Staff Editors — Every essay published on TheTorah.com undergoes multiple rounds of editing by at least three part- or full-time editors. This process ensures that the scholarship is accessible to a broad readership while preserving academic rigor. Our editors help shape the narrative arc, incorporate primary sources in Hebrew and English, and maintain consistency of style across the site. A Staff Editors attribution may indicate an essay based on an author’s work, co-authored with our staff, or written entirely in-house. To see our editorial team, visit academictorah.org.
Last Updated
September 22, 2025
Books by the Author
Articles by the Author
In the Bible, dates are generally by regnal years. Over time, several different counting systems developed, counting from: the exodus, the jubilee or sabbatical years, the building of the First Temple, its destruction, the building of the Second Temple, and its destruction. In postbiblical times, documents were dated according to the Seleucid era, and this remained standard for contracts well into the medieval period. Beginning in late antiquity, counting from creation emerged as one of many options, and only became the consensus in relatively recent times.
In the Bible, dates are generally by regnal years. Over time, several different counting systems developed, counting from: the exodus, the jubilee or sabbatical years, the building of the First Temple, its destruction, the building of the Second Temple, and its destruction. In postbiblical times, documents were dated according to the Seleucid era, and this remained standard for contracts well into the medieval period. Beginning in late antiquity, counting from creation emerged as one of many options, and only became the consensus in relatively recent times.
What is the Torah’s core message and purpose?
What is the Torah’s core message and purpose?
If you could invite any figure from the past — biblical, rabbinic, medieval, or modern — to your seder, whom would you invite and why?
If you could invite any figure from the past — biblical, rabbinic, medieval, or modern — to your seder, whom would you invite and why?
Around the Seder table with scholars.
Around the Seder table with scholars.
Noah, Melchizedek, Abraham’s servant, Laban, and Jethro all bless YHWH, but, as Rabbi Pappias notes in the Mekhilta, the Israelites don’t. Only later in the Bible do we find David and Solomon blessing YHWH, but so do Hiram King of Tyre and the Queen of Sheba.
Noah, Melchizedek, Abraham’s servant, Laban, and Jethro all bless YHWH, but, as Rabbi Pappias notes in the Mekhilta, the Israelites don’t. Only later in the Bible do we find David and Solomon blessing YHWH, but so do Hiram King of Tyre and the Queen of Sheba.
Dismayed by claims of modern scholars that the Book of Daniel’s historical survey of the Seleucid era was written post-facto by a Hellenistic author, Chaim Shvilly (1907–1974) composed a ritual confession that Bible critics would be required to say at Daniel’s grave.
Dismayed by claims of modern scholars that the Book of Daniel’s historical survey of the Seleucid era was written post-facto by a Hellenistic author, Chaim Shvilly (1907–1974) composed a ritual confession that Bible critics would be required to say at Daniel’s grave.
We invited our authors and friends to share practices, ideas, experiences, and analyses from their own seders that enhance their seder-night experience.
We invited our authors and friends to share practices, ideas, experiences, and analyses from their own seders that enhance their seder-night experience.
The cause of action is TheTorah.com.
The cause of action is TheTorah.com.
ALL NEW! TheTorah.com has partnered with ArtTroll Publishers to create the perfect scholarly synagogue companion.
ALL NEW! TheTorah.com has partnered with ArtTroll Publishers to create the perfect scholarly synagogue companion.
A Source Sheet listing R’ Avraham ibn Ezra’s Six Non-Mosaic Biblical Passages plus his One Counter-Example, with the Complete Text of ibn Ezra’s Comments and Bonfils’ Glosses on these comments in English and Hebrew
A Source Sheet listing R’ Avraham ibn Ezra’s Six Non-Mosaic Biblical Passages plus his One Counter-Example, with the Complete Text of ibn Ezra’s Comments and Bonfils’ Glosses on these comments in English and Hebrew
Why did Moses emphasize a donkey of all things?
Why did Moses emphasize a donkey of all things?
Caleb and Joshua or only Caleb?
Caleb and Joshua or only Caleb?
TheTorah.com launches its new premier dating service.
TheTorah.com launches its new premier dating service.
According to the Torah: Does God split the sea? Do the Israelites cross it? What is the wind for? Where are the Egyptians when they drown?
According to the Torah: Does God split the sea? Do the Israelites cross it? What is the wind for? Where are the Egyptians when they drown?
