Tanakh

In a fascinating analysis, Gavriel Lakser places the Megillah in the context of the overarching struggle between the Jewish people and Amalek.

Ezra Sivan reexamines the relationship between Rachel and Leah.

Tzvi Sinensky on how Sefer Haggai unlocks the meaning of Hodesh Elul.

Daniel Lifshitz explains the connection between Abraham, Gideon, and David through the lens of this week's Parshah and Haftarah.

Yosef Lindell explores the true nature of the Aseret ha-Dibrot.

Martin Lockshin reviews Daniel A. Klein’s translation of Samuel David Luzzatto’s commentary on the Book of Vayikra, the latest volume in Klein’s project to translate all of Shadal’s insightful and ever-interesting Torah commentary.

Psalm 121, recited fervently in online prayer spaces and from the Senate floor alike since March, is subject to a seemingly mind-boggling array of interpretations. Michael Weiner blazes a path through the interpretive chaos.

Batya Hefter uses the case of Isaac to illuminate how hasidic masters read the Bible.

Tzvi Sinensky contends that the rabbinic and feminist readings of Vashti are not diametrically opposed.

Thanks in part to several new publications, portions of the Orthodox world have been engaging with modern biblical scholarship in a more significant way than ever before. Gil Perl provides a four-step framework for how Jewish days schools might profitably teach many aspects of biblical criticism that do not conflict with our mesorah.