My Jewish Learning

My Jewish Learning is the leading independent website and digital community for all things Jewish, from Jewish history to text to ritual to prayer to food and much more. We offer a robust website with thousands of articles answering nearly every possible question about Judaism and Jewish life, a daily newsletter guiding subscribers through interesting facts and must-read news about Jewish life and practice, a daily Talmud essay called "A Daily Dose of Talmud," a weekly Shabbat newsletter, dozens of special emails featuring insights into major Jewish topics, and a robust online community through our social media channels. Articles written with the My Jewish Learning byline are authored and edited by our staff. My Jewish Learning's staff includes leading Jewish scholars and journalists. Rachel Scheinerman, who holds a doctorate in Ancient Judaism from Yale University, is My Jewish Learning's Editor, and Ben Harris, a longtime, award-winning journalist covering Jewish topics, is Managing Editor.


Advertisement

Articles by My Jewish Learning

How to Wish Someone Happy Purim

Purim greetings in Hebrew, Yiddish and Ladino.

Do Jews Embalm their Dead?

Embalming contravenes several core Jewish principles around death, but there are rare cases in which it is permitted.

Does Judaism Permit Autopsies?

While there is concern that autopsy violates Jewish norms about treating a corpse with resepect, there are cases in which it is permitted.

Why Do Some Jews Write G-d?

Because the Torah prohibits erasing God's name.

Non-Traditional Uses for Mikveh

How an ancient ritual has been reimagined for a variety of new purposes.

Judaism and Cats

Ancient Jewish sources are ambivalent about cats, seeing them as somewhere between domestic and wild.

Is Halloween Kosher?

Jewish engagement with Halloween varies widely based on personal beliefs, denominational affiliations and community norms.

Do I Wear a Tallit on Yom Kippur?

In general, prayer shawls are only worn during the day. Yom Kippur is an exception.

Garden of Eden

The story of the garden and humanity’s exile from it is foundational to Jewish tradition.

Torah Study For the Dead

Some Jews consider Torah study, and particularly Mishnah, to be a potent tool for elevating the souls of the departed.

Advertisement