Podcasts

The writings of the Roman historian Tacitus provide literary insight into a Talmudic tale.

Two Centuries of Rebellion

A classic painting omits a vital detail of the biblical scene it recreates.

The Northern Renaissance may be infused with the same spirit as the Italian Renaissance, but it manifested in uniquely northern European ways.

The Temple is a place for Israelites to live out their covenantal bond with God and a site for all peoples to gather in prayer. 

There are multiple translations of the sh'ma, but each one expresses a fundamental truth.

The stark difference in the ways Jews and Romans entertain themselves provides insights into the values of each culture.

What is the connection between the prohibition against envy and honoring one's father and mother?

The commandment to sacrifice the best of the flock is a reminder of the fragility of life and the grace of God.

How the laws of sacrifices reveal what's possible—and what's not—in creating holiness on Earth.

Republicans remain staunchly pro-Israel, despite their social-media eccentrics

The prohibition of exchanging an animal designated as a sacrifice for a different creature reveals the true nature of value in the eyes of God.

Modern politics cannot be fully understood without Machiavelli.

Field workers are permitted to eat crops while laboring, but they're forbidden from gathering food for later consumption. Why?

A painting of a Jewish cemetery captures both the sorrow that comes from death and the endurance of those who maintain the memory of the deceased.

Allowing one's workers to eat from the fields while they labor reminds employers to see the blessing of God in their harvest.

Examining the ideological roots of Islamism with Hussein Aboubakr Mansour, Bernard Haykel, and Ze'ev Maghen.

Despite the popularity of the phrase "neither a borrower nor a lender be," the Bible sees great value in providing a loan to one's fellow. Why?

The biblical emphasis on prohibiting the mixing of grape seeds with other crops highlights the fruit's special role in Jewish tradition.

The notion of human dignity takes center stage as humanism comes to the fore with Petrarch and Pico.