A Fish’s Smile
I was accosted recently on the Staten Island Ferry by a large fish. Well, not exactly. It was actually a large photograph of a fish, on a poster carrying the legend: “I’m ME, not...
Author: Avi Shafran
Kavanaugh and Religious Freedom
When Justice Anthony Kennedy announced his retirement from the Supreme Court, many immediately predicted the worst. NPR’s Nina Totenberg, channeling R.E.M., proclaimed it “the end of the world as we know it.” After President Trump nominated Judge Brett...
The Monster on Muslims’ Backs
The third time proved the charm. President Trump’s travel ban received the hechsher of the highest court in the land. As well it should have. True, in the years since 9/11, no one in...
Orthodox Kids Don’t Need Your Pity
An article I wrote for Haaretz, which was published earlier this week, about attacks on some Chassidic yeshivos for the limitations of their secular studies programs, can be read here. If you don’t subscribe...
Us, Them and the Deep State
Hamodia opted to not publish my column submission for this week, but I share it here. The two thirds of the American populace that objected to the policy of removing children from their illegal...
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...
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...
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