Jewish Thought and History

Is true forgiveness possible? Michael Kurin explores the doubts raised by prominent twentieth century philosophers and considers how Jewish tradition offers a radically different conception of repentance and forgiveness, one that enables people to alter their reality vis-à-vis God and one another.

Is God revealed through our speech? In his review of Ariel Evan Mayse’s Speaking Infinities, Steven Gotlib explores this question in the thought of the Maggid of Mezritch.

Contemporary physicians have been heroic in the battle against COVID-19, but what was it like to be one of a handful of Jewish doctors confronting the Bubonic Plague during the 17th-century in Italy? Prolific medical halakhist and historian Eddie Reichman takes a close look at the four Jewish graduates of the Padua medical school class of 1623.

David Fried clarifies the concept of imitating God through Rashi's oft-neglected reading of “It is not good for man to be alone”

Chaim Trachtman squares biology with Spinoza and Maimonides.

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

Josh Rosenfeld delves into the world of Rabbi Menachem Froman.

Yaakov Taubes explores the background to Maimonides’s explanation for how the Mishnah is ordered.

Elana Stein Hain explores how the frameworks offered by the humanities can mesh with our Torah-driven lives.

Jeffrey Saks concludes The Lehrhaus series, mapping out the intellectual biography of Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik