Rabbi Dr. Stuart Halpern is Associate Provost for Strategic Initiatives at Yeshiva University and Deputy Director of Y.U.’s Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought. His books include the newly released "Jewish Roots of American Liberty," "The Promise of Liberty: A Passover Haggada," "Esther in America," "Gleanings: Reflections on Ruth" and "Proclaim Liberty Throughout the Land: The Hebrew Bible in the United States."
Under the wedding canopy, the bride circles the groom seven times. Why seven — and why even do this at all? And is there wisdom in this tradition that can help engage with Simchat Torah this year?
That highest of holy days, Yom Kippur, is nowadays focused on fasting, prayer, and spiritual introspection. But in ancient times it was actually about a goat sent down to fallen angels.
Jonah has emerged from the depths in the latest brilliantly-rendered modern artistic midrash from Jordan Gorfinkel and Koren Publishers.
The tyrannical monarch had become a model penitent, revealed as a model for all those seeking a second chance.
Whatever Adam and Eve ate from the forbidden tree, it was certainly neither a Fuji nor Granny Smith.
While the role of providence in these politicians’ journeys will no doubt continue to be debated by pundits, it is worth revisiting the model of Moses, whose farewell address in the book of Deuteronomy we’ve been reading in synagogue these past weeks.
Adam Kirsch’s must-read “On Settler Colonialism: Ideology, Violence, and Justice” seeks to understand, and argue against, a morally dangerous framework that has appeared in contexts ranging from climate change to the Israel-Hamas war.
The recent release of the newest season of Amazon’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” is an occasion to revisit one beloved legendary writer’s defense of the Jews amidst the attacks of those seeking our destruction.
The dynamic of the Diaspora will, undoubtedly, continue to be debated until the Messiah comes.
Isaiah’s iteration of the monarchical meme offers three lessons that today’s political observers would be wise to consider.
