From Burning Candles to ‘Burning’ People
In honor of Hanukkah, Admiel Kosman considers literary and aggadic traditions that depict holy people as burning flames or sources of light. He proposes that these traditions be read in light of Martin Buber’s insight regarding the dialogical personality.
Extra-Communal Philanthropy – Forbidden, Permitted, or Mandated?
Mikey Lebrett examines the various Halakhic opinions on giving charity to non-Jewish people and causes.
Can a Court Really Ban Kapparot and Why it Matters for the American Jewish...
Michael (Avi) Helfand on a recent court case with implications for American Jews as members of both a religious and a minority community.
The Utility of Ambiguity
Dina Brawer explores "certainty" and "doubt" in rabbinic tradition.
Faithful Quotations: Of Saying, Bringing, and Citing
Authors mis-citing citations on authors citing authors. What gives? Yiddish.
Halakhah and Social Change
A response to Yosef Bronstein's study on Halakhah's engagement with societal norms
These and Those … But Definitely not Those!
In response to Tzvi Sinensky's earlier essay, Andrew Bennett presents Jewish legal scholar Robert Cover's and noted antisemite Carl Schmitt's thoughts on elu ve-elu.
What Could (and Couldn’t) the Rabbis Do?
What sort of powers did Hazal have in the first century? Ari Lamm wonders.
Don’t Forget David’s Literary Temple! A Rebuttal to Levi Morrow
Harvard Professor Jon Levenson weighs in on what stops the floodwaters:
rabbinic creativity or the Temple!
Three Sonnets
Jeffrey Burghauser's three poems draw on the biblical and rabbinic imagination.
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