish women in the Passover Seder narrative, focusing on the challenges faced by ...
14 Apr
Lehrhaus
Learning To Let Go
8 Apr
The author reflects on her father's ability to evade death multiple times and contemplates the inevitability of losing loved ones as they age. Drawing a para...
8 Apr
Lehrhaus
Letters To The Editor: A Further Response To Tzvi Goldstein On Centrist Orthodoxy And Haredi Orthodoxy
4 Apr
Chaim Goldberg responds to Tzvi Goldstein's essay on Centrist Orthodoxy and Haredi Orthodoxy by highlighting nuances in Ramhal's Mesilat Yesharim that challe...
4 Apr
Lehrhaus
Is Liberal Zionism Dead?
1 Apr
The text discusses the current crisis facing liberal Zionism, with a focus on the challenges of balancing progressive values with the reality of Israel's pol...
1 Apr
Lehrhaus
Is Silence Complicity?: An Analysis of Shtikah Ke-Hoda’ah from Classic Halakhah to Current Events
28 Mar
Silence is often viewed as complicity or admission, raising questions about when the principle of shtikah ke-hodaah applies in Jewish law and ethics, especia...
28 Mar
Lehrhaus
Separation of Powers and Majority Rule: Insights from the Talmud, Maimonides, Spinoza, and Mendelssohn
26 Mar
The text delves into the current political tensions in Israel regarding the authority of the Supreme Court, executive privilege, and the role of the elected ...
26 Mar
Lehrhaus
Poets Are Purim Jews: On Contemporary Poetry’s Inexplicable Obsession with the Ordinary
21 Mar
Contemporary poetry's focus on finding profundity and wonder in ordinary experiences, rather than overtly religious themes, is explored in relation to the co...
21 Mar
Lehrhaus
Purim and the Joke of Jewish Sovereignty
20 Mar
The article discusses the relationship between the holiday of Purim and the concept of Jewish sovereignty, highlighting differing viewpoints on the importanc...
20 Mar
Lehrhaus
Bulbasaur & Bishul: An Adar-Fueled, Unnecessarily In-Depth Analysis of a Nonsensical Halakhic Question
19 Mar
In an analysis by Mark Glass, the author delves into a humorous yet insightful halakhic question based on the popular game Pokemon, pondering if using a move...
19 Mar
Lehrhaus
The Child at this Moment, the child that Could Become: A Torah Meditation in Wartime
17 Mar
In his exploration of a Torah meditation in wartime, Dan Ornstein reflects on the biblical story of Yishmael in the desert and the moral implications of judg...
17 Mar
Lehrhaus
A Philosophical Reflection on the Halakhification of Warfare
14 Mar
The debate on the ethical conduct of warfare within Jewish law is discussed in a philosophical reflection by Alex S. Ozar. Some authorities argue that warfar...
14 Mar
Lehrhaus
Insanity and Hope
11 Mar
Warren Zev Harvey explores the concept of historical unpredictability and hope in the context of religious Zionism through the lens of R. Joseph Kaspi's view...
11 Mar
Lehrhaus
The Jewish Leap Day: A Halakhic Analysis of a Calendar Conundrum
7 Mar
The Jewish calendar's leap day in Adar, observed during a leap year, adds a full month to correct for discrepancies between lunar and solar years maintaining...
7 Mar
Lehrhaus
Is Reciting Tehillim and Avinu Malkeinu after October 7th Enough?
4 Mar
Many synagogues have adjusted their services after October 7th in response to the conflict in Israel by adding prayers like Avinu Malkeinu and select chapter...
4 Mar
Lehrhaus
Modern Orthodoxy at the Crossroads: Past, Present, and Future
29 Feb
Joseph Kaplan, a retired attorney and Modern Orthodox intellectual, offers a collection of writings spanning over half a century in "A Passionate Writing Lif...
29 Feb
Lehrhaus
Character And Covenant
26 Feb
"Jewish Virtue Ethics" edited by Geoffrey D. Claussen, Alexander Green, and Alan L. Mittleman delves into the history of Jewish thought by bringing together ...
26 Feb
Lehrhaus
Thoughts on a Death
21 Feb
The text delves into Jewish laws and traditions surrounding death and mourning, with a focus on the story of a man's complicated relationship with his estran...
21 Feb
Lehrhaus
Of Warriors and Wolves
20 Feb
Aharon Frazer reflects on the sanctity of human life amidst violence, exploring the Torah's nuanced approach to basic human morality. He highlights how the T...
20 Feb
Lehrhaus
Jewish Theology For a Neo-Traditional Age
15 Feb
In his book "The People, The Torah, The God: A Neo-Traditional Jewish Theology," Yehuda Gellman presents a neo-traditional theology that explores the concept...
15 Feb
Lehrhaus
The Agunah
14 Feb
This text tells the story of a woman named Adina who is trapped in her marriage and unable to obtain a get, a Jewish divorce document, from her husband. Adin...
14 Feb
Lehrhaus
Two Poems from Knock-knock
13 Feb
In these two poems from "Knock-knock," Owen Lewis explores Jewish themes and questions. In "A Lesson for This Life?," the author muses on the idea that the w...
13 Feb
Lehrhaus
The Secret Quietness
12 Feb
In "The Secret Quietness," David Dephy explores the fleeting nature of time and the power of memories. The poem begins with a sense of awakening, as the narr...
12 Feb
Lehrhaus
Philo of Alexandria and the Soul of the Torah
7 Feb
Philo of Alexandria, a contemporary of Hillel and Shammai, is a figure in Jewish history whose unique position and enduring relevance deserve attention. Phil...
7 Feb
Lehrhaus
Three Questions after October 7
7 Feb
In the aftermath of October 7, when Israel faced a wave of terrorist attacks, the author raises three questions. Firstly, they question who the Palestinians ...
7 Feb
Lehrhaus
Diaspora Identity in the Wake of October 7th
6 Feb
In this article, the author explores the historical context of Jewish suffering and persecution in Alexandria and Judea during the early Common Era, highligh...
6 Feb
Lehrhaus
Strength in This Time
5 Feb
In this heartfelt essay, the author reflects on the impact of the ongoing war on her community and her personal experiences. She describes how the recitation...
5 Feb
Lehrhaus
Poems for a World Built, Destroyed, and Rebuilt
1 Feb
In this article, Elhanan Nir, an Israeli poet and writer, reflects on the need for Jewish artists and writers to find new ways to express and grapple with th...
1 Feb
Lehrhaus
Letter To The Editor: Responses To Tzvi Goldstein On Centrist Orthodoxy And Haredi Orthodoxy
1 Feb
In this letter to the editor, the author responds to Tzvi Goldstein's discussion of Centrist Orthodox and Haredi Orthodox approaches in Judaism. Goldstein ar...
1 Feb
Lehrhaus
“Lu Yehi”: Between Fragility and Hope
24 Jan
The article explores the renewed relevance of the song "Lu Yehi" in the aftermath of an attack in Israel. The song was written by Naomi Shemer during the Yom...
24 Jan
Lehrhaus
The Challenges of the Gaza War and Growing Antisemitism
23 Jan
The Gaza war has led to a significant increase in antisemitic incidents worldwide. The religious Zionist movement needs to reassess its move towards extreme ...
23 Jan
Lehrhaus
The Great Reckoning: Is It Time to Rethink Higher Education for Jewish Students?
22 Jan
The article discusses the current challenges facing Jewish students in higher education, particularly in the United States. It emphasizes the need for candid...
22 Jan
Lehrhaus
Israel At War
18 Jan
In response to the current crisis in Israel, a symposium of community leaders and thinkers has been assembled to address the effect of the war on Diaspora Je...
18 Jan
Lehrhaus
Religious Zionism: A View from the United Kingdom
18 Jan
The author, a Religious Zionist and Modern Orthodox Jew in the United Kingdom, discusses what it means to be a Religious Zionist in daily life. For him, it i...
18 Jan
Lehrhaus
There Are No Lights in War: We Need a Different Religious Language
16 Jan
This article explores the role of religious discourse during wartime and criticizes the tendency to idealize and glorify war within religious communities. Th...
16 Jan