Israel

Our traditional longing for the rebuilding of the Beit Ha-Mikdash elides uncomfortable questions about the dramatic differences between sacrificial worship and our current models of serving God. Meir Kraus argues that the time has come to engage in this difficult conversation, especially in light of the growing religious-political movement to restore Jewish presence on the Temple Mount. Kraus also proposes an “alternative vision” for a future Temple era.

Joshua Leifer’s new book illustrates the collapse of several paradigms that long sustained American Jewish life. In his review, Steven Gotlib notes that Leifer’s search for a viable, non-separatist, traditional Judaism overlooks several existing models of Jewish life and practice.

Yitzchak Blau and Michael Broyde respond to recent articles that have driven conversation.

  Zach Truboff In 1933, as the month of Elul approached, the Jewish people faced a frightening array of dangers. That year, Hitler consolidated power as...

In an original Hebrew poem for Tishrei 5785, Shoshanah Haberman addresses God directly about the pain and uncertainty of our moment.

Tamar Weissman shows how the Druze minority in Israel remarkably resemble the biblical Kenites.

In this essay, Weinberg reflects on the symbolic significance of tefillin and its message for our Jewish future.

R.A. Alpert argues that the differences between Hamas and the Zealots outweigh the similarities.

Aton Holzer offers a novel interpretation of Isaiah 53 based on current events in Israel.

David Polsky explores the similarities and differences between Hamas and the Jewish Zealots at the time of the destruction of the Second Temple.