Beth Kissileff

Beth Kissileff is the editor of the anthology Reading Genesis (Continuum, 2016) and the author of the novelQuestioning Return (Mandel Vilar Press, 2016). Visit her online at www.bethkissileff.com.

When the Destruction of the Temple Isn’t an Abstract Historical Event
On the first Tisha B’Av after the Pittsburgh massacre, understanding the horror of destruction—and the possibility of renewed joy
byBeth Kissileff
The Joy of Purim
What the holiday can teach us about fighting evil in our midst
byBeth Kissileff
Learning Lessons From Elie Wiesel
Once Wiesel’s student and teaching assistant, Ariel Burger focuses on what he learned in ‘Witness’
byBeth Kissileff
Poetry to Exalt the Everyday
The case for a new Hebrew month of poetry and heeding the wakeful heart
byBeth Kissileff
Discovering a New World for Women Through My Daughter’s Jewish Studies
Thirty years after her own Jewish studies in Israel, the author’s daughter enters a Torah-studies program in Jerusalem and reveals a new world of opportunities for women
byBeth Kissileff
When Our Religious Leaders Become Predators
Reports of widespread sexual abuse by clergy in the Pennsylvania Catholic Church raise troubling questions for all faiths
byBeth Kissileff
Mikveh Immersion Therapy
Finding Hebrew priestesses, healing, and deeper connections on a mikveh retreat.
byBeth Kissileff
How to Read Ecclesiastes, the Book We Read on Sukkot and an Inspiration for Many Classic Novels
A celebration of all transient things, Kohelet, as it is known in Hebrew, is the perfect fit for the season
byBeth Kissileff
Bringing ‘Daf Yomi’ to Life. And Vice Versa.
In her new memoir ‘If All the Seas Were Ink,’ Ilana Kurshan recounts her time in Israel—one page of Talmud at a time
byBeth Kissileff
How to Have a Better Seder
Wine, icefrogs, early eats, and questions. Lots of questions.
byBeth Kissileff
100 U.S. Religion Scholars Write Scriptural Letters to Trump’s Administration for Its First 100 Days
The faith-based response to the election features everyone from Muslims to Mormons and was the brainchild of a Reform rabbi
byBeth Kissileff
What’s Not There: Soul-Searching in Israel
On a plane ride to Israel, an academic, feeling alone, enters into a conversation with a professor of Talmud who encourages her to seek answers in Jerusalem
byBeth Kissileff
A Yiddish-English Dictionary for the Ages
A new dictionary co-edited by Gitl Schaechter-Viswanath was created by the might of familial love and the need to keep Yiddish up-to-date
byBeth Kissileff
The Mysteries of Moses
Questions about an ancient set of scrolls—older than the Dead Sea Scrolls—led author Chanan Tigay around the world. Then the answer appeared in the library across from his office.
byBeth Kissileff
The New York Jewish Film Festival Turns 25
Among the featured films is a documentary about the works of Chantal Akerman, Natalie Portman’s directorial debut, and a 20th anniversary screening of ‘Welcome to the Dollhouse’
byBeth Kissileff
Colleagues Remember Israeli Writer Amir Gutfreund
Gutfreund, who died last week at the age of 52, wrote his first book, ‘Our Holocaust,’ in 2001
byBeth Kissileff
A Meaningful, Family-Centric National Book Awards Show
Author Neil Shusterman, winner of the Young People’s literature award for his book ‘Challenger Deep,’ about an adolescent’s struggle with schizophrenia, stole the show
byBeth Kissileff
Meet Malka Markovic, 92, a Holocaust Survivor and Long-Time Mikveh Lady in Pittsburgh
‘Working saved me. It still saves me.’
byBeth Kissileff