Irene Lancaster
What is the meaning of Exodus?
The Exodus story is always read after the end of the festival of Chanukah and before the upcoming festival of Tu B'Shvat (New Year for Trees), which in Israel ushers in the first days of spring.
The Jewish contribution to Christmas music
"White Christmas", that most Christmassy of Christmas songs, was actually written by a Jew.
As the beginning ends, the Exodus begins
Hebrew scholar Irene Lancaster examines how we can learn how to cope with our own situations from the final passage in Genesis, the first book of the Hebrew Bible, which Jews and Christians share in common.
Kanye West wants to start a Christian kibbutz - but what exactly is that?
What is a community â the community that Kanye West so desperately seeks?
The case for shechita as the compassionate way to slaughter animals for food
Jesus' injunction to prioritize the safeguarding of animals at all times is itself a quote from the Torah Book of Leviticus.
G-d as power or the G-d who mothers us?
There is a maternal side to the G-d of the Old Testament that is often overlooked.
Abraham and the welcoming of guests
Next time we read the famous stories of Abraham welcoming his three guests, trying to save the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, and taking on G-d, let's just step back and think of the nature of service.
On the value of biblical interpretation
It's not so much about a straightforward formulae of prohibition as it is about clear principles.
There is much to appreciate in Melanie Phillips' first novel, The Legacy
Yes, this first novel by great journalist, Melanie Phillips, who always tells it how it is, manages the impossible.
What is Rosh Hashanah?
And why is it celebrated by blowing the shofar?
Can Bible-based Jews and Christians reclaim the vegan revolution?
Whether we can give up meat, fish and dairy entirely is not really the question. What is the question is how we can incorporate food into our lives (having taken medical advice of course) in such a way that our diets can help towards the betterment of the world.
On 21st century idolatry and its repercussions
Do you think it is right to trample over the needs of the local populace in order to build and worship idols? No - me neither.
Redemption: a gift of G-d or man?
The idolatry that has grown up around football since 1966 is an indictment of our age, in which our religious leaders no longer lead, and football has simply filled in the gap.
The benefits of radical amazement
What is needed is a combination of the childlike (but not naïve) approach to the beauty of life.
Goodbye Netanyahu, hello Bennett
Let us hope and pray that this is not only the beginning of a new chapter in the history of Israel, but also the continuation of all that was good in the previous chapter.
Lessons from the Book of Numbers on the nature of true belief
We're not promised a free lunch or a bed of roses.