Rivkah’s Existentialism: Wholeness and Brokenness
This past Shabbat, Rivkah took center stage, making a dramatic decision that altered the course of her descendants’ histories. Sruli Fruchter examines the angst that preceded Rivkah’s fateful actions.
(Re)reading Shir ha-Shirim during Covid-19
Tzvi Sinensky argues compellingly for a new way to understand the relationship between Shir HaShirim and Pesach in times of quarantine.
Humor: The Refuge of the Wise
Rami Reiner examines how our understanding of a Talmudic passage could change if we allow for the possibility of it being a comedy.
Saving Non-Jews on Shabbat: Two Perspectives on the Development of a Sensitive Halakhah
Jonathan Ziring explores the innovative nature of different Halakhic rulings permitting violating Shabbat to save non-Jewish lives.
Of Sages, Prophets, and Politics from the Pulpit
Jason Herman examines whether or not rabbis should talk politics in shul.
The Jewish Leap Day: A Halakhic Analysis of a Calendar Conundrum
The secular calendar has its leap day on Feb. 29. On the Jewish calendar, our leap day is 30 Adar I, since Adar in a non-leap year always has 29 days. Yaakov Taubes explores all of the Halakhot pertaining to this unique day.
The Reward for Honoring Our Parents
Ezra Sivan challenges our understanding of the fifth commandment and all of Sefer Devarim.
Surrender or Struggle? The Akeidah Reconsidered
Herzl Hefter provides critical perspective on a stream of Akeidah interpretation from Kierkegaard to the Rav
Rav Lichtenstein on Wissenschaft in his Own (Yiddish) Words
Shlomo Zuckier presents Rav Aharon Lichtenstein's own thoughts on academic Talmud.
Sexual Assault: A Torah Analysis and Its Modern Implications
Rena Kosowsky compares the treatment of sexual assault in the Bible and the Talmud, and explores the implications of what that means for how we should address it today.