Bereishit

R. Yitzchak Blau analyzes the 2018 book, Was Yosef on the Spectrum?

Mark Glass puts the Akeidah in conversation with the surrounding narratives of the book of Genesis.

Ezra Sivan reexamines the relationship between Rachel and Leah.

Benjamin Barer traces the word Hevel through Jewish texts, showing how the use of the same word can teach us both about the wisdom of Kohelet we read this past Shabbat and the character of Hevel who we will read about in this week's Parashah.

Chaim Trachtman sees the Akeida as addressing the threat to human life, especially that of children, which is always inherent in the religious experience.

Avraham’s challenge to God’s planned destruction of Sodom raises the fundamental ethical problem of collective punishment. The resolution of this challenge, Sruli Fruchter explains, enables Avraham to realize God’s highest ideals and to confront the conflict between compassion for oppressors and consideration for their victims.

Yehuda Goldberg explains how the Bible's depictions of the Tower of Babel and of Jerusalem teaches us about the risk and potential of cities.

Elli Fischer reads one of Rashi's most famous comments against the grain.

Yakov Nagen examines the opening chapters of Genesis to explore what God wanted from people for matan Torah.

Did Rabbeinu Bahya mention a lightning rod centuries before it was discovered? Yaakov Taubes takes us on a journey through science, magic, and religion to help explain this medieval commentator’s cryptic comment about the Tower of Babel.