Timely Thoughts

Gavriel Lakser offers a new approach to the problem of evil based on the beginning of Genesis.

Alex Ozar explores wartime law in the Rambam.

Hillel Rapp explores how Israel education has changed in a post-Oct. 7 world.

Eliezer Finkelman offers his thoughts on politicizing from the pulpit.

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.

It has been six years since Rav Aharon Lichtenstein passed away. In reviewing a 2018 collection of essays by Rav Lichtenstein’s students, Alan Jotkowitz reflects on what we have lost and the void that remains.

Given the duration of the pandemic, should we suffice with waiting to return to normal, or are there hard-fought lesssons we can reintroduce even once the pandemic passes? Lehrhaus Consulting Editor and Director of Education at Sefaria, Sara Wolkenfeld, uses our recent experiences to gain new perspective on what tefilla, minyan and shul are really all about.

In this next installment in our Israel symposium, Erica Brown argues that for Jewish students after October 7, choosing secular college is just not the choice it used to be.

Jonathcan Muskat explores the different ways Rabbi Soloveitchik communicated about Mehitzah.

Tzvi Sinensky comments on the pitfalls of being overly dependent on the "Talmudic reid."