Torah

Elections are over: The hard part comes when the ballots are counted the cameras are gone

By the time we read this week’s haftarah, Israelis will have gone to the polls to elect a new Knesset. After months of political arguments, accusations, and promises, the votes will have been cast.

The harder part comes when the ballots are counted the cameras are gone.
‘BRINGING BACK the optimism: Women are going out to vote, Oct. 27!’ reads a sign at a Tel Aviv park.

Parashat Vayera: What a vote cannot decide

The image shows a clear glass photography sphere (or lensball) placed on a wooden bridge, refracting an inverted view of the trees and sky.

Parashat Vayera: Bridging heaven and earth

 THE KNESSET marks its 75th birthday

Brothers before the ballot - opinion


Rosh Hashanah 2026: The Jewish people must answer the shofar’s call to unity - opinion

In a year marked by antisemitism and uncertainty, the Jewish community has shown the strength that comes from standing together as one people.

 An illustrative photo of a man blowing a shofar, a ceremonial ram's horn, which is done repeatedly on Rosh Hashanah.

From Saul's failure to David's reckoning, 'Human Kingship' examines the dangers of power - review

Rabbi David Silber's Human Kingship rereads the Book of Samuel to ask what restrains a ruler when no tribunal can remove him, and whether justice can survive unchecked power.

KING DAVID, a detail of the early 16th-century marble statue by Michelangelo,   kept at the Galleria dell’Accademia in Florence, Italy.

‘You are standing today’: A Jewish lesson for America, 25 years after 9/11

As we approach the 25th anniversary of that terrible day, this week’s haftarah (Isaiah 61:10-63:9) offers a powerful perspective on destruction, rebuilding, and memory.

 THE TWIN Towers burn

Israel after Oct. 7: What Moses teaches us about survival and responsibility

As Israel emerges from three years of war, Moshe’s ancient message offers a powerful reminder: surviving tragedy is only the beginning. We must also decide what we stand for.

WOMEN STAND in prayer at the Kotel.

Parashat Nitzavim: Why we are all responsible for one another

In a world increasingly focused on personal success, Parashat Nitzavim reminds us that no one stands alone. Our fate is bound together, and we are responsible for one another.

MUTUAL RESPONSIBILITY: Young Israelis who completed military service help farmers like Giora Isar from Moshav Maaleh Gamla at the height of the mango-picking season, near the Sea of Galilee, Aug. 4.

From midrasha to the IDF: A journey toward serving Israel - opinion

For religious young women, a year of learning and volunteering in Israel can become a foundation for meaningful army service.

 Over 300 lone soldiers join the IDF through Garin Tzabar Scouts program.

Parashat Ki Tavo: The finest generation

Elul's call to confession requires more than admitting failure. Authentic teshuva also means recognizing personal growth and the courage, sacrifice, and resilience of this generation.

HONEST ACCOUNTING cannot be selective

Parashat Ki Tavo: The power of joy

Parashat Ki Tavo teaches that joy is not a luxury but a religious obligation, revealed through gratitude, generosity and serving God with a sincere and joyful heart.

REJOICING UPON the release of Hamas hostage Bar Kupershtein, Nov. 2, 2025.

Beyond the Headlines: Yehuda Katz, whose remains returned from Lebanon after 44 years, and us

A weekly glimpse into the Israel you won’t read about in the news.

Yehuda Katz.

Haftarat Ki Tetze: When others destroy, Jews rebuild and make things greater

Jerusalem has endured exile and loss, but Isaiah tells her not to look only at what has been destroyed. She must look ahead to what will be rebuilt.

Jewish worshippers and visitors gather at the Western Wall in Jerusalem a day before the eve of Tisha B’Av, July 21, 2026.