Jewish Texts
What Do We Do About Violence in the Torah?
Why do we draw so many conclusions about each other’s religious traditions from small excerpts of text?
A Failed Rebellion
This biblical power structure — and struggle — in Korach may offend our democratic sensibilities.
An Angel is Born
Chazak, chazak, v’nitchazek! Let’s be strong, and strengthen one another!
Our Sages Were Wrong
I want my child to know that his choices matter. They have consequences.
Who is Worthy to Lead: The Torah of Modern Politics
This week’s Torah portion (Yitro) offers a key lesson for today’s politics. It comes just before the fateful Ten Commandments ...
They Warned Me About This in Hebrew School
If my Facebook feed is any indication, there’s quite a bit of discontent these days with many recent political decisions. ...
How to Be a “Player” in Jewish Life
What does it take to be a “player” in Jewish life? No, not that kind of “player.” I mean, what ...
Celebrating Our Daughters: From Simchat Bat to Bat Mitzvah
I had been thinking about my eldest daughter’s bat mitzvah for a long time. We belong to a Modern Orthodox ...
Reconciliation Within the Family and Beyond the Family
The Book of Genesis is nothing if not a story of dysfunctional families.Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Hagar, Sarah ...
How a Baby is Made
How is a baby made? More specifically, what determines the future characteristics of the child? One answer emerges from the ...
Is Schadenfreude a Jewish Value?
My one-week vacation in the United States was a breath of fresh air. A whole week of conversations with family, ...