Timely Thoughts

Nathan Diament of the Orthodox Union Advocacy Center on the political advocacy of faith communities today.

Kate Rozansky explores the life of Rabbi Shimon bar Yohai through the prism of the women in his life.

Leead Staller argues for a more nuanced approach to euthanasia in Halakha.

Leah Sarna argues that this is the Passover to tell the stories of enslaved Jewish women: of the victims of October 7, who were and likely still are subjected to sexual violence, and of the heroic women in the era of the Exodus, who fought to ensure the perpetuation of the Jewish people.

Ezra Sivan asks: Where is the justice in the tenth plague?

Channa Lockshin Bob Editor’s Note: We are running a number of pieces for the sheloshim of Professor David Weiss Halivni z"l. For Elli Fischer’s introduction...

Shimshon Nadel examines the question of whether we should continue to fast on Tishah Be-Av in light of the existence of the Modern State of Israel.

How was the original Seder experienced, and how do we constitute a Jewish collective? Joel Levy and Leon Wiener-Dow argue that the collective must begin with the independent-minded individual.

Pressed for time, people often skip reciting the korbanot section of the morning prayers. With the High Holidays approaching, Judah Kerbel makes the case that the korbanot are far more central and halakhically significant to our prayers than we often realize.

Dan Jutan locates a fascinating meta-narrative within Rashi's commentary.