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William Kolbrener

William Kolbrener

Haaretz

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Sex, God, and the Crossroads: How the Book of Ruth Reclaimed the Future

Sex, God, and the Crossroads: How the Book of Ruth Reclaimed the Future

In the Book of Ruth, Naomi returns to Yehudah from Moab with nothing. No husband, no sons, no future. She tells the women of Bethlehem to stop calling...

yesterday 10

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

William Kolbrener

Strange Fires

Nadav and Avihu brought their own fire to the altar — their own vessels, their own inspiration, their own way of drawing close to God. The sages...

24.04.2026 50

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

William Kolbrener

Ba’avor Zeh – For this Moment, Now

Right after eating, in the middle of the Seder, night turns to day. The Haggadah quotes the holiday’s morning service: Nishmat kol chai—“let...

31.03.2026 40

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

William Kolbrener

The Erasure of the Jew: Rembrandt at the Boston MFA

The new exhibit at the Boston MFA, Reality and Imagination, makes a startling claim: Rembrandt’s relationship to the Jews didn’t amount to much....

22.02.2026 90

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

William Kolbrener

All You Need is (Divine) Love

05.09.2025 60

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

William Kolbrener

All Flesh is Grass

08.08.2025 50

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

William Kolbrener

The Essay That Could Be Written – But Won’t Be

24.02.2025 80

The Times of Israel (Blogs)

William Kolbrener