To Be, or Not to Be, a Holy People
Steven Gotlib reviews Eugene Korn’s To Be a Holy People: Jewish Tradition and Ethical Values, a book which asks hard questions about whether Halakhah can integrate with the demands of contemporary ethics.
Rabbi Elazar Ben Dordaya: The Master of Teshuvah
Shloime Schwartz looks at the numerous lessons about Teshuvah that the commentaries derive from the story of Rabbi Elazar ben Dordaya.
Reclaiming the Musical Past: Leon Modena and Salamone Rossi in Context
Rebecca Cypess considers the life and work of the Italian Jewish Renaissance composer Salamone Rossi, his rabbinic supporter Leon Modena, and the controversies over 17th century polyphonic music in the synagogue.
Confronting Biblical Criticism: A Review Essay
Marc B. Shapiro reviews a new edited volume by Yoram Hazony, Gil Student, and Alex Sztuden that offers a traditional defense of revelation in light of modern biblical criticism.
Antipodal Etrogim
Aaron Cohen surveys the fascinating literature surrounding antipodal etrogim.
The Problem of Mosaic Authorship You Never Heard of: What is Parashat Bilam?
The Talmud speaks of a mysterious passage on Bilam authored by Moses. What is it?
Nine Crazy Nights?
Outside the Land of Israel, we add an extra day to several holidays. Michael Kurin wonders: why not on Hanukkah?
Mind Blown: Shofar as Divine Encounter Beyond the Limits of Human Comprehension
Aton Holzer explores the inscrutability of the Mitzvah of Shofar.
Cities of Crumbling Walls: What The Talmud Can Teach Us About Living Through A...
What can the Talmud teach us about living through a pandemic? Avi Strausberg argues that it teaches us quite a bit about strengthening acts of kindness and solidarity in our communities.
“Justice has not Been Done”: Officer Immunity and Accountability in Jewish Law (Part 1)
David Polsky meticulously analyzes Halakhic sources on the use of force by officers of the law.
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