Evergreen
The Spiritual Trauma of Taking a Life
How the kosher practice of waiting between meat and dairy reminds us of Moses' discomfort with violence.
Meet the Torah’s Bold Band of Status Quo-Challenging Sisters
In this busy portion, the daughters of Zelophehad succeed in staking claim their father’s land — sort of.
Where the False Claim That Jews Controlled the Slave Trade Comes From
Like many others, Jews participated in the trans-Atlantic slave trade, but they by no means dominated it.
The Call of the Void
The famed red heifer is a key part of a biblical purification process. But why do we need laws to create a system of purity and impurity in the first place?
What Were Pogroms?
Anti-Jewish violence sweeping the Russian Empire in the late 19th century spurred many Jews to emigrate and organize politically.
Known Unknowns
Fearful of what lies ahead, the Israelites wonder if they’d be better off returning to Egypt.
What Is Sinat Chinam, or Baseless Hatred?
For Tisha B'Av, a look at the common explanation for the Temple's demise.
