Thirty-five hundred years of
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Jewish wisdom consists in knowing what to do with what it knows.
This site is about what Judaism knows.
Our think tank generates ideas and research on contemporary issues of central importance to Jewish life.
We believe in Judaism and its capacity to significantly contribute to the well-being and improvement of humanity.
We look to support the next generations of Jews’ understanding their inherent self-worth and their capacity to significantly contribute to the well-being and improvement of humanity.
The significance of Judaism today "does not lie in its being conducive to the survival of this particular people but in its being a source of spiritual wealth, a source of meaning relevant to all people."
how to learn from
its past and present
To learn from achievements and errors
That allegiances are more the result of consent than descent.
That human beings seek meaningful relationships, no less than spirituality, and purpose in their lives
That the task is to help Jews draw on their Jewishness to live more meaningful, fulfilling, responsible lives.
Exploring Jewish Thought for the Modern World
Philosophy, theology, history, and contemporary insights rooted in Jewish tradition. Essays, conversations, and resources to help thinkers and communities engage meaningfully in the 21st century
Jewish Thought Today
Exploring ancient wisdom in modern contexts — essays, conversations, and practical reflection.
Philosophy & Theology
Big questions through a Jewish lens: metaphysics, ethics, and lived theology.
History & Politics
Historical lessons shaping contemporary Jewish public life and policy.
The Blogs
How the Little, Tiny State of Israel Changed the World (Again)
The first time the Jewish people changed the world, they did it without an army, without a state, without territory. They did it with a
What Are Values — and Why They Matter Now More Than Ever
We speak often about values. Political leaders invoke them. Institutions advertise them. Corporations display them on websites. Universities promise to teach them. Yet rarely do
The Hardening of the Heart
The hardening of Pharaoh’s heart in Shemot ( Book of Exodus) is often misunderstood as a theological problem. If God hardens Pharaoh’s heart, how can Pharaoh be
Israel on the Threshold of Jewish Moral History
In Judaism, justice is not a concept; it is a legal demand. Compassion is not a sentiment; it is a regulated practice. Guilt is not
Memory is Not Victimhood
Jewish cemeteries are often called Beit HaChayim—the House of the Living. That phrase is a rebuke. Judaism refuses to define identity through death, suffering, or
5786 Years Ago, the World was created: let’s play our part to Ensure it Lasts Another 5786 years
On the eve of Yom Kippur, a man once stopped the Berditchever Rebbe Rabbi Levi Yitzḥak (1740–1809), on his way to the synagogue, and said: