Passover’s Rupture and Reconstruction
Yosef Lindell argues that the Haggadah focuses on the story of the Exodus rather than on the laws of the paschal sacrifice as a way of looking forward towards the future redemption.
Streamlining Services: What Can we Learn from High Holidays 5781?
Many synagogue goers found the abbreviated High Holiday services we recently concluded quite appealing. Need we eventually go back to the way it was before coronavirus? Not really, argues Moshe Kurtz, surveying the substantial halakhic support for shortening the services every year.
When Synagogues Reopen, May the Congregation Permit a Bar Mitzvah Boy to Make Up...
When Synagogues Reopen, May the Congregation Permit a Bar Mitzvah Boy to Make Up His Torah Reading? Moshe Kurtz weighs in.
Judaism in a New World: The Pain, the Paradox, and the Prayer
Dov Berkovits reflects on his father, Eliezer Berkovits's legacy, his philosophy and attitude toward halakhah and the Jewish people.
Tasting the World to Come: A Novel Interpretation of Tzidkatkha Tzedek
Noam Stadlan offers a heartfelt reinterpretation of Tzidkatkha Tzedek.
Letters to the Editor: Shadal, Hazarat Ha-Shatz, and Modern Orthodox Outreach
Today, we share letters to the editor by Ephraim Chamiel, Steven Gotlib, and Moshe Kurtz.
Yatziv Pitgam: Poetry as Talmud Commentary
How should we understand Yatziv Pitgam, the enigmatic poem recited in the Haftarah for the second day of Shavuot? Tzvi Novick’s close reading reveals it to be a paean to the Torah and those who study it.
When Kaddish Becomes Currency: Mapping Out the Mechanics of Merit
Moshe Kurtz explores several halakhic questions concerning the recitation of kaddish for the deceased, all of which point to a larger discussion about how one can confer merit on someone else.
Human Words: Rav Elhanan Nir’s “Intentions for Rosh Hashanah”
Levi Morrow provides an all-new translation of Rav Elhanan Nir’s “Kavvanot for Rosh Hashanah,” and analyzes how these theological poems speak about our relationship with God and prayer on Rosh Hashanah.
Beginning the day with Halakhah or with Spirituality?
Yaakov Jaffe examines how the order of our morning Tefillot can shape the way we approach our day.