How to Save the Universities
They must cultivate freedom, but are especially ill-suited to the task.
December 7, 2023
The History, Symbolism, and Meaning of the Menorah
And the origins of myths about it.
This evening the festival of Hanukkah begins—a timely celebration of a Jewish military victory in the 2nd century BCE. The menorah, the object most associated with the holiday, is also one of the most ancient of Jewish symbols. In conversation with Nachi Weinstein, Steven Fine explains the history of the menorah in Jewish art, its etymology, the origins of the longstanding (and thoroughly debunked) myth that the Second Temple menorah is in the Vatican, and the debate over whether a menorah’s branches should be diagonal (as claimed by the late rebbe of Lubavitch) or curved. (Audio, 75 minutes.)
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Login or SubscribeDecember 7, 2023
Qatar Is One of Gaza’s Problems. The U.S. Must Stop Treating It Like Part of the Solution
“A bit like thanking the thug who punched you in eye for bringing you an ice pack.”
Debunking Hamas’s Casualty Statistics
Not adding up.
The History, Symbolism, and Meaning of the Menorah
And the origins of myths about it.
Sandra Day O’Connor’s Defense of Religious Freedom, and Its Limits
A consistent vote for letting state funds go to religious schools.