American Jews

Basketball and the Jews

A street game goes professional.

Shehechiyanu: A Meditation on this Moment

This blessing, traditionally recited for firsts, can be said anytime — since every moment is new and unprecedented.

The 10 Best Yiddish Words You’ve Never Heard Of

These Yiddish terms aren’t widely known, but they’re a lot of fun to use.

Lower East Side Breakfast Tart Recipe

A breakfast tart inspired by brunch at Russ & Daughters.

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Next Torah Portion

Summary

In this Torah portion, Moses sends 12 spies to explore the Land of Israel. Ten of them convince the people that it will be too difficult to conquer the land. God responds to their lack of confidence by punishing them with 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. God commands the Israelites to put fringes on the ends of their clothing.

FULL SUMMARY
HAFTARAH SUMMARY

Parashat Sh’lach

Numbers 13:1-15:41

Joshua 2:1-24

The Perils of Groupthink

The story of the spies offers an object lesson in the importance of diversity — and the danger of homogeneity.

Daf Yomi

A global project of Talmud study, Daf Yomi covers the entire 2,711 pages of the Talmud in 7.5 years of daily study. Click below to join by signing up for our Daily Dose of Talmud newsletter and to see our most recent Daf Yomi essays.

Chullin 41

The last several mishnahs in our chapter have explained that slaughtering an animal for idolatry invalidates the slaughter. A mishnah …

Chullin 40

In the name of Michael.

Chullin 39

Best frenemies.

a year of zohar

A series of seasonal essays exploring Judaism’s most important mystical text.

What Makes Moses Different?

Reflections from the Zohar on Parashat Beha’alotcha.

A Good Eye

Reflections from the Zohar on the Priestly Blessing.

Deafening Stillness

Biblical revelation is overwhelmingly loud, yet the Zohar ultimately reframes revelation as silence.


FEATURED ON MY JEWISH LEARNING

Jewish Vacations: The Catskills

A mid-20th-century haven for Jews trying to get away from it all.

Summery Syrian Tabbouleh Recipe

Bazargan is the fresh summer salad you’ve been looking for.

How Summer Camp Became A Jewish Thing

A history of this iconic institution in American Jewish life.

Ask the Expert: Why Aramaic Marriage Contracts?

It’s precisely the opposite reason for why they were written in Aramaic in ancient times.

Neveila and Treifa: A Quick Guide

Two terms that refer to animals from a kosher species that are nonetheless forbidden.


Recharge Now

Our weekly Shabbat newsletter, Recharge, features a thoughtful, timely essay to enrich your Shabbat.

The Wisdom of the Crow

In Jewish stories and in nature, there’s a lot to learn from this humble bird.

Sometimes, God Is Also Lonely

In this Hasidic teaching, humans are incomplete without the divine — and vice versa.

What Jonathan and David Can Teach Us About Male Friendship

Meet the Biblical hero who eschewed social comparison.

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