This past week witnessed two events that brought the Talmud into central focus, one positive, the other negative. First, we have the positive, which involved the first publication of an English translation and commentary of the first volume of the Talmud in the Land of Israel. more

This year we are witnessing the publication of several new English language commentaries on the Book of Numbers, Bamidbar that will definitely warrant your attention. This essay will be the first in a series on this topic. more

During the New York City mayoral election of 1969, the incumbent mayor, John V. Lindsay, found himself in an electoral jam for re-election. Having just lost … more

The new release, “Esther in America” is divided into seven sections containing 26 essays by scholars, rabbis, communal leaders, and writers who demonstrate how the Book of Esther has … more

Beginning with Shabbos Chazon and until the Shabbos before Rosh Hashana every haftorah comes from the book of Yeshayahu. This column considers a book published by Artscroll in 2009, “Rav … more

By Alan Jay Gerber Issue of August 7, 2009 / 17 Av 5769 Our review this week is of a book by an author named Gil Student. As unlikely a name as this may be, the material contained in his … more

One of Maimonides’ lasting legacies was his attempt to systemize the specifics of Jewish belief. Consisting of thirteen statements, he gave our faith a form wherein we are able to point to specific basic beliefs that go to the core of our faith. The seventh one focuses upon the belief in the role of Moses in our tradition. more

Rabbi Aaron Goldscheider, the author of “The Light That Unites” (OUPress, 2017) authored an interesting essay for the current issue of Yeshiva University’s “Torah To-Go: … more

This week I bring to your attention a newly published volume by the Torah Web Foundation, “Chinuch: Contemporary & Timeless,” which deals with, as its title tell us, education for our … more

I am happy to note and bring your attention to the Mitoch HaOhel series of essays by the staff of Yeshiva University, “From Within the Tent: The Haftarot,” published by Maggid. This … more