Rahab, Jeremiah, and the Story of Purim
Shimon Lerner uncovers a surprising but profound message that goes to the very heart of the Purim story.
Must Creativity and Rigor be Either/Or?
In his review of Michael Hattin’s commentaries on the books of Joshua and Judges, Francis Nataf explores how greater collaboration between creative Tanakh teachers could help reduce the number of overly speculative readings.
Of Sages, Prophets, and Politics from the Pulpit
Jason Herman examines whether or not rabbis should talk politics in shul.
The Sacrifice of Obedience
Shlomo Zuckier asks what we can learn from Shaul's mistakes in this week's Haftara.
The Children of the Beautiful Captive
Miriam Gedwiser explains how the Rabbis of the Talmud put the law of yefat to'ar in conversation with the David narrative, and what this teaches us about how we should approach passages of this nature.
The Triple Threat to Social Order
Through the lens of social science and game theory, Ezra Zuckerman Sivan connects three stories in Tanakh of people who threatened the social order: the blasphemer, the wood-gatherer, and Achan.
The Philosopher King and the Poet Messiah: Hellenic and Hebrew Republics Compared
In this essay, written in honor of Yom Yerushalayim, Bezalel Naor explores the differing visions for the ideal state held by Plato and the Rabbis, Maimonides and Rabbi Nahman of Breslov.
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...
Did the Prophet Amos Predict the Women’s Siyum Daf Yomi?
Yaakov Jaffe explains how Biblical grammar and parables come together in Amos to teach us about women's Talmud Torah.
Rebuke, Repentance, and Renewal: A Literary Analysis of David’s Character in II Samuel 12
Natan Levin examines King David’s character through a close reading of his narratives in the Book of Samuel.
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