Timely Thoughts

Aton Holzer reflects on the loss of faith Israelis are going through following the events of October 7.

What is the meaning of a biblical song? Writing for Parshat Ha'azinu and in memory of her beloved cousin, Shira Shaindel Rodman (née Brilliant) z”l, Elana Stein Hain reviews Geula Twersky's theory of biblical poetry as portrayed in her 2022 book Torah Song.

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

Last year, Nathan B. Oman, a Latter-day Saint and law professor, bought hametz from the members of Chaim Saiman’s synagogue before Passover. This is his story—a profound meditation on the nature of religious law and legal fiction — with an introduction by Chaim Saiman.

Merri Ukraincik contemplates G-d's role in our lives.

In his review of Glenn Dynner’s recent book on Polish Hasidism, Jon Kelsen argues that Dynner is engaged in an act of resistance against the prevalent view of interwar Hasidism as a movement in decline.

A new poem by Hannah Butcher-Stell, for the Days of Awe.

Two letters to the editor provide alternative perspectives on the question of what Jewish law wants American abortion law to be.

R.A. Alpert argues that the differences between Hamas and the Zealots outweigh the similarities.

Ezra Sivan follows up last year's piece about how the Exodus leveled social boundaries with an article about what the Pesah story teaches us about social distancing today.