JL;DR

Jewish communal spaces, like synagogues and mikvahs, are increasingly making strides towards accessibility for everyone, including individuals with disabilit...

Yitzchok Landa discusses the unique challenges and transformative experiences of Jewish inclusion for the deaf-blind community, focusing on a recent Israel t...

As America approaches its 250th anniversary in 2026, the Orthodox Jewish experience uniquely highlights gratitude for the country's acceptance and the ensuin...

Rabbi Dr. Jacob J. Schacter reflects on the historical challenges and evolution of Orthodox Judaism in America, emphasizing the tension between embracing Ame...

American Jewish history continues to be a pivotal field of study, especially for Orthodox Jews grappling with their place in American society. Debates over w...

The interview with Rabbi Yaakov Glasser by Nechama Carmel explores the complexities of the American Jewish experience, emphasizing the opportunities and chal...

A historical timeline journeys through the foundational phases of American Orthodox Judaism, illustrating its evolution from the early 19th century through t...

Moses Seixas played a pivotal role in advocating for religious liberty for Jews in the newly formed United States. As the warden of the Newport congregation,...

Aaron Lopez, a Portuguese Jewish émigré originally named Duarte Lopez, settled in Newport, Rhode Island, in 1752. He sought a life in America where he could ...

Isaac Leeser was a pivotal figure in 19th-century American Judaism, dedicated to strengthening Orthodox Judaism amidst the rise of Reform Judaism. Born in 18...

Rabbi Abraham Joseph Rice, born in 1802 in Bavaria, was the first traditionally ordained rabbi to settle in the United States, arriving in 1840. He faced imm...

Rebecca Gratz was a pioneering figure in early American Jewish philanthropy and education. Born into a distinguished Jewish family in the revolutionary era, ...

Rabbi Jacob Joseph's tenure as New York's Chief Rabbi underscores the complexities of establishing religious authority in America's secular landscape. Appoin...

Rabbi Herbert S. Goldstein was a transformative figure in American Orthodoxy, notable for bridging traditional Judaism with American culture in the early 20t...

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Jewish women played a crucial role in maintaining Jewish life on the American frontier, particularly in the Wild West. ...

Rabbi Moshe Taub explores the literary world of She'eilos U'Teshuvos (rabbinic responsa) as an important historical source that chronicles the Jewish experie...

Yael Davidowitz, the outreach director for Project Last Kindness, confronts the growing trend of cremation among American Jews, which she describes as having...

Yael Davidowitz offers guidance on how to thoughtfully approach conversations about cremation with loved ones, emphasizing the importance of Jewish burial. T...

Rabbi Dr. Ari Z. Zivotofsky explores the complex halachic discourse surrounding the kashrut status of New World birds such as the turkey and Muscovy duck. Co...

Naomi Ross explores the unique fusion of American and Jewish culinary traditions through the lens of an all-American barbecue. She highlights how staples of ...

Michal Horowitz's book, "Abled: Living With a Disability, A Torah View," deeply explores the Torah's teachings on disability and human worth. The book challe...

Rabbi Yitzchak Etshalom's book, "Amos: The Genius of Prophetic Rhetoric," provides an in-depth analysis of the Book of Amos, emphasizing the prophet's litera...

Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks' new "Koren Shalem Humash," published by Koren Publishers, offers a fresh translation and commentary on the Torah, setting itself a...

In "One Day in October: Forty Heroes, Forty Stories," authors Yair Agmon and Oriya Mevorach present narratives of extraordinary valor from the traumatic even...

Efraim Jaffe reflects on approaching his seventieth birthday, comparing it to biblical milestones and his earlier expectations of aging. Throughout life, Jaf...

Rabbi Dr. Josh Joseph reflects on the importance of unity without uniformity as both a national and a Jewish ideal. Drawing from the US motto, "E pluribus un...

The collection of letters in the Summer 2026 issue addresses various facets of contemporary Jewish life—from financial stress in modern Orthodox and Charedi ...

Mesorat Menachem is a two-volume tribute to Rabbi Menachem Genack, honoring his over forty years of influence in Jewish scholarship and communal leadership, ...

Kylie Ora Lobell shares an evocative excerpt from her memoir, "Choosing to Be Chosen," detailing her first experience of a traditional Jewish Shabbat dinner,...

Rabbi Ezra Sarna explores the halachic nuances surrounding the melting of cheese on Shabbos, particularly pertinent when Shavuos falls on this holy day. As c...

Sara Miriam Gross's book, "Invisible Tribe: Stories of Strength and Encouragement for Children Coping With the Loss of a Parent," provides a collection of na...

With the increasing use of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic, Jewish individuals face unique challenges during Pesach, a holiday deeply centered around dietary ...

Rabbi Ezra Sarna delves into the complex halachot governing Chol HaMoed, challenging the common assumption that it is akin to regular weekdays. Chol HaMoed e...

Rabbi Julius "Julie" Berman's legacy is honored in this tribute by Rabbi Menachem Genack. As one of the influential leaders in American Jewish life, Berman b...

Joel M. Schreiber reflects on the life and accomplishments of his close friend, Rabbi Julius Berman, after his passing. Berman, a significant figure in the J...

The devastating war in Ukraine has surprisingly led many Ukrainian Jews to reconnect with their Jewish roots. In wartime, synagogues provide both a refuge an...

During the 1990s and early 2000s, a significant OU-funded kiruv initiative in Kharkiv, Ukraine, reshaped the Jewish futures of many, offering young Jews an i...

In Bucharest, Romania, a matzah bakery has become an essential source of hope and sustenance for refugees from Odesa who fled Ukraine during the Russian bomb...

As artificial intelligence becomes an integral part of modern life, its influences extend into Jewish education, healthcare, religious practice, and Torah st...

The panel discussion moderated by Rabbi Dovid Bashevkin during the 18Forty and American Security Foundation summit explores the challenges and opportunities ...

Dr. Moshe Koppel discusses the potential and pitfalls of using AI, particularly large language models, in Jewish learning and beyond. While AI can efficientl...

The integration of AI in Jewish educational settings is generating enthusiasm and debate among educators at IVDU, a school serving students with learning, so...

In an era of rapidly advancing artificial intelligence, rabbis are increasingly integrating AI tools like ChatGPT into their ministrations, primarily for adm...

Rabbi Dr. Jason Weiner explores the intersection of AI in healthcare and halachic implications, highlighting both the potential and ethical challenges. AI's ...

The Orthodox Union (OU) has launched Ohrbit, an innovative AI-powered app that enhances Torah learning by tailoring content to user preferences. This app, li...

AI is increasingly playing a vital role in kosher supervision by assisting OU mashgichim with complex tasks such as ingredient analysis, critical control poi...

Israeli families faced significant economic and emotional challenges during the recent conflict, with many, like Miriam and Natan, balancing family obligatio...

Richard Altabe reflects on his nearly forty-year career in education, sharing personal anecdotes and insights from his leadership positions in Jewish schools...

As craft beer and modern food production evolve, the need for stricter kosher certification has become evident. Historically, beer didn't require certificati...

Rabbi Dr. Ari Z. Zivotofsky explores the intricacies of delaying a brit milah, or circumcision, due to medical reasons. While the Torah mandates the brit on ...