Ba’alos Mesorah
In Putting Our Money Where Our Mouths Are, Dr. Rivka Press Schwartz poses an acute challenge to Orthodox communities. The discussion below is not intended to refute Dr. Schwartz, but rather to respond to...
Category: General
Fortunate Fallout?
The fallout of what has most alarmed some about President Trump’s immigration executive order may turn out to be a blessing. There are certainly reasons to question the order, which restricts immigration from seven...
The OU Makes It Unanimous
It is unanimous among Orthodox Jews: Orthodox Judaism is eternal and does not change to accommodate passing trends.
Paskening Like the Blogs
A few people commented to me that it seems like the ruling by the OU Rabbinic Panel that women can’t be ordained or appointed as clergy is getting a real beating, as “everyone is...
The OU Ruling on Female Clergy, and Rebellion
Claims that the OU is imposing its perspective on others and is being divisive are inaccurate and misleading, for the Open Orthodox leaders who introduced ordination of women did so knowing that the practice had already been unanimously barred by the most senior and authoritative halakhic decisors.
How Assertive Should We Be?: Reflections On The National Prayer Breakfast
Ever since the Supreme Court decision on gay marriage, I’ve been telling evangelical audiences that communities can thrive, even when not part of the majority culture. They could learn some lessons from Orthodox Jews,...
Making News, Literally
Even for someone who, in his day job as Agudath Israel of America’s public affairs director, is regularly sent dubious “news” stories from members of the public, a young man’s recent admission that he...
Why American Jews Will No Longer Be Overwhelmingly Liberal
(The following article originally appeared in American Thinker. I wrote the article using great generalization, purposefully overlooking many subtle and at times important distinctions, due to the overly general presentation of the damaging article (relative...
Agudath Israel of America Statement on President Trump’s Immigration Executive Order
The immense contributions of immigrants to American life need no elaboration, nor does the importance of immigration to our great nation. The world refugee crisis, moreover, must compel our deep concern for those fleeing...
Perceiving the Good
More than 40 years ago, at just about this time of year, the rebbi insisted I leave class. I readily obliged. The details of what prompted my banishment, while amusing, aren’t important. All you...
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