You can also browse by author, browse by source, or search.

Of Rabbis and Maccabees

The rabbis never deny the necessity of self-defense.  So, why does the Talmud’s discussion of Hanukkah downplay the military exploits of the Maccabees?Dr. Atomic

Ray Monk’s new biography of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the “father of the atomic bomb,” is the first to cover all aspects of his life—including his German-Jewish background.What Crisis of Zionism?

For American Jews under 35, the decline in attachment to Israel seems to be reversing itself—but not the decline in trust toward Israel’s government.Not So Fast

Now that the dust has cleared after the Palestinians’ recent UN status upgrade, it is clear that they remain in no position, politically or morally, to declare statehood.How We Freed Soviet Jewry

Twenty-five years after 250,000 Americans gathered in Washington to demand freedom for the refuseniks, participants reflect on how momentous their march turned out to be.  (Oral history)Rain Check

The date on which we begin praying for rain is based on Iraqi agricultural cycles and a calendar mistake.  But it’s not likely to change before the Messiah comes.Jewish Jocks

A new collection of essays about 50 Jewish sports stars tries to show that Jews have made a considerable contribution to American athletics.  But does it protest too much?Brubeck’s Jewish Music

Dave Brubeck, who died this week, was not Jewish.  But through his jazz, he played an important role in healing the rift between Jews and African Americans. (Interview by Howard Reich)Proving Religious People Aren’t Crazy

In The God Problem, sociologist Robert Wuthnow defends believers against charges of irrationality.  The fact that he needs to do so is a sign of the times.Cooking the Culture

A new food culture has emerged in Jerusalem, celebrating not authenticity but new taste syntheses.  Would that the same were true of the city’s politics.