Personal Reflections

Dr. Devora Steinmetz offers a meditation on the significance of Hanukkah and darkness.

Sarah Rindner contemplates whether Torah u-Madda as it’s sometimes interpreted can engender unreflective allegiance to trends in contemporary society that might harm our religious communities.

A poem addressed to survivors in the Chareidi community about the existential confusion endured by child sexual abuse.

With the 10th yarhtzeit of Rav Yehuda Amital, founding Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Har Etzion, upcoming this Sunday, we are honored to publish some poignant remembrances from his students. First up is Yehuda Mirsky of Brandeis University, who recalls his last conversation with Rav Amital.

David Wolkenfeld ponders his synagogue's next choice in siddur.

Shaul Seidler-Feller Introduction Early last week, a friend forwarded me a recently-published video produced in Israel. When it began to play, I was quickly taken in...

Award-winning poet Yehoshua November offers his thoughts on the connection between mystical intimacy and poetry.

Yisroel Ben-Porat offers historical, hashkafic, and personal reflections on what’s often called the “Judeo-Christian” tradition and whether a Torah u-Madda outlook can embrace the study of Christianity.

In this thoughtful essay, Cypess reflects on the melody that is carrying Israel in the wake of October 7th.

Judah Kerbel explores how differing approaches to listening to music during Sefirat ha-Omer balance the appropriate role for subjectivity in halakhic decision-making.