Talmud

What Shavuot teaches about Israel’s haredi military service debate

On Shavuot, we recenter Torah study as our supreme value, even as we divert some of its precious human resources toward protecting our people and defending our land.

ULTRA-ORTHODOX RECRUITS arrive at the IDF Recruitment Center at Tel Hashomer, early Jan.
A medieval court of law.

Once, Jews defended themselves to survive. Now this reflects defeat - opinion

 Rabbi Elimelech Biderman with his followers celebrate the jewish holiday of Lag Ba'Omer, in Meron. May 9, 2023

Lag Ba’omer reminds us to choose respect over division among Jews - opinion

GOODWILL: PROVIDING volunteer massage therapy to soldiers at an IDF outpost in Samaria, March 12.

Parashat Emor: The social revolution


Tisha Be’av: Rebuilding in the aftermath of destruction

These nine days allow us to mindfully remember the forces that led to destruction from within our own nation, the thousands of years yearning to return, and finally, the power of rebuilding.

 WITHIN THE darkness of the discussions there also emerge glimmers of consolation and hope.

When Daf Yomi meets the headlines - comment

Both sides need to open up Tuesday’s Daf - Gittin 56 – and learn the lessons, and both sides need to do so immediately.

‘HAVING CHOSEN God, the Torah is God’s response to us.’ Pictured: The Yanov Torah, rescued from the Holocaust.

Marking the printed Talmud at 500 - opinion

Steinsaltz describes the Talmud as the repository of thousands of years of Jewish wisdom. Why shouldn’t it attract wider interest now that it is much more accessible?

 MEN STUDY the Talmud and other holy books at a Beit Midrash.

Daf Yomi: Women study Talmud with Ra'anana rabbanit

Ten years ago, Michelle Farber started a daily Daf Yomi class in her home in Ra’anana. Her Daf Yomi podcast reaches more than 2,000 people worldwide.

 RABBANIT MICHELLE FARBER and Judi Felber (R) at the ‘siyum:’ Camaraderie and friendship.

Miracles are just the norm in Israel - opinion

Addressing a popular secular Israeli society that was skeptical of calling events miraculous, David Ben-Gurion said, “A Jew who does not believe in miracles is not a realist."

 YOUTH DEMONSTRATE near the Knesset, last month. The flag reads: ‘For the unity: Youth march together.’ Don’t bet against Israel, it’s been counted out many times, and always bounced back strongly, says the writer.

Judaism should bring the 'last confession' (vidui) back

The last confession (vidui), has somewhat disappeared in recent centuries. In this column, I’ll briefly lay out the case for restoring this meaningful ritual.

 WE NEVER truly know which patients might still be able to hear our prayers.

9 Adar: A call for constructive conflict among the Jewish people - opinion

The Beit Shammai-Beit Hillel confrontation must serve as a warning of what can go wrong when one group bulldozes legislation against the will of a major constituency.

 JUSTICE MINISTER Yariv Levin stands behind his chair next to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Knesset, last week. The Beit Shammai-Beit Hillel confrontation must serve as a warning to what can go wrong when one group bulldozes the passage of legislation, says the writer.

Gila Fine: Teaching Talmud with a twist

Gila Fine’s interpretations of the Talmud are kind, inspiring, and relatable for modern women. Let’s hope the men are on board.

 Fine lecturing in Jerusalem

Silence is complicity: What is the right way to speak out? - opinion

Jewish tradition contains this idea as well, that shtika k’hoda’a – a person’s silence can be taken as acquiescence. This leaves us with the question, how do ensure that we are not silent?

Enjoy the silence

Hanukkah: To pretend or to be really religious?

For religious Jews, Judaism’s constant demand to follow Halacha (Jewish law) may give the impression that Judaism depends solely on the need to “observe.”

 LIGHTING THE ‘hanukkiah’ should be a transforming act.