Religion

National-religious men overrepresented in IDF reserves as haredim stay absent, IDI analysis finds

National-Religious men were found to have increased in service substantially from the start of the war until 2025, while the participation of secular men decreased the most of any group.

 THE ZIONIST identity didn’t overcome the Jewish identity, nor did the opposite occur: An IDF soldier puts on tefillin.
VISITORS PARTICIPATE in the capital’s Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem march last month. The encouraging implication of the study is that these are factors anyone can strengthen, regardless of whether they are religious, according to the researcher.

Being religious is better for your mental health, Israeli rabbi scientist-led study reveals

A view shows the stone ruins of the fortress at Masada National Park near Arad in April.

‘I’m fine with Jews, just not Zionists’: Time to rip off the anti-Zionist mask - opinion

RABBI ABRAHAM Joshua Heschel presents the Judaism and World Peace Award to Martin Luther King Jr., 1965.

As I turn 80, I hope my life is and continues to be a journey that inspires others - opinion


How a Jewish police chief's mezuzah captivated a Mississippi town

A Jewish police chief's mezuzah ceremony became the talk of a Mississippi town and drew a crowd no one expected.

The writer and daughter Noa O’Sullivan on roots visit to Mississippi, 2018. Background: Highway welcome sign upon entering to state, ‘the birthplace of America’s music.’

Parashat Shlah: The absolute truth

When fear overrides faith, even truth becomes distorted; this is the lesson of the spies in the desert.

Truth

Israel’s biggest threats demand unity, not partisan warfare - opinion

Israelis must decide whether politics exists to strengthen the country – or whether the country itself will surrender its fate to partisan warfare.

Israelis attend a protest march against the decision of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to fire head of Shin Bat Ronen Bar, at the entrance to Jerusalem, March 19, 2025.

The real threat behind Europe’s crackdown on brit milah - opinion

As Europe scrutinizes brit milah, Jewish communities must defend religious freedom without surrendering tradition.

Brit milah ceremony 311

Europe’s Israel policy, the search for a unifying narrative - opinion

Growing pressure on Israel reflects Europe’s search for cohesion in an era of political and cultural division.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators carry a banner during a protest against the arrival of an Israeli cruise ship in the port of Piraeus near Athens, Greece, June 12, 2025.

Faith, friendship, and the future of Israel advocacy - opinion

As extremists seek to divide Americans, antisemitism is rising openly, and support for Israel is increasingly politicized, genuine Jewish-Christian friendship is not merely symbolic; it is necessary

Participants attend the annual Israel Day Parade, Sunday, May 31, 2026.

A gift of light and love: A grandmother's tribute to a beloved grandson

While we did not get the big miracle that we all had hoped and prayed for, we were blessed to have many minutes, hours, days, and even weeks of joy and smaller miracles.

YISHAI, ‘OUR sweet pea.

The beauty and frustration of Shavuot at the Western Wall

On Shavuot morning, the prayer groups at the Western Wall are composed of Jews of different stripes and appearances, creating a broader cross-section of Jewish life than is there at other times.

Jews at the Western Wall, 1870s.

Serendipitous gifts are all around us: The invisible threads connecting Israelis in times of loss

In Judaism, there is no such thing as mere happenstance. Everything is viewed as hashgacha pratit (divine providence). 

Caregivers from India in Efrat.

What the Israelites' greatest failure can teach us about today's uncertainty - opinion

Dreams are perfect. Reality is not. Reality demands sacrifice, perseverance, and the courage to confront uncertainty.

 SCRIBES FINISH writing a Torah scroll.