
Course
Why Do Jews Do That?
Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik explores the rhythms and rituals of Jewish life through the remarkable paintings of Moritz Daniel Oppenheim.
By Rabbi Meir SoloveichikEpisode 201·10-Minute Mitzvah
A Talmudic tale teaches that all of God's creations can play a holy role.
Lesson 12·Sacred Time: The Jewish Holidays
Why do we still mourn ancient Jerusalem’s destruction when we have so much to celebrate today?
Essay
The state of Israel reminds us that the Jewish story is anything but normal.
Lesson 5·Jews and the Civil War
General Grant gave an order expelling Jews from large parts of America, but Jews still mourned him. Why?
Rabbi Soloveichik explores the history and hidden depths of Jewish ritual through the extraordinary art of Moritz Daniel Oppenheim. Oppenheim brought Jewish ritual to life as no other modern artist has. In this course, Rabbi Soloveichik will study his paintings to uncover the spiritual meaning, historical context, and enduring relevance of the Jewish practices and people he depicts.
In his teaching and writing, Rabbi Soloveichik frequently draws on the full range of popular culture, including enduring television shows and films. He does this both because of his great love for humor and dramatic storytelling, and because of his belief that stories depicted on screen can provide powerful examples of faith, leadership, perseverance, and more.
Great lessons can be learned from books of every kind, and in Rabbi Soloveichik’s view, a great many Jewish lessons can be found in works that, on their surface, have little relation to Judaism at all. In this series, he’ll introduce subscribers to eight of his own favorite modern books, placing a special focus on those works that most impacted him and his worldview.
June 25, 2025
The Jewish state is a vital embodiment of Jewish self-determination and self-defense, but it is also a reflection of the fact that the Jewish story is anything but normal.
May 18, 2025
The Pennsylvania senator’s steadfast support for Israel drives his critics crazy—and channels another fascinating figure from American history.
April 22, 2025
Why would a country that has rightly welcomed patriotic immigrants in the past ladle out visas to those who hate it?
June 27, 2025
The war with Iran reveals the providential role of the Jewish people in history.
April 15, 2025
Rabbi Meir Soloveichik speaks with the editor of Sapir, Brett Stephens, about his recent essay: “Jewish Identity vs. Identity Politics.”
January 28, 2025
Rabbi Soloveichik speaks at the 2024 Jewish Leadership Conference.
Unlock the most serious Jewish, Zionist, and American thinking.
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