Timely Thoughts

Contemporary physicians have been heroic in the battle against COVID-19, but what was it like to be one of a handful of Jewish doctors confronting the Bubonic Plague during the 17th-century in Italy? Prolific medical halakhist and historian Eddie Reichman takes a close look at the four Jewish graduates of the Padua medical school class of 1623.

Aton Holzer explores the role of free will and its limits in the Yom Kippur liturgy.

Tzvi Sinensky explores the hidden world of Esther with the help of Nathaniel Hawthorne.

Benjamin Marcus was commissioned to create illustrations for an illuminated manuscript of the Book of Ruth. In this one-of-a-kind article, he shares his challenges, his discoveries, and his art.

Shmuel Greene describes the lessons he learned from his Rebbe, Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz ztz"l

Yakov Ellenbogen reviews Susan Weingarten's Haroset: A Taste of Jewish History.

Avraham’s challenge to God’s planned destruction of Sodom raises the fundamental ethical problem of collective punishment. The resolution of this challenge, Sruli Fruchter explains, enables Avraham to realize God’s highest ideals and to confront the conflict between compassion for oppressors and consideration for their victims.

Theodicy, faith, and the meaning of life. Who got it right - Kohelet or our Yamim Noraim liturgy? Elana Stein Hain explores!

For Eve Grubin, Bilam's hidden messages is a lesson for the Torah and for life.

Moshe Kurtz explores halakhic and hashkafic considerations surrounding bringing young children to shul.