Torah

Beyond the headlines: Taking care of yourself

A weekly glimpse into the Israel you won’t read about in the news.

 An illustrative AI-generated image of a Torah scroll opened in an undisclosed location in outer space.
 Rabbi Jeffrey Fox, left, teaches a class in Jewish law at Maharat, the first yeshiva to ordain women to serve as Orthodox clergy.

Two congregations, two opinions as Torahs hit the floor at separate NYC services

'Israel stands as a rare example of a nation unashamed of its identity as an ethnic state – a country with a story.'

A nation and a story: Israel claims its destiny without shame - opinion

Zion’s foundations will be laid with sapphires, we are reassured.

Parashat Re'eh: Divine consolation, both intimate and universal


Parashat Re'eh: The gift of mercy

This is our ancestral heritage, passed down through the generations, and rooted so deeply that it is part of our very nature.

COMPASSION & MERCY: Haredi soldiers from the IDF Hasmonean Brigade take part in a beret march after completing seven months of basic and advanced training, at the Western Wall, Aug. 6.

Parshat Re’eh: Being engaged to God

We, the Jewish people, will find the courage to move beyond engagement, to build our home with God in Jerusalem, and to begin a new chapter in our ancient story.

PREPARING TO break the glass during a wedding ceremony: It represents a leap of faith; only once the glass is shattered can the covenant be sealed, the writer posits.

Grapevine, August 22, 2025: Brains betrayed...

Movers and shakers in Israeli society.

MK Tally Gotliv seen during a court hearing of Yonatan Urich, at the court in Lod, August 19, 2025

Nation of soldiers or Jewish nation? Why Israel must not erase its soul - opinion

The Talmud itself debates the balance between military defense and spiritual commitment. But what we are seeing today is not a debate; it is an attempt to erase the Torah’s role in Israel’s future. 

 ‘THE HAREDI leadership argues that it is forbidden to draft yeshiva students whose Torah is their profession and that they defend the State of Israel through their studies.’

Aliyah should not be motivated by antisemitism, alarmism - opinion

The ideal aliyah is not one made out of fear, but rather out of love and longing.

NEW IMMIGRANTS from France arrive at Ben-Gurion Airport in June. Instead of fearmongering, we should be encouraging an aliyah of ideals and idealism, the writer maintains.

A moment for celebration: 105 years young

Beyond the Headlines: A weekly glimpse into the Israel you won’t read about in the news

Renee Binstock with her sons

Memory is our anchor in the unfolding saga of the Jewish people - opinion

Memory is essential – it deepens our experience and helps build our shared identity. In Israel, it is even more vital, reminding us that we are part of a larger, unfolding saga.

COLLECTIVE MEMORY: Lasting glue

Shema Yisrael: The importance of listening and learning in the darkness

To hear – even in the dark. To listen – when we feel silenced. To act – when it would be easier to despair. To love – when hate seems louder. To believe – even now.

‘SHEMA’ MEANS to hear, to listen, to pay attention, to understand, to internalize, to respond, to obey.

Your Investments: Should love of Israel translate into investments? 

We know the importance of loving the Land of Israel, but should that translate into actually investing your money in the Holy Land?

 An areal view of the beaches and city skyline in Tel Aviv, on February 19, 2018.

Parashat Va’ethanan: ‘This good mountain’

What is this “good mountain” Moses refers to, and what is “the Lebanon”?

An ilustrative image of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

From survival to simcha: Rebuilding after destruction - opinion

Beyond the Headlines: A weekly glimpse into the Israel you won’t read about in the news

Nachman and Daniella Dahan under the chuppah.