JL;DR

Jeremy Borovitz reflects on the harrowing Yom Kippur of 2019 when a far-right gunman attempted to attack the synagogue in Halle, Germany, where he and others...

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, which opened in 2021, faced criticism for inadequate representation of Jewish contributions to Hollywoo...

Michael Walzer reviews Adam Kirsch's incisive critique of modern "settler colonialism" ideologies, which frame historical colonization as a central and ongoi...

Daniel Gordis reflects on the October 7 attacks by Hamas, drawing parallels to historical Jewish experiences. He questions the shock and unpreparedness of bo...

Cecile E. Kuznitz explores the deep trauma and historical parallels that have surfaced following the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre in Israel. The event, li...

The "Letters, Fall 2024" section includes responses that touch on various aspects of Jewish life and academia. A collective of Jewish studies scholars expres...

Amichai Chasson's article delves into the profound relationship between Yehuda Amichai and Jerusalem, exploring how the city permeated his poetry and life. D...

The article discusses a lawsuit filed by Jewish students against UCLA, alleging that the university violated their religious freedoms by facilitating pro-Pal...

Roslyn Weiss explores the complexities of desire and power in the Genesis narrative of Adam and Eve. By examining differing interpretations of the text, part...

The article delves into the symbolic intertwining of Torah and children, particularly through the lens of Ashkenazi minhag (customs). A focal point is the cr...

Abraham Socher reflects on the notion of "golus" (exile) through his personal anecdotes and observations in Pico-Robertson and Beachwood, two vibrant Jewish ...

Ayn Rand, known for her novels emphasizing radical individualism and capitalism, is explored through the lens of her Russian intellectual roots in an article...

David Weiss Halivni, a prominent Talmud scholar, spent his life reconciling the ancient text's often convoluted interpretations with a search for clear, obje...

Jewish Tetouan, Morocco, becomes the backdrop in Blanche Bendahan's novel "Mazaltob," where the protagonist, Mazaltob Macas, symbolizes the "belle juive" tro...

In "Tread Lightly Lest My People's Bones Protest," Jack Omer-Jackaman discusses the controversial 1951 reading by Anglo-Jewish poet Emanuel Litvinoff, who co...

Akiva Schick explores the unique journey of Matisyahu, a Hasidic reggae artist who gained fame in the mid-2000s. Matisyahu, born Matthew Miller, blended his ...

Joshua Leifer's new book explores the evolution of American Jewish identity from the post-World War II era to today, challenging the narrative of seamless as...

The text discusses the theme of silence and language in response to atrocities, focusing on the Jewish tradition's use of speech and silence in the face of h...

Israel's defense ministry issued draft notices to Haredi men, following a court ruling against army exemptions for yeshiva students, prompting protests and t...

Camp Massad, an American Hebrew summer camp, was a unique educational experiment from the 1940s to the 1980s that aimed to immerse campers in Hebrew language...

Photographer Roman Vishniac's iconic images of prewar European Jews mainly featured men and boys, shaping the Orthodox Jewish imagery. Contemporary photograp...

Shaul Magid, a prominent scholar of Hasidism and Jewish thought, shares his personal journey from a secular Long Island upbringing to embracing religious Zio...

Barbra Streisand's memoir "My Name Is Barbra" delves into her lifelong pursuit of creative control, showcasing her dominance over albums, films, and concerts...

"Curb Your Enthusiasm," created by Larry David, concluded its 12-season run, prompting reflection on its impact on Jewish comedy. Contrasting with "Seinfeld,...

David Koker, a young Jewish poet and translator, along with his family, arrived at Kamp Vught concentration camp in the Netherlands in 1943, where he kept a ...

Rachel Gordan explores the post-World War II era when Jewish writers used popular middlebrow books and articles, such as "Exodus" and "Gentleman's Agreement,...

Noah Feldman's "A Tour Guide for the Perplexed" delves into the historical emergence of Hebrew literature in the nineteenth century designed to guide moderni...

"Jews in Blue" by Adam D. Mendelsohn delves into the lesser-known history of Jewish soldiers in the Union Army during the Civil War. Mendelsohn uncovers the ...

In "A Savannah Poet," author Jason K. Friedman shares his journey of uncovering the intriguing story of Gratz Cohen, the son of a prominent Jewish figure in ...

Kabbalistic literature, with its ancient wisdom, discusses the concept of zimzum, or the diminishment of God, as a key aspect of creation in the eyes of figu...

"Their Crowd" by Daniel Schulman is a detailed history of Jewish financiers in America, focusing on Joseph Seligman and Jacob Schiff. Seligman, an influentia...

In Rachel Elior's book "The Unknown History of Jewish Women through the Ages," she delves into the exclusion of women from Jewish education and the impact of...

Alfred Nakache, a Jewish competitive swimmer born in Algeria in 1915, rose to fame in the 1930s and 1940s for his prowess in the pool, representing France at...

In the "Letters, Summer 2024" section, David Lobron praises Maya Arad's novella "The Hebrew Teacher," likening it to Vladimir Nabokov's work and highlighting...

In "Israel/Palestine in World Religions: Whose Palestine?" by S. Ilan Troen, the author delves into the complexities surrounding Israel's legitimacy, discuss...

Malka Simkovich responds to Yonatan Adler's work on the origins of Judaism, expressing concerns over Adler's focus on social practices over intellectual idea...

Malka Simkovich reviewed Yonatan Adler's book "The Origins of Judaism: An Archeological-Historical Reappraisal" in which Adler argues that Judaism, as we cur...

Yonatan Adler responds to Malka Simkovich's review of his book, "The Origins of Judaism," emphasizing his focus on when ordinary Jews began following Torah a...

Every year on Lag BaOmer, hundreds of thousands of Jews make a pilgrimage to Meron in Northern Israel to celebrate the Hilula de-Rashbi, honoring Rabbi Shimo...

Editor Abraham Socher, Jonathan Karp, and Reviel Netz discussed the recent increase in anti-Israel protests globally, questioning whether these demonstration...

The essay discusses the intersection of antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment in the aftermath of a significant event, noting a distinction between traditio...

The text discusses the complexity of contemporary antisemitism, focusing on the relationship between traditional antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment. It e...

David Koker, a young poet and translator, arrived with his family at Kamp Vught, a Dutch concentration camp, in 1943 during WWII. His diary, "Diary Written i...

In May 1948, Chaim Weizmann, physically and mentally exhausted, learned of the declaration of an independent Jewish state named Israel while in New York. Tho...

A young Jewish writer in Germany reflects on his identity and experiences in the 1980s, delving into encounters with various individuals, including literary ...

"This Great House" delves into the fascinating history of the National Library of Israel, tracing its origins back to a passionate call in 1899 to create a c...

In this analysis of Marilynne Robinson's commentary on the book of Genesis, she portrays a complex yet gracious conception of God, drawing on themes of forgi...

The text discusses various articles and responses featured in the Spring 2024 edition of the Jewish Review of Books. It includes a range of topics such as re...

Simcha Gross's book, "Babylonian Jews and Sasanian Imperialism in Late Antiquity," aims to reshape the understanding of the talmudic period by exploring the ...

Shai Held's book, "Judaism Is about Love: Recovering the Heart of Jewish Life," argues that love is a central theme in Judaism, countering historical Christi...