Holidays

In a fascinating analysis, Gavriel Lakser places the Megillah in the context of the overarching struggle between the Jewish people and Amalek.

How does Reish Lakish’s classic view of repentance help to account for the tragic dissolution of his relationship with Rabbi Yohanan?

It is customary to celebrate Tu Bi-Shevat by eating fruits and reciting the She-Hehiyanu blessing on them. This custom, however, has proved challenging in recent years as advances in technology have made it difficult to find new fruit—as defined by halakhah—to say the She-Hehiyanu

Eliav Grossman examines the Talmud's account of drinking on Purim, reading it as directed at Christian texts and traditions.

Michael Bernstein examines how the individual experience is ironically incorporated into holidays that are all about the community.

James Diamond takes a fresh approach to Maimonides's Passover theology and "Elijah's Cup."

Tzvi Sinensky suggests that the Megillah itself confronts the question of Purim's legitimacy.

Ari Levisohn considers forgiveness through the lens of the Divine encounter through which the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy are revealed.

Zach Truboff looks at the miracle of the Hanukkah oil through the lens of Franz Rosenzweig and emphasizes the importance of the belief in miracles for a meaningful religiosity.

Natan Oliff explores the theological implications of teshuva in a world that is God’s prescripted story.