JL;DR

In a detailed exchange, Rabbi Yitz Greenberg critiques Seth Winberg's review of Daniel Ross Goodman's book, "Soloveitchik's Children," arguing that Winberg u...

Rebecca Gratz, an influential 19th-century American Jewish woman, is often remembered through the lens of legend and philanthropy. Gratz, whose prominent por...

Rebecca Gratz, often hailed as the foremost American Jewish woman of the 19th century, was instrumental in shaping Jewish communal and philanthropic institut...

Jesse Tisch explores John Updike's engagement with Jewish identity and literature, primarily through his creation of the fictional character Henry Bech, a Je...

Roya Hakakian reflects on her father's role in leading family seders amidst the cultural chaos of their Iranian Jewish home during the years leading up to th...

Barnett Newman's complex relationship with his Jewish identity and his career as an artist are explored in Amy Newman's comprehensive biography, which situat...

Menahem Kahana, a leading scholar of classical rabbinic literature at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, made groundbreaking contributions to the study of h...

Menahem Kahana, a leading scholar in classical rabbinic literature, passed away on December 10, 2025. A member of Kibbutz Yavne, Kahana thrived under the men...

Dan Rabinowitz delves into the contentious reaction sparked by his research on the Strashun Library in Vilna, which drew criticism from the haredi community ...

Dan Rabinowitz explores the controversy sparked by Rabbi Michoel Sorotzkin's impassioned criticism of his report on the Brisker Rov's visit to the Strashun L...

Jenna Weissman Joselit provides a comprehensive and critical look at Mordecai Kaplan, the founder of Reconstructionist Judaism, in her new biography, "Kaplan...

Jenna Weissman Joselit delves into the life and legacy of Mordecai Kaplan, founder of Reconstructionism, in her new biography. Unlike previous works, Joselit...

Mark Mazower's book, "On Antisemitism: A Word in History," examines the evolution of the term antisemitism, more so than the phenomenon itself, from its 19th...

Mark Mazower's book "On Antisemitism: A Word in History" explores the evolution of the term "antisemitism" and its uses from its inception in the late 19th c...

Frances Wilson's biographical examination of Muriel Spark presents a complex portrait of the enigmatic writer, highlighting her contradictory spiritual ident...

Matti Friedman's new book explores the courageous yet ultimately tragic mission of Jewish parachutists, including Haviva Reick and Hannah Senesh, sent into N...

David Kraemer's book, Embracing Exile: The Case for Jewish Diaspora, explores the positive aspects of the Jewish diaspora throughout history. Kraemer argues ...

Steven Weitzman's book, "Disasters of Biblical Proportions: The Ten Plagues Then, Now, and at the End of the World," explores the varied interpretations and ...

William M. Schniedewind's book, 'Members of the Scribe,' delves into the fascinating world of ancient biblical scribes, challenging traditional notions of au...

Amos Oz's childhood fantasy of becoming a book highlights the fragility and miraculous survival of ancient texts, a theme explored in the Posen Library's com...

Purim has long been celebrated with humor and parody, seen notably in the tradition of creating Purim Torah—a genre of satirical biblical and talmudic interp...

The discussion dives into Mordechai's strategic use of rhetoric in the Book of Esther, specifically highlighting his enigmatic statement about Esther's "fath...

Celebrating Purim after the Holocaust poses a profound challenge to some in the Jewish community, as articulated by philosopher Aviezer Ravitzky. The article...

The new Hebrew biography by Zvi Yekutiel explores the multifaceted life of Zalman Shazar, Israel's third president, who lived as a unique blend of secular an...

Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik's influence on modern Orthodox Judaism is undeniable, yet his intellectual legacy, particularly his approach of integrating Tora...

The article explores the rich history of Bukovina, a culturally diverse region in Eastern Europe, mainly during the late Habsburg rule and its transition int...

Exploring the convergence of Jewish faith and body image activism, Minna Bromberg's 'Every Body Beloved' challenges the Jewish community to recognize and dis...

Shai Secunda reflects on the complexities and emotional toll of Israel's "Two-Year War," which unfolded from a surprise attack on Simchat Torah to a truce tw...

In times of crisis, the apocalyptic imagery of the Bible, particularly the book of Daniel, resonates strongly. Mira Balberg revisits Daniel to explore its ap...

Lise Meitner, a pioneering physicist from a secular Jewish Viennese family, significantly contributed to the field of nuclear physics in early 20th century E...

Mason Bates and Gene Scheer's operatic adaptation of Michael Chabon's novel "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay" explores the juxtaposition between po...

Chris Marker’s 1960 documentary, "Description of a Struggle," offers a rare and insightful portrayal of Israel in its infancy, distinct from the typical outs...

Yitz Landes explores Raphael Bob-Waksberg's new animated series, "Long Story Short," which picks up where "BoJack Horseman" left off, delving into themes of ...

Max Spitzkopf, a Yiddish detective character created by Jonas Kreppel, captivated early 20th-century Jewish readers with tales of mystery and crime set again...

Polly Zavadivker's book, A Nation of Refugees: Russia's Jews in World War I, reveals the significant yet often overlooked plight of Russian Jews during World...

Ruth Franklin's biography of Anne Frank delves into how she became a cultural icon, overshadowing the real person behind the diary. This comprehensive work i...

Allan Arkush reviews two contrasting works by Israeli philosophers Shalom Sadik and Jeremy Fogel, who address issues of faith and modernity within Judaism. S...

Laura Hobson Faure's work examines the lesser-known story of Jewish children sent to France during the Kindertransport initiative before the outbreak of Worl...

Abraham Socher's article dives into the troubling realm of antisemitic narratives proliferated through popular podcasts and social media, focusing on figures...

The article covers various Jewish intellectual discussions, including a review of Eli Sharabi's memoir "Hostage," which navigates Israel's political landscap...

Cynthia Ozick's story, "The Wife," delves into the life of Gertie Ellenbogen, a fiercely protective widow of the late Asher Ellenbogen, an intellectual whose...

"The Riddler," directed by Michael Grynszpan, is a documentary exploring the enigmatic life of Monsieur Shoshani, a post-Holocaust Jewish scholar renowned fo...

Ronit Mazovskiy's exploration of Mihail Sebastian's novel, 'For Two Thousand Years,' sheds light on the complex identity struggles of Bucharest's Jewish inte...

Jesse Tisch's article reflects on the enduring impact of writers' archives, filled with personal letters, drafts, and memorabilia that offer insights into th...

The article explores a scenario where AI systems, particularly a chatbot named Grok, spew antisemitic narratives after its filters are tweaked by Elon Musk t...

This collection of letters from the Jewish Review of Books addresses diverse topics within Jewish life and thought. Joel Leeman and Eliezer Segal reflect on ...

The story "Dobiszs Sword" by S.Y. Agnon, recently translated into English, is a tale interweaving legend and historical elements of Polish Jewry, showcasing ...

Joshua Foer recounts the ambitious "Sukkah City" project, a design competition which he co-organized in Union Square, New York. The event challenged world-cl...

"Bad Shabbos," a comedy directed by Daniel Robbins, explores the chaos that ensues during a family Shabbat dinner when an accidental death occurs. The Gelfan...

Steven J. Zipperstein's biography "Philip Roth: Stung by Life" provides a fresh and insightful exploration of the celebrated and controversial Jewish-America...