Titus and the Tripartite Soul: A Lesson on Leadership and Jewish Survival
With a novel reading of Josephus and Gittin, Shana Schwartz proposes that the tragedy of the second hurban and the mystery of subsequent Jewish survival may be understood by reference to the physiological knowledge available in classical antiquity.
Laughter in the Face of Tragedy: The Enduring Resistance of Rabbi Akiva
Miriam Zami’s essay, runner-up to Hadar's annual Ateret Zvi Prize, uncovers the political and theological resistance of Rabbi Akiva’s laughter in the wake of the destruction of the Temple.
Hollow Land
Zohar Atkins shares a few poetic excerpts in honor of Tishah be-Av
Grief, Gratitude and … Grapes? Tears on Tishah Be-Av as Tools of Tikun and...
Steven Weiner writes on the significance of tears on Tishah Be-Av and how they relate to the thanks of birkat ha-mazon.
How the Student Poland Experience Has Changed
The Poland trip has become de rigueur for Modern Orthodox gap-year students. But seismic changes in contemporary Poland and shifting trends in Modern Orthodoxy mean that the content and meaning of these trips are different than they used to be. David I. Bernstein, who has been leading Poland trips since 1992, tells the story of the student Poland experience, then and now.
Letters to the Editor: A Response to David Polsky’s “Reading Tragedy in Gittin and...
R.A. Alpert argues that the differences between Hamas and the Zealots outweigh the similarities.
Kamtza and Bar Kamtza in the Age of Cancel Culture
The Talmudic story of Kamtza and Bar Kamtza is often used to highlight the destructive consequences of baseless hatred. In an intriguing reading, David Hellman suggests that the hatred that motivated the tale’s participants is more complex than meets the eye.
Why Can’t Selihot Be More Like Kinot?
Yosef Lindell argues that the explanatory Kinot model, where fewer prayers are said but they are delved into in more depth, should be adopted for reciting Selihot.
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.
Shomron Kol Titein: Let the Silent Sisters Speak and be Consoled
Yosef Lindell examines why Shomron Kol Titein is a fitting conclusion to the daytime kinnot on Tisha Be-Av.