Commentary Magazine

Ilan Ramon and the Words That Soared
Reflecting on the legacy of the man who sanctified God from the heavens.
Featured Essays

Moshe Dayan’s Tragic Blunder
The worst decision in Israel's history still has extremely negative effects today.

Look On Our Works, Ye Mighty
How Percy Bysshe Shelley's “Ozymandias” is an oddly perfect Hanukkah poem.

The Prime Minister and the Minyan
Among Israel's founders, only Begin sensed the key role that tradition would play in the future Israeli society.

A Nation Under God: Jews, Christians, and the American Public Square
Jews, Christians, and a “Nation under God."
Explore More

The Palm Frond and the Sword
By comparing Roman swords and the palm frond, we can appreciate a remarkable aspect of…

Tolkien’s Biblical Epic
The long-lasting popularity of The Lord of the Rings shows that in a secular age,…

Not Everything Is Tisha B’Av
Comparing a democratic decision by a sovereign Jewish state to Tisha B'Av is to desecrate…

The Boy Who Thought He Shouldn’t Run
An inspiring and horrifying episode that tells us a great deal about the American Jewish…