The Yom Kippur War and Yeshivat Har Etzion: Letters from a Talmid

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, published here are excerpts from letters of an American student studying in Israel in 1973. These letters, written during and immediately after the war, shed light on Yeshivat Har Etzion in its formative years and the lasting impact of the Yom Kippur War.

Mishnah with Meaning: Review of The Soul of the Mishna by Yakov Nagen

Yakov Nagen's Soul of the Mishna contains a wealth of readings that combine academic, literary, and spiritual perspectives on the Mishnah, writes Richard Hidary. Read the full review of the book, now accessible to an English-speaking audience, in our latest at the Lehrhaus.

A Prehistory of Rav Kook

What can we learn from Rav Kook's writings before he immigrated to the land of Israel? As Yom Ha-Atzma'ut approaches, Levi Morrow reviews Yehuda Mirsky's new prehistory of Rav Kook.

Religious Zionism: Beyond Left and Right

With the emerging Kneset leadership bringing together a broad range of political parties, consider Zach Truboff's review of Rav Shagar's writings (in honor of his upcoming yahrtzeit), which argue that Religious Zionist thought must transcend the old binary of Left and Right.

“Do Not Summarize Me on Wikipedia.” The Thought of Hanan Ben Ari

Natan Oliff analyzes the deep philosophical messages in the music of Israeli singer Hanan Ben Ari.

My Body in the East, My Heart in the West

What is it like to make aliyah from New Jersey precisely at a time when North American Jewry is suffering more heavily than Israel? Ahead of Yom Yerushalayim, Sarah Rindner, drawing on Yehuda ha-Levi and Yehudah Amichai, reflects.

Reclaiming Lag ba-Omer 

Rav Ronen Neuwirth suggests that the strictures of social distancing enable us to reduce this year's Lag BaOmer bonfires - which he sees as a very good thing.

“This Is Prayer”: Hitbodedut In Rav Shagar’s and Rav Elhanan Nir’s Writings

Jeremy Tibbetts explores Hitbodedut in the thought of Rav Shagar and Rav Elchanan Nir, two contemporary Israeli thinkers.

A Journey to the Land of Prayer

An exclusive look into Rav Dov Singer's new English work on prayer, Prepare My Prayer.

The Anti-Spiritual Rabbi: A Student’s Perspective

Shlomo Spivack discusses the anti-spirituality of his teacher, Rav Menachem Froman.