“I Am Building a City”: A Reflection for Agnon’s 50th Yahrtzeit

50 years after his passing, Agnon is as relevant as ever. Agnon expert and Lehrhaus Consulting Editor Jeffrey Saks explains.

The Accidental Iniquity of Amalek

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

Joy at Last: Reflections on the End of Esther

Erica Brown explores the deeper meaning of joy in Megillat Esther and beyond.

Puritan Purim

How did Esther shape the way Puritans saw the ideal role of the contemporary woman? Cotton Mather, a major player in the Salem Witch Trials, had much to say in his Ornaments for the Daughters of Zion. Stuart Halpern of Yeshiva University explains, wishing us all a Puritan Purim.

Cantillation: Some Observations – Part 2

In Part II of his series on trop, William Gewirtz explains the principle of recursion and how it helps us interpret texts.

A Long-Forgotten Jewish Remedy for the Coronavirus Outbreak

Before modern medicine, how did Jews combat outbreaks such as the coronavirus? Jeremy Brown introduces us to a long-forgotten wedding ceremony that was used as an antidote.

Reeding Between the Lines: Parallels Across the Yam Suf and Baby Moshe Narratives

Ben Greenfield examines the curious parallels between the stories of Moshe in the ark and the splitting of the sea.

Dancing with the Text: The Rabbinic Use of Midrashic Allegory

Malka Simkovich explores how Chazal approached our sacred texts in their midrashic allegories and how this issue continues to effect our approach to the torah today.

The Anti-Spiritual Rabbi: A Student’s Perspective

Shlomo Spivack discusses the anti-spirituality of his teacher, Rav Menachem Froman.

Moses in the Teiva: An Act of Hope or Despair?

Was the teiva an attempt to save Moshe's life? David Fried challenges our assumptions about the purpose of the wicker basket in the river.