Not of This World
In writing his first book for young readers, Aharon Appelfeld seems to have split himself and his life story between the two title characters: resourceful Adam, a boy of the land whose knowledge of the forest keeps them safe and fed, and bookish Thomas, a doubter in both faith and his own abilities.
Out-of-Body Experiences: Recent Israeli Science Fiction and Fantasy
The Yarkon is as good a site as any for pondering the relationship between Israel and the imagination.
Shabbtai at Seventy
Stuart Schoffman traded Malibu for Jerusalem, "smack in the middle of the First Intifada."
Strange Miracle
When Vice President Pence spoke in Jerusalem, he was tapping into a long tradition. . .
Strategic Imperatives
In his new book, Charles Freilich examines the question of how future governments ought to cope with Israel's fundamental defense predicaments.
Telling the Whole Truth: Albert Memmi
Albert Memmi began his career as a writer of fiction, but, with the appearance of The Colonizer and the Colonized in 1957, the novelist who wrote like a sociologist became a sociologist who wrote like a novelist.
The Jewish Critic and the Devil’s Point of View
We have never met this Mendele before, but he expects us to trust him, appreciate his wit, catch his references, and share his attitudes. In a few deft lines, the author created a figure so democratic you don’t have to look up to him, so familiar you don’t have to fear him, and so appealing you won’t realize you’re being flogged.
18 Questions with Jeremy Dauber: The Purim Edition
Who ruled the Borscht Belt: Allan Sherman or Lenny Bruce? Jewish comedy expert Jeremy Dauber casts his vote in a humorous interview—just in time for Purim.
The Mortara Affair, Redux
Bologna, 1857: A six-year old is taken from his Jewish family to be raised a Catholic. Why are we still talking about this case? An archbishop responds.
Shababshubap
Black hat chic: Shai Secunda's review of Shababnikim, the new television show about cool yeshiva students.