Talmud and Halakhah

What do Adam, Enkidu, and Reish Lakish all have in common? Eli Putterman explores.

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.

Jonathcan Muskat explores the different ways Rabbi Soloveitchik communicated about Mehitzah.

Miriam Gedwiser explores the time Rabban Yohanan ben Zakai's students sought to comfort their teacher.

Shlomo Zuckier explores some surprising connections between the Talmud and the field of behavioral economics.

Judah Kerbel discusses why we say an abbreviated Hallel on the last six days of Pesah and contemplates what that says about the war in Israel; self-defense is a must, as is gratitude toward God, but we also hold space for the losses on the other side.

Jon Kelsen uncovers a deeper rabbinic meaning to the blood needed to "passover" the Israelites.

Tzvi Sinensky carefully examines the Tzitz Eliezer’s view on sexual reassignment surgery.

Shmuel Hain comments on the leap year parshah-gap between Israel and the Diaspora.

Shimon Laufer examines how Rabbinic understanding of the holiday of Passover influenced the holiday of Purim, and how one of the oldest manuscripts of the Mishnah hints that the converse may be true as well.