Religion

Parashat Shlah: The absolute truth

When fear overrides faith, even truth becomes distorted; this is the lesson of the spies in the desert.

|ByRABBI SHMUEL RABINOWITZ
Truth
Israelis attend a protest march against the decision of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to fire head of Shin Bat Ronen Bar, at the entrance to Jerusalem, March 19, 2025.

Israel’s biggest threats demand unity, not partisan warfare - opinion

Israelis must decide whether politics exists to strengthen the country – or whether the country itself will surrender its fate to partisan warfare.

|ByRAFAEL CASTRO
Brit milah ceremony 311

The real threat behind Europe’s crackdown on brit milah - opinion

As Europe scrutinizes brit milah, Jewish communities must defend religious freedom without surrendering tradition.

|ByHAYIM LEITER
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators carry a banner during a protest against the arrival of an Israeli cruise ship in the port of Piraeus near Athens, Greece, June 12, 2025.

Europe’s Israel policy, the search for a unifying narrative - opinion

Growing pressure on Israel reflects Europe’s search for cohesion in an era of political and cultural division.

|ByGOL KALEV

Iran: You are so not invited to my sons’ bar mitzvah

Twin bnei mitzvah, Persian palace dreams, and Iranian missiles lead to an unforgettable Shabbat Zachor.

MARCH 7, 2026ByJUDITH SEGALOFF
Bar Mitzvah boys the day before all the excitement begins.

From Shushan to Tehran: Purim’s story repeats itself - opinion

Again and again, the pattern returns: a decree of destruction, a sudden fall, a people still standing.

MARCH 7, 2026ByJONATHAN LIEBERMAN
People celebrate Purim in Mea Shearim, Jerusalem.

In the kitchen with Henny: Easy Purim, Passover dinners using what’s already in your kitchen

From Purim treats to Passover prep, turn leftovers and pantry staples into nourishing, stress-free dinners.

MARCH 7, 2026ByHENNY SHOR
Henny Shor

Echoes of Egypt: Haggadah that brings ancient Egypt to your seder

Experience a Haggadah that brings 3,000 years of Egyptian imagery to life.

MARCH 7, 2026ByMICHAEL BERNSTEIN
Close-up of the Merenptah Stele, mentioning Israel on line 27.

Shabbat under fire: Navigating Jewish law, missile alerts in Israel during war - opinion

Jerusalem residents faced a Shabbat like no other amid incoming missiles from Iran.

MARCH 7, 2026ByBRIAN BLUM
Smartphone shows a missile alert, in Mishmar David, Feb. 28.

Parashat Ki Tisa: Fear and the choice of courage

From the golden calf to today, fear tests us, but faith and courage show the way forward.

MARCH 6, 2026ByMOSHE TARAGIN
Taking cover in Tel Aviv, March 1.

Parashat Ki Tisa: Sin of the golden calf and the test of patience

Impatience at Sinai led to the golden calf, teaching that true faith and redemption demand patience, not glittering shortcuts.

MARCH 6, 2026ByRABBI SHMUEL RABINOWITZ
Impatience has led to many people losing their own private Garden of Eden.

Purim 2026: The hidden miracle of Jewish survival across generations - opinion

Purim reminds us that Jewish continuity is a miracle, sustained by belief, identity, and unwavering strength.

MARCH 3, 2026ByMENACHEM SPIEGEL
19th-century Megillat Esther linked to Gaza's Jewish community up for auction in Jerusalem.

The Book of Esther: How letters preserved Jewish identity across empires and exile - opinion

How the Book of Esther uses letters to safeguard Jewish identity and language during exile and empire.

MARCH 3, 2026ByMOSHE TARAGIN
Reading ‘Megillat Esther’ in Safed: Hebrew returned because the people it spoke for had returned.

Purim 2026: Celebrating with faith, fun, and resilience through the years

From childhood groggers to Israel today, Purim reminds us of courage, joy, and the enduring fight against life’s Hamans.

MARCH 3, 2026ByDAVID GEFFEN
Purim.