Bereishit

Zvi Grumet reviews Aaron Koller’s new book on the Akedah and evaluates his surprisingly novel approach to this formative biblical story.

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

Shlomo Zuckier wonders why the earth opened its mouth for both Korah and Kayin.

Laurance Wieder's After Adam was named the Book of the Year in 2019 by First Thing's John Wilson, but has been largely overlooked in the Jewish community. The Jewish Review of Book's Michal Leibowitz seeks to remedy this in her review of Wieder's lyrical retelling of the Bible.

David Curwin explores the evidence that Jacob may have made a fatal mistake in not conquering Canaan upon returning.

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.

Batya Hefter traces Joseph's character development through the eyes of the Ishbitz-Radzyn masters.

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...

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.

The father heard the voice of God, Elli Fischer explains, but the son ends up with the blade on his neck.