Timely Thoughts

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, published here are excerpts from letters of an American student studying in Israel in 1973. These letters, written during and immediately after the war, shed light on Yeshivat Har Etzion in its formative years and the lasting impact of the Yom Kippur War.

Dan Margulies explains the Hazon Ish's discussion about the problem of using electricity on Shabbat, with implications for Zoom Sedarim.

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

Zach Truboff draws on personal experience in considering the place of Yizkor on Yom Tov.

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

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

Dr. Devora Steinmetz offers a meditation on the significance of Hanukkah and darkness.

Yiscah Smith explores the conceptions of teshuvah presented in the writings of the Piaseczner Rebbe and the Ba’al Ha-Tanya, identifying in them a novel approach to personal growth that speaks to contemporary Jews.

Francis Nataf considers the legacy of Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch.

  Zach Truboff In 1933, as the month of Elul approached, the Jewish people faced a frightening array of dangers. That year, Hitler consolidated power as...