The coronavirus pandemic raised a series of deep moral and political issues. How far should governments go in seeking to prevent its spread? To what extent should they restrict people’s … more

Many questions have rightly been asked about the story of Balak and Bilam and the would-be curses that turned into blessings. Was Bilam a true man of G-d, or was he a fraud, a magician, a … more

Korach was swallowed up by the ground, but his spirit is still alive and well, and in the unlikeliest of places — British and American universities. Korach was the embodiment of what the … more

In March, while launching a new book, “Morality: Restoring the Common Good in Divided Times,” I took part in a BBC radio program along with Mervyn King, who had been governor of the … more

We were in the midst of basic tank training, enjoying a brief respite from the grueling pace of maneuvers and marches. Uri Faraj was not actually in the armored corps, he was in the armaments … more

T he festival of Shavuot is a mystery wrapped in an enigma. Here is how Shavuot is described and defined in parshat Emor: “From the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of … more

The parsha of Bamidbar is generally read on the Shabbat before Shavuot, z’man matan torateinu, the time of the giving of our law, the revelation at Sinai. The Sages, believing that nothing … more

The book of Vayikra draws to a close by outlining the blessings that will follow if the people are faithful to their covenant with G-d. Then it describes the curses that will befall them if they … more

There is something very strange about the festival of Succot, of which our parsha, Emor, is the primary source. On the one hand, it is the festival supremely associated with joy (“And you … more

Kedoshim contains the two great love commands of the Torah. The first is, “Love your neighbor as yourself. I am the L-rd” (Lev. 19:18). Rabbi Akiva called this “the great … more