Lehrhaus
Whispers in the wind
1 May
Bruce Black reflects on the Passover seder and the absence of two friends who passed away during the year. Their empty chairs are a poignant reminder of thos...
1 May
Lehrhaus
Understanding the Will of God in Psalm 132
27 Apr
Psalm 132 offers a unique portrayal of King David's intention to build the Temple, emphasizing his submission to God's will over his actions. Whereas other b...
27 Apr
Lehrhaus
The Duality of Kisuy Ha-Dam
23 Apr
Michael Kurin's article explores the multi-layered significance of the biblical mitzvah of kisuy ha-dam, the commandment to cover the blood of a slaughtered ...
23 Apr
Lehrhaus
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks on the Economic Vision of Tanakh and Hazal
21 Apr
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, known for his insightful blending of traditional Judaism with modern disciplines, deeply engaged with the economic vision within the To...
21 Apr
Lehrhaus
Belonging
19 Apr
Jonah Rocheeld reflects on his struggle to reconcile his religious upbringing in a Modern Orthodox community with his intellectual journey that revealed nume...
19 Apr
Lehrhaus
Love Bends the Line
16 Apr
David Curwin explores the notion that love, encapsulated in the phrase "ahavah mekalkelet et ha-shurah" (love bends the line), transcends rational behavior b...
16 Apr
Lehrhaus
Holocaust Humor, Ethics, and Theological Protest
14 Apr
Peninah Taragin Gershman explores the complex and controversial territory of Holocaust humor and its ethical implications. She recounts a personal experience...
14 Apr
Lehrhaus
The Many Hats of Heresy: Epikorsut and Minut in the Writings of the Sages
13 Apr
Elisha Price explores the intricate definitions of heretical categories within rabbinic writings, focusing on the terms "minim" and "epikorsim" as outlined b...
13 Apr
Lehrhaus
Remembrances Of Slavery How Two Cultures Commemorate A Vital Part Of Their History
30 Mar
In a reflection on the commemoration of slavery, Steve Lipman explores how Jewish Passover rituals and African American slavery museums both serve to remembe...
30 Mar
Lehrhaus
I Am Tired Of Putting Out Fires
26 Mar
Avi Killip explores a deep longing for the intense, tangible expressions of devotion characterized by ancient Temple practices, particularly the idea of burn...
26 Mar
Lehrhaus
The Algorithm That Couldn’t See: AI Ethics and the Halakhic Discipline of Perception
24 Mar
Joseph Feiler explores the intersection of AI ethics and Jewish thought by examining how halakhah, or Jewish law, trains perception, an element missing in AI...
24 Mar
Lehrhaus
Correlation Is Not Causation
23 Mar
Ruth Mutzafi, a grandmother in Jerusalem, navigates the daily challenges of life while grappling with a personal and societal sense of causality and responsi...
23 Mar
Lehrhaus
Review: Rabbi Joshua Berman’s “Echoes of Egypt” haggadah
23 Mar
Rabbi Joshua Berman's "Echoes of Egypt" Haggadah offers a unique visual and scholarly perspective on the traditional Passover text. Berman, a professor of Bi...
23 Mar
Lehrhaus
Shirah Hadashah: A Review of Three Jewish Poets’ Inaugural Collections
18 Mar
The review by Chesky Kopel delves into the inaugural collections of three American Jewish poets, reflecting the turbulent early 2020s. Tikva Hecht's collecti...
18 Mar
Lehrhaus
Meiri, Rabbi Dr. Haym Soloveitchik, and the Yerushalmi
17 Mar
Michael Broyde reflects on his time as a student of Rabbi Dr. Haym Soloveitchik, highlighting their study of the Talmud Yerushalmi. He explores why the works...
17 Mar
Lehrhaus
The Poet’s Rabbi
16 Mar
Robert Browning, the eminent Victorian poet, intriguingly chose to title one of his notable works "Rabbi Ben Ezra," casting the medieval Jewish philosopher A...
16 Mar
Lehrhaus
The Tabernacle as a Response to the Failure in the Garden of Eden
11 Mar
Michael Kurin explores the notion that the construction of the Tabernacle serves as an opportunity for humanity to fulfill its desire to partner with God in ...
11 Mar
Lehrhaus
The Appropriation of Jewish Renewal Discourse: How Zionist-Religious Hegemony Erases Israel’s Diverse Jewish Spectrum
9 Mar
David Sperber examines the discourse of Jewish renewal in Israel, critiquing the Zionist-religious appropriation that often sidelines non-Orthodox voices. Am...
9 Mar
Lehrhaus
Does God Play? What a Talmudic Story Teaches Us About Consciousness
8 Mar
Marina Zilbergerts delves into a Talmudic narrative from Avodah Zarah 3b, which presents a unique theological perspective on divine consciousness. According ...
8 Mar
Lehrhaus
Haman and the Antisemitic Fantasy
8 Mar
Zach Truboff's article explores the recurring theme of antisemitism through the lens of the Purim story in the Megillat Esther, drawing parallels between Ham...
8 Mar
Lehrhaus
Megillat Esther as Second Temple Literature
8 Mar
Michael Kurin's exploration of Megillat Esther posits that this biblical text, traditionally seen as a diaspora narrative, is actually steeped in themes rela...
8 Mar
Lehrhaus
Our Backs Will Touch: Similarities between Hasidim and German Jewish Hirschians
24 Feb
Yisrael Kashkin explores the perceived cultural and religious dichotomy between Hasidim and German Jewish Hirschians, demonstrating how these two seemingly o...
24 Feb
Lehrhaus
Can there be Pluralism without Relativism?
23 Feb
Steven Gotlib reviews "Accepting and Excepting: On Pluralism and Chosenness Out of the Sources of Judaism" by Raphael Jospe, which explores the compatibility...
23 Feb
Lehrhaus
Letters to the Editor: Ari Zivotofsky Responds
19 Feb
In the wake of publishing a sensitive article, Ari Zivotofsky addresses critical responses it garnered through two letters to the editor. Arguing that these ...
19 Feb
Lehrhaus
The Essence of Education
18 Feb
Glenn Dynner's book, "The Light of Learning: Hasidism in Poland on the Eve of the Holocaust," as reviewed by Jon Kelsen, explores the pivotal role of Hasidic...
18 Feb
Lehrhaus
Letter to the Editor About “An Empty Place at the Jewish Table: Why Are Young Jews Dropping Out?”
16 Feb
Perry Dane responds to Steve Lipman's article on young Jews leaving Orthodox Judaism, highlighting two key omissions. Firstly, Dane points out that Lipman ov...
16 Feb
Lehrhaus
The Tunneling Burglar and the False Prophet: Opening New Chapters of Biblical Interpretation
12 Feb
Yaakov Taubes examines the Christian origins of chapter divisions in the Hebrew Bible, focusing on their impact on biblical interpretation and Jewish traditi...
12 Feb
Lehrhaus
When Prayer Meets Principle: Rabbi Soloveitchik and the Limits of Accommodation
11 Feb
Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik's 1954 ruling against attending mixed-seating synagogues, even at the expense of missing the shofar on Rosh Hashanah, reveals th...
11 Feb
Lehrhaus
Ha-Inyan Ha-Eloki: Restoring Yehuda Ha-Levy and The Kuzari to Their Andalusian Context
9 Feb
Jackson Gardner's article explores how R. Yehuda Ha-Levy's work, The Kuzari, has often been misinterpreted when contrasted with the rationalist figures like ...
9 Feb
Lehrhaus
Two Amish Women Walked into a Casino (Because I Drove Them There)
5 Feb
Rivka Neriya-Ben Shahar shares her experience taking her Amish friends to the ocean for the first time at Atlantic City, reflecting on their shared conservat...
5 Feb
Lehrhaus
Old Mr. Kohen
3 Feb
Julian Alper recounts his youthful memories of sitting beside an elderly man, affectionately called "Mr. K," during synagogue services. Mr. K, along with his...
3 Feb
Lehrhaus
Tu b’Shvat and the Question We Can’t Keep Avoiding: Is the Tree of the Field a Human?
1 Feb
Aviva Lauer's insightful exploration of Deuteronomy 20:19 connects the Jewish holiday of Tu bShvat with a broader ethical mandate against unnecessary destruc...
1 Feb
Lehrhaus
Book Review: The Devash Jr Book of Shemot
29 Jan
The review highlights "The Devash Jr Book of Shemot," a children's book designed to introduce young readers to the Book of Exodus through engaging storytelli...
29 Jan
Lehrhaus
Letters to the Editor: Responses to Ari Zivitofsky on the Sde Teiman Affair
27 Jan
The responses to Ari Zivitofsky's article on the Sde Teiman Affair focus on differing perspectives regarding Israeli military conduct and ethical considerati...
27 Jan
Lehrhaus
A Story Well Lived
26 Jan
Thomas P. Balázs explores how Judaism provides a path to infuse daily routines with spiritual significance, contrasting it with Western philosophies of seeki...
26 Jan
Lehrhaus
Rejoicing at the Downfall of Enemies: From Ancient Egypt to Modern Israel
22 Jan
Michael Kurin explores the complex Jewish perspective on rejoicing at the downfall of enemies, a topic rekindled by recent conflicts involving Israel. The de...
22 Jan
Lehrhaus
The Sde Teiman incident: a retrospective
21 Jan
The article revisits the controversial Sde Teiman incident, where Israeli reservists were accused of abusing a detained Hamas terrorist. As the trial unfolds...
21 Jan
Lehrhaus
The Other Patriarchal Narratives
15 Jan
Malka Simkovich examines the patriarchal narratives within Genesis, highlighting the stories of Noah's flood and the destruction of Sodom as parallel events ...
15 Jan
Lehrhaus
A Year in Review – 2025
14 Jan
2025 was a prolific year for Lehrhaus, which continued its mission to engage Jewish communities with thoughtful content. Highlights included tributes to Rabb...
14 Jan
Lehrhaus
Humor… Me? Rabbinic Wordplay, Playing on Rabbinics
12 Jan
Daniel Shlian explores the rich tradition of puns and wordplay in Jewish texts, demonstrating how these literary features appear in both Biblical stories and...
12 Jan
Lehrhaus
Aggadic Men: Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks’s References to Rabbi Dr. Abraham Joshua Heschel
7 Jan
Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, influenced deeply by Rabbi Dr. Abraham Joshua Heschel during a formative meeting in 1968, frequently incorporated Heschelian ideas...
7 Jan
Lehrhaus
The New Modern Orthodox Humash At Last?: A Review of the Rabbi Sacks Humash
5 Jan
Yosef Lindell reviews the newly published Koren Sacks Humash, a project initiated by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks to create a modern Orthodox commentary on the Torah...
5 Jan
Lehrhaus
An Empty Place at the Jewish Table: Why Are Young Jews Dropping Out?
1 Jan
In "An Empty Place at the Jewish Table," Steve Lipman explores the growing trend of young Jews from Orthodox backgrounds distancing themselves from tradition...
1 Jan
Lehrhaus
Book Review: Rav Yehuda Henkin’s Responsa on Contemporary Jewish Women’s Issues (Expanded Edition)
31 Dec 2025
Rav Yehuda Henkin, a prominent Modern Orthodox halachic authority, authored significant responsa addressing women's issues in Jewish law, encapsulating his t...
31 Dec 2025
Lehrhaus
Hearing the Shofar with Korah’s Children
28 Dec 2025
Ethan Schwartz delves into the intriguing intersection of themes during the Yamim Noraim, analyzing the complex roles of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur in Jewi...
28 Dec 2025
Lehrhaus
“We Should Make a Documentary About Circles.” (After Terrances Hayes’s “We Should Make a Documentary about Spades”)
24 Dec 2025
Ian Kohn's poetic piece, inspired by Terrance Hayes' work, explores the Jewish diaspora and the metaphorical concept of circles as a representation of commun...
24 Dec 2025
Lehrhaus
What Avram and Sarai Taught the World Zionist Congress: An Orthographic Exploration of Parashat Lech Lecha
22 Dec 2025
The article by Gabriel Slamovits explores an intriguing orthographic aspect of Parashat Lech Lecha, focusing on the presence of a dotted yud in Bereishit 16:...
22 Dec 2025
Lehrhaus
Heaven-Bound
17 Dec 2025
Julian Alper narrates a personal reflection on repairing his old tefillin, which shows signs of wear and unfitness for ritual purposes. Despite initial embar...
17 Dec 2025
Lehrhaus
Prometheus’s Flood
16 Dec 2025
In a reimagined biblical narrative, Yaakov Weinstein explores the story of Noah through a creative lens. Noah is initially depicted as a forward-thinking inv...
16 Dec 2025
Lehrhaus
“That Your Slave May Rest With You” – Rethinking Oneg Shabbat
11 Dec 2025
Shimi Kaufman examines the Shabbat commandment's dual representation in the Torah—first as a commemoration of creation, then as a remembrance of liberation f...
11 Dec 2025