Talmud

How Talmudic Legends Found Their Way to “Arabian Nights”

And their translator’s ambivalent attitude toward Jews.

Benjamin Ivry
April 13 2021 12:01AM

Understanding Medieval Rabbis as People, Not Textual Abstractions

Rashi’s reticence and eloquence.

Alan Jotkowitz
April 6 2021 12:01AM

Why Does the Talmud Recommend Using Coins with a Pagan Deity Carved on Them

The Tyre shekel and Heracles-Melqarth.

David Hendin
March 2 2021 12:01AM

A Defense of Reason Rooted in the Talmudic Conception of Law

Realism, shmealism.

Haym Soloveitchik
Jan. 25 2021 12:01AM

Rabbinic Attitudes toward Uncertainty Reveal the Underlying Humanity of Halakhah

And the rabbinic commitment to upholding commercial life.

Zalman Rothschild
Oct. 29 2020 12:01AM

King Solomon, the Lord of the Demons, and the Limits of Virtue Ethics

A bizarre talmudic tale teaches that no man is too wise for the commandments.

Nahum Eliezer Rabinovitch
Oct. 9 2020 12:01AM

No, People Who Disagree with You about Politics Aren’t Idolators Who Must Be Shunned

A rabbinic lesson in civic comity.

Leon Morris and Zvi Hirschfield
Oct. 2 2020 12:01AM

Remains of Ritual Baths and Olive-Oil Presses from the Early Talmudic Era

A virtual tour of Usha.

Anat Harrel
Sept. 14 2020 12:01AM

Biblical Dates Come to Life

Using archaeological seeds to recreate an ancient variety.

Isabel Kershner
Sept. 8 2020 12:01AM

The Ancient History of the Talmud’s Version of Instant, Long-Distance Communication

Fire beacons for the new moon.

Tiffany Earley-Spadoni
Sept. 1 2020 12:01AM

Adin Steinsaltz's Glimpse into the Way That All Jewish Languages Work

Whether it’s Judeo-Arabic, or Judeo-Italian, or Judeo-Spanish, or the Judeo-German better known as Yiddish, they all mix in varying amounts of Hebrew.

Philologos
Aug. 18 2020 12:15AM

The Sage Who Brought the Talmud to the Masses

Adin Steinsaltz, in memoriam.

Edward Alexander
Aug. 10 2020 12:01AM

Lessons in Political Humility from the Talmud’s Tale of the Temple’s Destruction

Rabbi Yoḥanan, COVID-19, and the Arab spring.

Gershon Hacohen
Aug. 6 2020 12:01AM

The Jewish Holiday of Love Is an Antidote for Tribalism, Ancient and Modern

A timely lesson from Tu b’Av.

Stuart Halpern
Aug. 5 2020 12:01AM
More