Pesah as Zeman Simhateinu: What Does it Mean to Rejoice Over Victory?

Judah Kerbel discusses why we say an abbreviated Hallel on the last six days of Pesah and contemplates what that says about the war in Israel; self-defense is a must, as is gratitude toward God, but we also hold space for the losses on the other side.

Every Day is New Under the Sun

A dialogue between a modern cycle of poems by Lea Goldberg and the ancient Kohelet reveals the importance of gratitude and engagement as opposed to skepticism and withdrawal.

Shavat Suru: The First Kinah, Matter and Form

Yaakov Jaffe examines how the form in the Kinnah "Shavat Suru" gives us insight into its broader meaning.

Leavings of Sin: Rav Aharon Lichtenstein on Teshuvah

Shlomo Zuckier reviews Rav Aharon Lichtenstein's just-released book on teshuvah

From Storage Cities to the Tabernacle: Building a New Civilization

Daniel Berkove shows how parallels between the building of the Tabernacle and the building of Pharaoh's storage cities shed light on the differences between civilizations that those structures represent.

Rosh HaShanah And God’s Battle for Compassion

Akiva Mattenson writes on the relationship between God and Judgement.

No Rest for the Weary? Ambiguity in Yehudah Halevi’s “Yom Shabbaton”

Yaakov Jaffe analyzes the multiple meanings of a medieval Jewish poem and popular Shabbat table song.

Written and Sealed (and Stamped) in the Book of Life

We will all be much more distant from each other this Rosh Hashanah. That’s why, argues Ranana Dine, it’s time to revive the tradition of sending physical greeting cards.

The Lonely Seder, Take Two

As another Pesach in isolation approaches, Will Friedman examines how Rabbinic texts take solo sedarim into account.

Feeling “Off” on Yom Haatzmaut

So many of the most exciting developments in Jewish thought, explains Ariel Rackovsky, are occurring in Israel. Are American Jews sufficiently aware of them?