Understanding the Will of God in Psalm 132

In this essay, William Goloboy elucidates Psalm 132 and the Divine choice to prohibit King David from building the First Temple.

Divine Companionship in the Tokhahah: A Textual Analysis

The tokhahah in Leviticus 26 is frequently read as a tragedy, warning of the dire consequences of sin and national failure. Ahead of Yom Kippur 5786, Milton Torres-Ceron offers a new reading, informed by the traditional "pardes" method, that frames Leviticus 26 as an affirmation on unwavering divine companionship with Israel.

God’s Estranged Wife: Rashi on Song of Songs, Lamentations and Hosea

Through analyses of Rashi's commentaries on Song of Songs, Lamentations, and Hosea, Devorah Schoenfeld explores narratives of the Jewish nation's relationship to God.

A Mathematical Reevaluation of the Prohibition on Counting Jews

  Mark Glass I. A long time ago in a galaxy far far away. … Growing up, that’s how the gabba’im of my youth minyan would determine if...

How the Song of Deborah Utilizes the Blessings of Jacob: A Study in Rhetorical...

Surprisingly, Bible scholars have not addressed the remarkable intertextual conversation between Jacob's blessings in Genesis 49 and Deborah's song in Judges 5. Michael Bernstein offers his original etymological analysis of the two poetic texts.

Hearing the Shepherd from Tekoa

Ethan Schwartz reviews Yitchak Etshalom’s new volume on the prophet Amos, considering ways in which the author succeeds and fails to recreate the divine roar of Amos’ message.

“Our Eyes”: The Kenites and the Druze

Tamar Weissman shows how the Druze minority in Israel remarkably resemble the biblical Kenites.

Capra Dei, or Had Gadya: Isaiah 53 and Jewish Redemption

Aton Holzer offers a novel interpretation of Isaiah 53 based on current events in Israel.

Shechem, Place Of Brit

This week's Parashah introduces us to the city of Shechem. Tamar Weissman examines the various appearances of this city throughout Tanakh, explaining that while it is a city of rupture, it is also one of covenant and fraternity.

Tola ben Puah: Savior of Israel

With only two verses about him in the Book of Judges, not much is known about Tola ben Puah. Ami Hordes takes clues from his story's text and context to paint a fuller picture of who the judge was and why he was important.