Content on History
Torah Isn’t (Just) What We Teach
There are truly no “beginnings” or “endings” in life; we simply take the next step on the journey.
Courage Ometz Lev — Heart of Fire
In the Tanach, courage is typically referred to as “ometz lev,” a strong heart, or brave heart, or my personal favorite, a heart on fire.
How Faith and Science United to Stop a Deadly Epidemic
Health and faith – the twain did meet at the Broad St. pump.
The Egyptian Priests’ Power Paradox
Power is crucial in our lives and in our society.
Preservation Over Innovation
Building on what exists, improving on the margins, and testing to see how policies create unintended consequences are all essential for innovation and progress.
More Than a Pot of Chicken Soup: Traditional Jewish Folk Medicine
How have Jewish people traditionally used plants and folk remedies, and do any of them hold up today?
Solving Problems Upstream
So much of the work that truly makes our world more just and peaceful (even if it is not yet perfect) is work that is under-appreciated, under-celebrated, and under-noticed.
How We Write Our History Shapes How We Think About the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
What you choose to include or exclude from your retelling of the region’s history determines your understanding of the more recent Israeli and Palestinian conflict.
The Archaeological Pendulum
The archaeological record is strewn with lost opportunities for clarity, but we continue to dig, consider and wonder.
Ethics of the Past, Present, and Future: The Dangerous History of Eugenics
How do we evaluate the legacies of useful discoveries made through morally reprehensible science?
The Archaeology of “Daily Life” in the Torah
How can details and discoveries from archaeology help illuminate day-to-day life as described in the Torah?