Timely Thoughts

Shlomo Zuckier wonders why the earth opened its mouth for both Korah and Kayin.

Meira Wolkenfeld's reflection commemorating the passing of Yaakov Elman, ob"m.

Yaakov Jaffe traces the origins and evolution of the custom to shake the lulav in different directions.

Stuart Halpern explains how, when faced with uncertainty, danger, and personal and communal hardships, Americans have turned to the story of the Exodus for inspiration.

As 2021 comes to a close, the Lehrhaus team is delighted to highlight many of the thought-provoking essays we’ve published this year, with a diverse array of incredible thinkers and writers.

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.

David Schwartz explores thematic similarities between the Hanukkah miracle and Pharaoh’s dreams.

The secular calendar has its leap day on Feb. 29. On the Jewish calendar, our leap day is 30 Adar I, since Adar in a non-leap year always has 29 days. Yaakov Taubes explores all of the Halakhot pertaining to this unique day.

Zachary Truboff considers the experience of prayer, and what two recent publications on Tefillah emerging from the Religious Zionist community contribute.

Shlomo Zuckier surveys and analyzes the debate over Zoom Seders during coronavirus.