textual interpretation

Love the Other as Yourself: Religious texts and peacemaking

Posted on September 28, 2016September 26, 2016 by Eli Lieberman

Pope Francis recently denounced the use of religion to justify war, in comments addressed to faith leaders and victims of the conflicts in the Middle East, who are assembled for this year’s World Da... Read More

“You shall destroy all the peoples”: Does the Bible advocate genocide?

Posted on August 2, 2013August 1, 2013 by Sarah Fein

In the parsha for last week, Parashat Eikev, Moses instructs the Israelites on how to enter the land of Israel. The general idea is that if the Israelites observe God’s commandments, they will be re... Read More

The Presence and Absence of Women: Reflections Upon The Rape of Dinah

Posted on December 3, 2012December 2, 2012 by Lauren Tuchman

In this week’s parsha, Parashat Vayishlach, we read one of the Torah’s most difficult and upsetting narratives—the rape of Dinah, the only daughter born to Jacob and Leah, by Shechem, the son of... Read More