Authors Posts by Tzvi Sinensky
Tzvi Sinensky
Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Sinensky is a scholar and educator who provides intellectual tools for navigating today’s polarized world. He explores balanced judgment, civil discourse, and the challenges of Jewish manhood in an age of confusion. He has published widely in Tradition, First Things, and The Lehrhaus, recently edited a volume of Rabbi Norman Lamm’s Talmudic essays, and is writing a book on Job, examining the interplay between relationships and faith. He serves as Director of Judaic Studies at Main Line Classical Academy and the Lamm Legacy Archives and works as an independent editor of scholarly Jewish works. He lives in Lower Merion, PA, with his wife and three children and is a proud past editor at The Lehrhaus.
Reading Hard Texts in Hard Times: Retribution and Self-Defense in Megillat Esther
How should people contend with emotionally charged texts such as the ending of Megillat Esther? Tzvi Sinensky details methodological principles for engaging in textual dialogue, and applies these principles in an exploration of the nuances of the ending of Megillat Esther.
Rabbi Lamm, Sukkot, and the Spiritual Perils of Materialism
Can we solve the growing problem of materialism in the Orthodox community? Tzvi Sinensky explains how Rabbi Norman Lamm’s Sukkot sermons shine some light on the matter
Demystifying R. Eliezer Waldenberg on Sex Reassignment Surgery
Tzvi Sinensky carefully examines the Tzitz Eliezer’s view on sexual reassignment surgery.
The Children’s Book About R. Aharon Lichtenstein That Belongs on Your Summer Reading List
Tzvi Sinensky reviews the new volume about R. Aharon Lichtenstein from Divrei Shir’s Hebrew-language “Gedolei ha-Umah le-Yaldei Yisrael,” explaining why it is a must-read for adults and children alike.
A Return to Moderation: Rabbi Lamm’s Passionate Plea for Civility
Tzvi Sinensky examines Rabbi Lamm’s lifelong commitment to civility.
The Utilitarian Case for Torah u-Madda
Tzvi Sinensky reimagines the utilitarian case for Torah u-Madda. Far from seeing the study of Madda as a concession to the need to earn a livelihood, the new utilitarianism uses cutting-edge scholarship to solve some of the most pressing problems in our schools and communities.
Lo Yilbash and Gender Difference: A Rejoinder to Moshe Kurtz
Responding to yesterday’s article by Moshe Kurtz, Lehrhaus editor Tzvi Sinensky presents an alternative read of the Mitzvah of lo yilbash.
The Myth of Jewish Male Menstruation
In older times, Christian New Year’s Day celebrations were sometimes marked by antisemitic incidents. Although such days are behind us, Tzvi Sinensky recalls the antisemitic canard that Jewish men menstruated, a pervasive and disturbing myth that demeaned Jews and all women.
Masculinity and the Hanukkah Hero: Toward a New Interpretation of Biblical Gevurah
The Maccabees were renowned as gibborim. But what exactly is gevurah, and what does it mean for dicussions about manhood and Zionism? Tzvi Sinensky uses Hanukkah as a starting point for this contemporary conversation.
(Re)reading Shir ha-Shirim during Covid-19
Tzvi Sinensky argues compellingly for a new way to understand the relationship between Shir HaShirim and Pesach in times of quarantine.
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