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


Hanukkah: One last taste of sovereignty

We know what sovereignty tastes like. For centuries, Hanukkah kept that taste alive. We never forgot how Jews were meant to live. Hanukkah would not let us forget. 

 BRONZE OIL lamp uncovered in excavations at the City of David, Jerusalem.

What is the connection between chess and Judaism? - opinion

Some people believe that Jewish chess players use the same way of thinking while playing chess as if they were studying Talmud.

 PLAYERS COMPETE at the Israeli Chess Championship in Safed, last year.

Nancy Pelosi and Rabban Gamliel: A Talmudic tale of succession - opinion

Much like Speaker Pelosi, the Talmud tells us that Rabban Gamliel rules the house of study, with an iron fist, and with a desire for unity. However, Rabban Gamliel takes this desire a step too far.

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) announces that she will remain in Congress but will not run for re-election as Speaker after Republicans were projected to win control of the House of Representatives, on the floor of the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, US, November 17, 2022.

The Jewish leaders leading the Jewish people - then and now - opinion

Living in modern Israel is like living in a real-time ongoing Talmudic dispute.

 RIME MINISTER Yair Lapid arrives for a cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem

What does Judaism think of sports? - opinion

It can be said that as long as it does not come at the expense of other important duties, sports are very much encouraged in Judaism and perfectly legitimate as a hobby.

Heading Home: The Tale of Team Israel

Simhat Torah: Why Jews should look in the mirror now

This analysis of a midrashic text is obviously not intended as a comment on or opinion about the recent United States Supreme Court decision.

 ‘THE FEAST of the Rejoicing of the Law at the Synagogue in Leghorn, Italy’ (1850) by Solomon Alexander Hart.

Social justice and Judaism: The rabbinic voice can overcome polarization

Issues like immigration policy, criminal justice reform, and fighting poverty involve nuanced thinking, compromise, and the ability to integrate multiple perspectives.

 An image of Stephen Sondheim is shown on a large screen during the ‘In Memoriam’ segment at the 75th Annual Tony Awards in New York on June 12, 2022.

Why did the cherubim on the Ark of the Covenant face the walls?

Cherubim appear in many biblical passages. The texts do not explicitly define them. Were they real or just imaginary? What we find in the Bible is not so much what they are but what they do.

 Decalogue, Lions, and Large Crown 1882, featuring Cherubim on the Ark’s cover.

Sukkot: Lulav unity and sukkah unity

Despite the obvious hierarchy among the four elements, they are all included in one arrangement, thereby modeling the ideal of an inclusive society.

 LOVELY BOUQUET: Inspecting lulavim at Jerusalem’s Four Species market.

What does the Bible, Judaism think of kings and queens?

Written in memory of Queen Elizabeth II, a leader with integrity who put responsibility before everything else and under whose reign the Jewish communities of the Commonwealth enjoyed freedom.

 What does the Bible say about monarchy? Do we need a king or queen now, according to Jewish law? (Illustrative).