Articles

The God of Descartes and Newton Religion, science, and the myth of the struggle between them – a conversation with Prof. Yemima Ben-Menahem By Noa Sorek

Parashat Chayei Sarah: The Plot Hole The banished Ishmael’s return to bury his father Abraham is explained by a VII century midrash: a story of reconciliation that offers hope for peace between the descendants of Isaac and Ishmael today By Lior Tal Sadeh

The Jewish Question The question of the relationship between religion and nationhood has accompanied the people of Israel throughout the generations – from the Bible to the conflicts surrounding Zionism in the modern era. Dr. Assaf Malach returned to the roots of the question and to the multiplicity of voices within Judaism itself By Noa Sorek

Laughing off Disaster Professor David G. Roskies argues that Sholem Aleichem’s fictional Kasrilevka mirrors modern Israel’s struggles – from the Dreyfus Affair paralleling the hostage crisis to exploring resilience amid existential threat. Sholem Aleichem’s tragicomic vision remains urgently relevant By Gilad Halpern

Parashat Vayera: Abraham the Humanist vs. Abraham the Binder Parashat Vayera shows us an Abraham who argues with God to save strangers in Sodom, and an Abraham who silently binds his son Isaac on an altar. What do we do with this contradiction? And which Abraham do we choose to emulate? By Lior Tal Sadeh

Star of Redemption Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song,” which became a global anthem of freedom and hope, found its way to Kabbalat Shabbat services at Beit Avi Chai. Noa Sorek explores how this happened By Noa Sorek

Parashat Lech-Lecha Hillel Zeitlin’s radical reading of Lech Lecha transforms Abram’s journey into a call for spiritual liberation – from blind patriotism, tribal nationalism, and social conformity. But can we free ourselves from these attachments without losing our identity entirely? By Lior Tal Sadeh

The Story of Words Every Hebrew word is a time capsule. Etymologist Elon Gilad reveals how borrowed terms and linguistic innovations transformed an ancient liturgical language into modern Israel’s living, evolving tongue By Alex Stein

The Woman Behind the Shadow – Rachel Katznelson-Shazar Alongside being the wife of Zalman Shazar, Rachel Katznelson-Shazar was a pioneer, feminist, and visionary who championed women’s role in agriculture and founded Dvar HaPo’elet. Five decades after her death, her legacy deserves the spotlight By Noa Sorek

Parashat Noah: A Dove with an Olive Leaf In Parashat Noah, a dove returns from the flooded earth with an olive leaf – a sign of hope and renewal. But the Torah teaches us something deeper: Noah had to extend his hand to help the dove back into the ark. Drawing on Picasso’s iconic imagery, and an Israeli song born from conflict, we explore what it means to actively create peace in our broken world By Lior Tal Sadeh

Yehuda Atlas: The Child Who Is All of Us Yehuda Atlas changed Hebrew children’s literature by doing something radical: refusing to lie about childhood. His formula was simple: short, simple, honest By BAC Staff

The Fragile Nature of Civilizations From the Old City of Jerusalem to the remote ruins of Nitzana, Prof. Yana Tchekhanovets follows the echoes of transition, revealing how communities adapt, transform, and ultimately vanish in the face of history’s upheavals By Gilad Halpern

Parashat Bereshit: Two Great Lights Can two kings serve with one crown? An ancient story about the sun and moon challenges our assumptions about power, hierarchy, and leadership By Lior Tal Sadeh

On the Threshold of Endings and Beginnings Hoshana Rabbah is one of the most mystical and fascinating days of the Jewish year. With its striking rituals, it carries echoes of ancient Temple rites and the secrets of Kabbalah. In this conversation, Kabbalah scholar Dr. Melila Hellner-Eshed reveals the layers of meaning behind “the day of the final judgment” and explores why thresholds, transitions, and the hope for life make Hoshana Rabbah so unique By Noa Sorek

Parashat Vayelech: The Art of Letting Go Moses faced every leader’s ultimate test: stepping down gracefully. He chose radical honesty about his limitations, prepared his successor, and created institutions that outlasted empires, transforming potential failure into enduring legacy By Lior Tal Sadeh