Tanakh

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

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

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

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.

Amitai Bin-Nun provides a fresh and intriguing perspective on the story of the Golden Calf by reading it in light of the Talmudic passage in Menahot detailing an encounter between Moses and R. Akiba on Mt. Sinai where God is tying crowns to the letters of the Torah scroll.

A poem on parshat Korach by Zohar Atkins

In advance of Shavuot, Stuart Halpern reviews Reading Ruth, a succinct but poignant new literary commentary on the Book of Ruth, by Leon Kass and his granddaughter Hannah Mandelbaum.

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...

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

Erica Brown considers the little-discussed prohibition on planting during the Nine Days and what it teaches about the nature of mourning and joy.