Ari Z. Zivotofsky

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Apr 25, 2024, 8:47 PM

Musing from totality – a solar eclipse sheds light on life

Observing two massive heavenly bodies align overhead on a clear, crisp spring day inspires an array of thoughts and take-home messages. My wife and I were fortunate to observe the complete solar eclipse that occurred on Monday, April 8,...

Mar 12, 2024, 12:25 PM

Errors and bias in anti-Israel diatribe of British Medical Journal and editor

Background: On October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists from the Gaza Strip invaded Israel and perpetrated indescribable atrocities and brutal massacres, killing over 1200 people and kidnapping over 200, including infants and elderly. These vicious barbarisms were videoed and publicized...

Dec 5, 2023, 12:14 AM

False narratives – don’t promulgate, rather repudiate

Israel is at war and as a nation, we have joined together to defeat vicious enemies. This is a multi-front war and in addition to Hamas and Hezbollah, we have to be concerned about other fronts joining. In addition,...

Sep 26, 2023, 6:18 PM

Israeli Declaration of Independence: A worthy document but not as a billboard

It is there, staring down at me, a huge poster of the Israeli Declaration of Independence. Since the beginning of August, every time I enter the building in which I work at Bar Ilan University, hanging over the entrance...

May 23, 2022, 10:56 AM

A sour taste and questions of transparency from Tzohar’s Wine Certification

Recent revelations about Tzohar’s kashrut certification of wine are the latest talking points in the ongoing debate regarding Tzohar’s kashrut supervision and raise questions beyond just the kashrut of the wine. Tzohar is an organization that for over 25...

Feb 1, 2022, 4:31 PM

A calm confession may be due to PTSD and not free will

Often unbeknownst to police who are interrogating suspects and extracting confessions or to judges who are ruling on cases involving confessions, suspects may actually be suffering from PTSD, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and this can be wreaking havoc with the...

Sep 15, 2021, 12:09 AM

A Yeshiva left Homeless in City vs. Yeshiva Feud

A small, high-caliber yeshiva has been studying in a synagogue building for over a decade. Several years ago, a small group within the city decided that they do not want a yeshiva in their midst, and thus, under the...

Jun 18, 2021, 12:02 AM

Nir Orbach’s fictional midrash about brothers and the Temple Mount

Last week, all eyes were on rookie MK Nir Orbach of Yamina (New Right Party) – would he agree to support his party's coalition agreement with leftist parties or would he torpedo the entire, fragile pact. The suspense lasted...

Nov 7, 2019, 11:35 AM

Joy at the downfall of the wicked al-Baghdadi – Boteach got it wrong

The US Special Forces flawlessly executed a daring raid eliminating the evil head of ISIS, al-Baghdadi. Should we rejoice? Surprisingly, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, in both the Jerusalem Post and Algemeiner Journal cautions that, as Jews, we should not rejoice at...

Feb 25, 2019, 8:10 PM

Dear Hebrew U. – it is not an “opinion” — do not tolerate dishonest faculty

The blood libel that took place at Columbia University last week, mid-February 2019, received only limited press coverage. It was not a medieval priest accusing Jews of using blood in their matzah but a 21st century equivalent. A professor...

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About Me

Ari Zivotofsky is a professor of neuroscience at Bar Ilan University. Also trained as a rabbi and shochet, he has a masters degree in Jewish history. He has written extensively on topics of Jewish history, culture, and traditions, in particular in Mishpacha magazine and in his regular column (now running 20+ years) in the OU magazine Jewish Action.