Lessons of a Viral Video
The Orthodox video that went viral last week dispels a lot of stereotypes about the Orthodox world and is frankly inspirational… but you won’t see that in any of the coverage.
Author: Yaakov Menken
Speak the Truth, with Conviction
Our enemies speak lies with complete conviction, yet we are afraid to speak the truth with similar conviction. When confronted by strident anti-Semitism in new clothing, we must be brutal in only one respect: we must be brutally honest.
Political Posturing at the Western Wall
Women of the Wall plans to show preference to some women over others in a way unsupported by any version of Judaism, doing a “Jewish” ritual supported by no version of Jewish ritual, in imitation of a ceremony that aims to restore Judaism’s doubly undemocratic Holy Temple. And it claims to be doing all this in the name of egalitarianism.
A Declining Reform Movement Wants To Reform Israel
A movement which in America touts its commitment to tolerance, pluralism and liberal values, hired as Director of its Israel Religious Action Center a woman who built her political career upon anti-religious bias.
Someone Should Remind the University of California Regents That It’s Purim
The University of California working group on principles against intolerance was right to determine that “Anti-Zionism” is a facade. The anti-Israel movement is the only “humanitarian” cause whose activities lead directly to open bigotry and discrimination.
Why Seminary Still Makes Sense
In a recent piece on Matzav.com, Rabbi Yitschak Rudomin discusses “Sending Girls to Seminaries and the Shidduch Crisis” and asks: “who are the American boys supposed to marry at 21 if all the good American...
The Conservative Movement: The Masorti Movement that Isn’t
The Conservative movement has reached a point of no return in the USA. While its members reject opportunities for deeper involvement and are leaving, this is not the time for its inaptly named Israeli branch to demand recognition in that country.
Point Counter-Point: Rabbi Steven Wernick Responds
The CEO of the United Synagogue replies to “Conservative Jews Deserve More than PR,” differentiating between PR and branding, and arguing that those impacted by Conservative Jewish communities are more educated and involved.
Conservative Jews Deserve More than PR
All agree that the Conservative Jewish movement is in rapid decline. But by hiring a PR agency, the United Synagogue is going in the wrong direction — surveys and branding will not fix the fundamental problem.
Rabbi Gordimer and his Critics
I rise on a question of personal privilege on behalf of an esteemed colleague. An open debate of ideas is appropriate (as we have said all along), but unfounded mischaracterization of a writer’s motivations and dialogue with others is quite out of line.
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