Ronald Eisenberg

Professor of Radiology at Harvard Medical School and a radiologist at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Dr. Ronald Eisenberg has published more than 20 books in his field of medicine. A non-practicing attorney, he also has a doctoral degree in Jewish studies. His 14th book, which relates to the history and traditions of the Jewish people, is in press.

Another biblical name for Shavuot is Yom HaBikkurim (Day of the First Fruits), referring to the joyful pilgrimage to Jerusalem, where the Israelites offered up baskets of their first ripe fruits and bread baked from the newly harvested wheat.

The many faces of Shavuot harvest, revelation, and tradition

The Torah is described as the Tree of Life, and there is a legend that Mount Sinai once was a “green mountain” covered with trees and shrubs.

JUNE 3, 2025

During his rebellion, Bar Kochba reinstituted the practice of using bonfires to signal the new lunar month

Lag Ba’omer celebrates life with carob, haircuts, and bonfires - opinion

The Lag Ba’omer tradition of children playing with bows and arrows is associated with the Bar Kochba revolt. Rabbi Akiva’s students likely died fighting the Romans, not from the plague.

MAY 8, 2025

HARVESTING WHEAT in a field near Rehovot.

Counting the Omer: A journey from Passover to Shavuot

The pilgrimage festival of Shavuot at the conclusion of the Omer period was in thanksgiving for God’s blessing and protection of the land and its produce.

APRIL 13, 2025

Purim celebrations: Deliverance, customs, and controversies - opinion

In addition to the core activities of reading the Megillah, sending gifts (mishloach manot), and donating three half shekels to charity, Purim is a time of carnivals and masquerades.

MARCH 22, 2025

Ultra-Orthodox on the front lines: The pros and cons - opinion

"Dina d’malchuta dina (“the law of the land is the law”) requires Jews to obey the statutes of a legally constituted government, such as Israeli law mandating conscription into the IDF."

JANUARY 26, 2025

‘THE HAREDI leadership argues that it is forbidden to draft yeshiva students whose Torah is their profession and that they defend the State of Israel through their studies.’

The Talmud says Torah scholars should work. Why do haredi Jews refuse to do so? - opinion

Do non-working haredi men today truly believe that they are more worthy Torah scholars than were the great sages of the Talmudic and subsequent eras?

JANUARY 4, 2025

Ultra-Orthodox (haredi) women work at Matrix Global, a hi-tech company, in Modi’in Illit.