May 27, 2024

A Few Good Brothers

With his return to reserve duty on the Gaza front, Rabbi Avraham Stav offers another dispatch: How does an I.D.F. soldier’s commitment to his comrades form a covenant through which he fulfills his duty to God and nation as well?
May 23, 2024

Unpacking the Iggerot: Pups in the Pews

Who let the dogs in? (Into shul, that is.) When a blind person attends services with a service dog it opens up a Pandora’s box for how R. Feinstein and his contemporaries should address the growing ubiquity of support and service animals within the synagogue—and our tradition. Moshe Kurtz considers pups in the pews in this next installment of “Unpacking the Iggerot.”
May 22, 2024

Rav Avraham Elya Kaplan and the Fear of Heaven

Rav Avraham Eliyahu Kaplan achieved much in a short lifespan: creative talmid hakham, scholar, poet, pedagogue, inspiring persona, musar giant. His 100th yahrzeit will be marked tomorrow—15 Iyyar (May 23)—and beckons us to honor his life and teachings and to elevate and inspire us to push beyond our own boundaries. Read Hillel Goldberg’s presentation of R. Kaplan’s musar teaching in the TRADITION Archive.
May 20, 2024

REVIEW: Faith and History

Decades after R. Eliezer Berkovits passed away, a new anthology of his essays, ranging from Jewish prayer to life in America and Israel, reminds us of the ongoing relevance of this important theologian and educator. In his review of “Faith and History,” David Curwin examines Berkovits in his historical context, and compares his views with those of his contemporaries. Given the numerous contemporary crises confronting the Jewish community, this collection proves timely and insightful.