Timely Thoughts

James Diamond takes a fresh approach to Maimonides's Passover theology and "Elijah's Cup."

Yaakov Jaffe explores Yehuda Ha-Levi's Yom Le-Yabasha.

Erica Brown explores the deeper meaning of joy in Megillat Esther and beyond.

  As 2023 comes to a close, the Lehrhaus team is proud to feature some highlights from our contributions this past year. For over seven...

Zev Eleff explains what Zionism has to do with Sukkot, at least in America.

Dr. Ari Hoffman eulogizes Philip Roth.

In unpacking the meaning of a tricky verse from Eikhah that we say as part of the Shofar service on Rosh Hashanah, Mitchell First introduces us to the literary principle called hendiadys, which can help us understand various phrases throughout Tanakh.

In advance of Tisha Be-Av, Tzvi Novick annotates and interprets the kinnah of a’adeh ad hug shamayim by the master poet R. Eleazar ha-Kalir, unlocking its complex acrostic to determine who its speaker is meant to be.

"Ha lahma anya" is one of the first paragraphs recited at the Seder - and its strange features have been baffling commentators for centuries. Elli Fischer adds his reflections to the mix.

Given the duration of the pandemic, should we suffice with waiting to return to normal, or are there hard-fought lesssons we can reintroduce even once the pandemic passes? Lehrhaus Consulting Editor and Director of Education at Sefaria, Sara Wolkenfeld, uses our recent experiences to gain new perspective on what tefilla, minyan and shul are really all about.