Ranking Ranked-Choice
Your four-man chaburah is making a siyum and you’re ordering a large pizza. The eatery offers toppings but only on the entire pizza. You like onions and are sort of okay with peppers, but...
Author: Avi Shafran
Agudath Israel on Immigration Family Separation Policy
Agudath Israel of America expresses its deep concern and disappointment over the recently adopted policy of separating the members of families who have entered the United States illegally. It is a practice that has...
Klal Yisrael Matters
A “scandalous letter” in the files of Israel’s official rabbinate “reflects ignorance,” delivers “a severe blow” to Israel’s relations with Diaspora Jewry and “abandons the religious system in Israel to haredi hands.” Thus spake...
Optics and Essence
While Democrats and Republicans were trading verbal punches – and misinformation – about immigrant children last week, an adult immigrant riveted the attention of a crowd, and then the world, as he saved a...
The Israeli Rabbinate’s New Standards
An article I wrote for Haaretz about Israel’s official rabbinate “blacklisting” some American rabbis, disallowing their vouching for people’s Jewish credentials can be read here. Even if you’re not a Haaretz subscriber or registrant, if...
Increasing Disdain for Religious Americans
A piece I wrote for Forward at its request about the Supreme Court Masterpiece Cakeshop decision can be read here.
Human Uniqueness
In the course of a public roundtable discussion about immigration and crime, a few days before Shavuos, President Trump made a comment that provoked some outrage. “You wouldn’t believe how bad these people are,”...
Gentlemen, Sling Your Mud!
Winston Churchill famously cited the sentiment that “democracy is the worst form of government, except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.” Indeed, while majority rule might in...
Checking Out… and Checking In
Dr. David Goodall is no longer with us. The 104-year-old scientist travelled to Switzerland from his home in Australia last week, weary of life and in a wheelchair, but not otherwise disabled or seriously...
Mutcheh-ing the Mullahs
My Hamodia column this week went to the printer when President Trump was scheduled to issue his Iran Deal decision on Shabbos. As you know, he changed his mind and announced it earlier. Below...
Recent Comments