Jewishness; Jewish Identity

What are we? What makes us Jewish? This has been one of the persisting debates about Jewish life ever since the nineteenth century.

If we are a religion, then some Jews are more Jewish, others less Jewish, and many not at all. Perhaps nothing has been as detrimental to the Jewish people as the modern idea that Judaism is a religion.

Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and the essence of Jewish mysticism

The idea that the entire Torah focuses around the theme of one's relationship with other people is quite striking

Commerce was flourishing, and many Jews had made their way to riches. Spiritually, however, there was much to be desired.

Some religious doctrines see marriage as a concession to human weakness. Nothing could be further from Jewish thought . . .

The most sacred—and mysterious—ritual in the Holy Temple was the burning of the ketoret, a specially prepared incense whose ingredients and manner of preparation were commanded to Moses at Sinai. The offering of the ketoret in the “Holy of Holies” by the ...

We first read of Itamar’s role when we are told of sums of gold, silver and other supplies that were used to build and furnish the Mishkan

Thus, Aaron shall enter into the Holy… (16:3) In summer of 1893 the Chabad-Lubavitch community celebrated the bar-mitzvah of their Rebbe's only son, Yosef Yitzchok.Later to serve as Rebbe of Chabad-Lubavitch from 1920 to 1950. Among the many guests who ca...

What a letdown it was for many of us to learn that being clean and sober was not the elixir of love that we sought. Recovery didn't suddenly make us so irresistibly charming and desirable...