JL;DR

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...

Yitz Landes explores Jodi Magness's latest scholarly work on ancient synagogues in the Galilee, focusing on the intellectual and ideological evolution of syn...

Ilana Kurshan's memoir, "Children of the Book: A Memoir of Reading Together," offers a unique look into family life through the lens of reading. Kurshan, an ...

Olga Litvak reviews "The Woman Question in Jewish Studies" by Susannah Heschel and Sarah Imhoff, which explores systemic gender issues within Jewish studies....

The new translation of Chaim Grade's novel "Sons and Daughters" by Rose Waldman offers a vivid exploration of a rabbinical family in a shtetl facing dissolut...

Deborah E. Lipstadt reflects on the influence of the Soviet Jewry movement, which mobilized American Jewish activists to aid in freeing Soviet Jews during th...

In a world reeling from the events of October 7, rabbis have been thrust into the spotlight as spiritual guides navigating uncharted waters. Two recent works...

The 2013 exhibition at The Israel Museum in Jerusalem on "Herod the Great: The King's Final Journey" offered a nuanced exploration of the historical figure o...

Eli Sharabi's memoir, "Hostage," offers a gripping account of his 491-day captivity by Hamas in Gaza following the attacks on Kibbutz Beeri in October 2023. ...

Jerusalem Holiday, a book by Sharon Ann Musher, delves into the life of Hadassah Kaplan, the daughter of renowned Jewish leader Mordecai Kaplan, during her s...

Roman Polanski's film "An Officer and a Spy" dramatizes the infamous Dreyfus Affair, focusing on the antisemitic army intelligence officer Major Georges Picq...

"Eminent Jews" by David Denby profiles four significant figures—Mel Brooks, Betty Friedan, Norman Mailer, and Leonard Bernstein—who have significantly impact...

David G. Roskies explores the character of Tevye the Dairyman, as created by Sholem Aleichem, focusing on Tevye's unique approach to prayer or 'davening.' Te...

The summer 2025 letters section of the Jewish Review of Books features eclectic reader responses, including insights into Jewish themes in literature and phi...

Dan Rabinowitz delves into an unexpected discovery in the archives of the Martynas Mavydas National Library of Lithuania, uncovering library ledgers from the...

Matti Friedman responds to Asaf Hazani's cultural anthropological perspective on the Gaza War, which he finds insightful yet lacking in scientific rigor and ...

Asaf Hazani's response to Matti Friedman's review of his book "Anthropology at War: Iron Swords, Field Notes" delves into the anthropological analysis of the...

Asaf Hazani's response to Matti Friedman's critique of his book, 'Anthropology at War: Iron Swords, Field Notes,' defends his anthropological approach to und...

Elliott Abrams, in his latest book "If You Will It: Rebuilding Jewish Peoplehood for the 21st Century," critiques the current strategies for Jewish continuit...

Elliott Abrams, in his recent book "If You Will It: Rebuilding Jewish Peoplehood for the 21st Century," addresses the pressing issue of Jewish continuity in ...

The recently published collection of letters from Paul Celan to his wife, Gisèle Celan-Lestrange, and his son, Eric, illuminates the poet’s struggle to balan...

Amidst the tense ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, hundreds of Hasidic Jews gathered at the grave of Rav Ashi on Mount Shinan, a site symbolically sign...

Orit Rozin's book, "Emotions of Conflict," explores the emotional experiences of Israel's first generation of citizens, highlighting how the government and k...

Orit Rozin's book, translated by Haim Watzman, explores the emotional states and management of Israeli citizens during the country's early years, particularl...