Bereishit

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.

Ezra Sivan compares biblical covenants, the all-important circumcision of Abraham and Shabbat

Ben Greenfield God isn’t angry with Sarah, when she laughs at the idea of birthing a child in her old age (Gen. 18:12-15). God is...

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

Miriam Gedwiser explores the raven's role in parashat Noah

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

Tammy Jacobowitz reviews David Forman's latest book, a companion to Sefer Bereishit, and finds engaging, instructive literary analysis that pulls new insights from familiar stories.

Lazarre Simckes analyses Joseph’s dreams through the lens of trauma psychology.

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