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Lech-Lecha: In Praise of Holy Discomfort

A lesson in the role of discomfort in fomenting social change.

Parashat Noach: How Societies Collapse

The story of the flood is an object lesson in the kinds of crimes that pose existential social threats.

Parashat Bereshit: Being Like God

The banishing of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden marks the beginning of humanity’s path to fulfilling its destiny.

God is Suffering

A close read of four biblical verses offers a powerful insight into one of the most challenging questions religion has to answer.

Will the Real Esther Please Stand Up?

The heroine of the Purim story is portrayed in contradictory ways in the biblical book that bears her name.

Monsters, Demons, and Other Mythical Creatures in Jewish Lore

There are more of these fantastic Jewish creatures than you might think.

Jonah: The Apathetic Prophet

The real message of the story we read on Yom Kippur isn't about the power of repentance, but about taking responsibility for others.

Ecclesiastes and the Quest for Truth

Approaching this enigmatic work as a statement of philosophy -- rather than an account of one man's search -- has confounded commentators across the centuries.

10 Yiddish Words That Went Mainstream

Even as fewer American Jews spoke Yiddish at home, various Yiddish words and phrases were adopted into the American lexicon.

Zachor: Why Jewish Memory Matters

The Jewish past is not merely remembered, but continuously re-enacted.

Nehama Leibowitz: The Paradigm of a Torah Teacher

A woman who gained accomplished rabbis as her students, Leibowitz is considered among the great Torah scholars of the 20th century.

7 Classic Christmas Songs Written By Jews

From 'White Christmas' to 'Winter Wonderland,' some of the most famous songs of the season are by members of the Tribe.

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