Hiddur Mitzvah: The Case for Beautiful Ritual Objects
Aesthetically pleasing Judaica enhances holiday celebration.
Samson
He could kill a lion or topple a temple with his bare hands, but succumbed to the love of a treacherous woman: many wild traditions circulated about the first Jewish superhero.
Your Hub for Jewish Education
Discover the latest in Jewish events, podcasts and more at the education hub.
What's New Today
The Jubilee (Yovel) Year
The jubilee year provided for a period of both social equality and ecological recovery.
Explore In Depth
Sign Up for My Jewish Learning’s New Shabbat Newsletter
Welcome to Recharge, a weekly collection of Shabbat readings to refresh your soul. Each Saturday morning we’ll bring you a ...
Sign Up For “There Was None Like Maimonides”: A Look At the Legendary Jewish Thinker
“From Moses to Moses, there arose none like Moses.” So reads the inscription on the gravestone of Rabbi Moses ben ...
Do Jews Believe In…?
Have you ever wondered if Jews believe in miracles? What about Satan? Do Jews believe in evolution? My Jewish Learning’s ...
Next Torah Portion
Summary
In this Torah portion, three guests arrive at Abraham and Sarah’s tent. They inform Abraham that God will give the elderly Sarah a child. The prophesy comes true, and they name their son Isaac. God informs Abraham that Sodom and Gomorrah will be destroyed, though Abraham attempts to convince God otherwise. God tells Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. Abraham obliges but is told that it was a test of faith and offers a ram to sacrifice instead.
Featured Commentary
Parashat Vayera: The Uniqueness of the Binding of Isaac
Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son should be seen as a unique situation never to be repeated.
Videos
What is Jewish Humor?
First and foremost, Jewish humor snickers in the face of authority.
Why Do Jews Put Stones on Graves?
Learn the reasons for this distinctive mourning practice.
Recipes
This Indian Jewish Chicken Dish Is Delightfully Easy to Make
A flavorsome, deceptively simple chicken dinner.
VIDEO: How to Make Bourekas
Bourekas are a Sephardi, and more specifically Turkish, treat coming from the word borek, which means pie.
More From MJL
How to Give a Jewish Eulogy (Hesped)
This speech honoring the deceased is an important ancient Jewish custom.
The Power of Hebrew Chant
Chanting brings the sacred phrases of Jewish tradition alive.
Did God Write the Torah — and Does it Matter?
For many Jews, the Torah's authority does not derive from being a divine document.
Jonah
A story about prophecy and repentance—but not in the way you think.