Buying Jewish Whiskey

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.

Tu be-Av and the Concubine of Givah

Tzvi Sinensky explores the Biblical origins of Tu be-Av.

The Customs of Sefirah aren’t about Mourning. They are about Quarantine.

Ben Greenfield looks at the similarity between Sefirah observances and quarantine, and suggests a new way to understand the connection.

Catching up to Israel: A Yom Ha’atzmaut Reflection on the Post-Pesah Parshah Gap

Shmuel Hain comments on the leap year parshah-gap between Israel and the Diaspora.

Of Warriors and Wolves

In these difficult times for Israel, Aharon Frazer of Alon Shvut is thinking about the fundamental sanctity of human life and the long game. Can war and weapons really take us toward the messianic age?

Divinity Redefined- Review of Christine Hayes, What’s Divine About Divine Law?: Early Perspectives

Rabbi Daniel Reifman reviews Christine Hayes' Whats Divine about Divine Law?

Loyal As A Dog: How to Read “Jewish Art”

Marc Michael Epstein explores the nature of animal motifs in medieval Jewish manuscripts.

The Poetry of the Land

With masterful translation, Tzvi Novick offers a glimpse of Israeli culture to our English readers.

The Philosopher and the Mystic?

David Fried reviews Diana Lobel's Moses and Abraham Maimonides: Encountering the Divine, which argues that the categorization of Moses Maimonides as an Aristotelian philosopher and his son Abraham as a Sufi mystic is an oversimplification.

Guilt and Shame Cultures in the Thought of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks

Marc Eichenbaum explores the idea of guilt and shame cultures in the thought of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks z"tl, which provides a novel interpretation of Torah and a powerful lesson for contemporary society.