Tanakh

Ben Greenfield explains that the attributes commonly associated with our forefathers are not attributes at which they excelled, but rather attributes with which they struggled.

Ezra Sivan reexamines the relationship between Rachel and Leah.

Tzvi Sinensky on how Sefer Haggai unlocks the meaning of Hodesh Elul.

Yosef Lindell explores the true nature of the Aseret ha-Dibrot.

Daniel Lifshitz explains the connection between Abraham, Gideon, and David through the lens of this week's Parshah and Haftarah.

Martin Lockshin reviews Daniel A. Klein’s translation of Samuel David Luzzatto’s commentary on the Book of Vayikra, the latest volume in Klein’s project to translate all of Shadal’s insightful and ever-interesting Torah commentary.

Batya Hefter uses the case of Isaac to illuminate how hasidic masters read the Bible.

Psalm 121, recited fervently in online prayer spaces and from the Senate floor alike since March, is subject to a seemingly mind-boggling array of interpretations. Michael Weiner blazes a path through the interpretive chaos.

Tzvi Sinensky contends that the rabbinic and feminist readings of Vashti are not diametrically opposed.

Thanks in part to several new publications, portions of the Orthodox world have been engaging with modern biblical scholarship in a more significant way than ever before. Gil Perl provides a four-step framework for how Jewish days schools might profitably teach many aspects of biblical criticism that do not conflict with our mesorah.