Essays on Jewish History

A parable by the Chassidic sage Rabbi Yechezkel Panet illuminates the geography of the Jewish calendar

The creation of rest... Sarah's miraculous Shabbat lamp...Bread from heaven... "Work" defined...The invention of cholent... Sacrifice and martyrdom... Cadlelighting campaign... The world to come...

From the rivalry between Leah and Rachel, through the animosity between Joseph and his brothers, the clash between Saul and David, the split between Judah and Israel, to the dual nature of the messianic redemption—a rift and twinship that extends across history.

The story of Jewish survival is so exceptional and unparalleled that it challenges the imagination. Perhaps we can take our explanation from the great empirical thinkers of our time, the scientists...

Enchanted by the majesty of the moment, my daughter quietly asked, "Will there be a splash when the sun falls into the lake?"

Where did these Jewish mothers find the courage? I don't know because I'm not one of them, but ask your mother and I'm sure she'll gladly tell you. When a need arises, the Jewish mother simply responds.

Did the people of Masada do the right thing? Isn't suicide a violation of the supreme commandment to cherish life? How did Masada become a story of Jewish 'heroism'?

Napoleon of the Czar -- which is better (or less bad?) for the Jews? The debate between Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi and his colleagues on the Napoleonic wars, and the Lubavitvher Rebbe on the French and American revolutions

“Why have they stopped crying?” wondered the villager. “Are they no longer hungry?” Then he remembered the cholent . . .

Rashi did not receive the Torah from G-d at Sinai, nor was he revered as a prophet. Yet 900 years after his passing, we still seek the weekly guidance and inspiration from Rashi’s commentary. What was his secret? And how has the Rebbe revolutionized the study of this ancient work?

Is there any evidence that Jewish thought and philosophy had an influence on the Greeks?

It was in the waning days of King Solomon’s reign when G‑d sent the prophet, Achiyah of Shiloh, to rebuke Solomon and inform him that, due to his sins, G‑d would tear the kingdom away from him . . .

Can we ascertain whether the ten lost tribes are in fact ever going to come back and be reunited with the remaining Jews?

Can you explain why the lifespan of the early generations was incredibly long? According to Genesis, Adam died at age 930, Noah was almost 500 when he started building the ark (not bad!), and Methuselah lived a world record 969 years. So what happened? Why don’t we live that long anymore?