Bible
Neologism and NationalismThursday, August 30, 2012 by Alex Joffe | Jewish Ideas Daily » Daily Features
There has never been agreement about Zionism. Not only is the idea of Jewish nationalism controversial, the very word “Zionism” arouses unique passions, as a recent controversy highlights.
Sin, Sin, SinWednesday, August 29, 2012 by Lawrence Grossman | Jewish Ideas Daily » Daily Features
In the current Hebrew month of repentance, it’s hard not to notice that we live in a culture that takes sin far less seriously than it used to. The formula “mistakes were made” has largely replaced the admission of personal responsibility.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012 by Torah Talk with Michael Carasik | Jewish Ideas Daily » Weekly Portions
We'll trace the blessings and the curses through Deuteronomy and across the river. (Click here for source sheet.) Download | Duration: 00:11:02Ekev: The Turning Point
Wednesday, August 8, 2012 by Torah Talk with Michael Carasik | Jewish Ideas Daily » Weekly Portions
"If" the Israelites obey the Lord, they will be blessed (of course). But this week's unusual word for "if"—ekev—signals something more. (Click here for source sheet.) Download | Duration: 00:11:46
The Daily Page: A “Siyum”-posiumThursday, August 2, 2012 by Jacob J. Schacter, Yoel Finkelman, Michael Carasik, Tzvi H. Weinreb, Devora Steinmetz, Moshe Sokolow, Yehudah Mirsky, Mark Gottlieb, David Glasner, Aryeh Tepper, Marc B. Shapiro, Gil Student, Emanuel Feldman, Alon Shalev, Viva Hammer, Shlomo Zuckier, and Saul J. Berman | Jewish Ideas Daily » Daily Features
UPDATE: New posts as of 8/3/12, 1:11 a.m.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012 by Torah Talk with Michael Carasik | Jewish Ideas Daily » Weekly Portions
Two strange words are used this week to describe what the Midianites did to the Israelites. We'll talk about what they are and why they are here. (Click here for source sheet.) Download | Duration: 00:10:38Balak: Abraham and Balaam
Tuesday, July 3, 2012 by Torah Talk with Michael Carasik | Jewish Ideas Daily » Weekly Portions
Two biblical figures both saddle their own animals to get on with their task—and that's not the only thing they have in common. (Click here for source sheet.) Download | Duration: 00:11:06
Disturbing the UniverseWednesday, June 27, 2012 by Daniel C. Matt | Jewish Ideas Daily » Daily Features
Today, in an exclusive preview from the new issue of the Jewish Review of Books, preeminent Kabbalah scholar Daniel Matt steps away from his Zohar translation for the first time in years to review Lawrence Krauss's New Atheist account of the Big Bang and Alan Lightman's quirky novel about creation. Special to Jewish Ideas Daily readers: Click here to receive a free copy of the whole summer issue!
The Tenth Commandment and ThoughtcrimeTuesday, May 29, 2012 by Yehudah Mirsky | Jewish Ideas Daily » Daily Features
The Ten Commandments lay out a blueprint for relations, first, between God and Israel and then, between God and humanity; the Shabbat serves as the hinge between the two.
Shavuot: The Stopping PointFriday, May 25, 2012 by Michael Carasik | Jewish Ideas Daily » Daily Features
There is always something going on in the Jewish festival calendar. From the fast of the 10th of Tevet through Hanukkah right around to the next fast of the 10th of Tevet on December 23rd, it's hard to go more than four or five weeks in a row without finding some special day to be observed.
Editors' Picks
Flow of History Harold Brodsky, H-Net. While the Jordan River was agriculturally useless until the modern day, it has been politically and spiritually significant for millennia.
Reform Has Mandate to Change Rick Jacobs, Presidential Installation Sermon, Union for Reform Judaism. "Come survive with us" is hardly an inspiring call to Jewish commitment. We can do better.
Fleshpots and Ice Cream Pints Elli Fischer, Times of Israel. From olim, one hears an American—or is it an atavistic?—yearning for quality and convenience.
Studying Bible with Bibi Herb Keinon, Jerusalem Post. This past Wednesday, while the world powers engaged in talks with the Iranians, and Israel was rocked by protests about immigration, Prime Minister Netanyahu sat down to contemplate the book of Ruth.
Deeds of the Fathers David Hartman, Jerusalem Post. Who better exemplifies the contract between God and the Jews: the Abraham willing to sacrifice his son Isaac, or the Abraham empowered by God to argue with Him?
Amid the Alien Corn Jewish Ideas Daily. In one stunning declaration, the young Ruth shattered what had previously been an impermeable barrier of Israelite law, reshaping the law and Jewish history at once.
Homosexuality and Halakhah Michael Gold, MyJewishLearning. What do traditional Jewish sources actually say about homosexuality?
Witnesses to the Bible? Matti Friedman, Times of Israel. Two rare 3,000-year-old models of ancient shrines are among the artifacts claimed by an Israeli archeologist as evidence for the historical veracity of the Bible.
Judaism as Protest Movement Tomer Persico, 7 Minim. From Abraham to Korah's ill-fated faction to the beseeching prophets and doubting sages, Jewish tradition has always fostered protesters and protests—not least against God Himself.
The Frum Jesus Greg Carey, Huffington Post. Jesus seems to have habitually transgressed the Torah, which the New Testament claims he abolished outright. So why do historians conclude that Jesus lived as a Torah-observant Jew?