Humash

Why did the women bring musical instruments out of Egypt? In her first Lehrhaus article, musicologist Rebecca Cypess draws a fascinating historical analogy between biblical and African-American slavery to shed light on the Exodus in Jewish tradition.

In his letter to the editor, Gershon Klapper draws upon three medieval sources that undermine Ben Greenfield's recent reading of the Zohar on the three attributes of the Avot.

Sam Borodach traces the role of clothing throughout the Joseph narrative.

Ben Greenfield explains that the attributes commonly associated with our forefathers are not attributes at which they excelled, but rather attributes with which they struggled.

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

Building on ideas from Jacques Lacan and Rabbeinu Bahya ibn Pakuda, Zach Truboff offers an innovative psychological reading of the Cain and Abel story.

Yisroel Ben-Porat analyzes a Midrash offering non-misogynistic takes on the original sin.

Yaakov Jaffe traces the origins and evolution of the custom to shake the lulav in different directions.

In its opening verses, Parshat Shoftim describes a judicial system that enshrines pursuing Tzedek, or justice, as a core value. Benjamin Barer unpacks a Gemara in Sanhedrin that provides three distinct conceptions of the obligation to pursue justice, suggesting how we might build a more sacred society.

Gavriel Lakser explains how the change from Zakhor to Shamor is one of the earliest examples of Oral Torah.