Authors Posts by Tzvi Sinensky
Tzvi Sinensky
Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Sinensky is director of the Lamm Legacy digital archive and director of Judaic studies at Main Line Classical Academy. A member of the inaugural cohort of Sacks Scholars, he has edited over fifty books. He also publishes Reasonable Judaism on Substack and hosts a daily WhatsApp Torah audio series, From the Beginning. He is a proud past editor of 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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