The Upcoming Ordination Imbroglio
I avoided it as much as possible. I found every excuse to delay it. I did not want more controversy. I did not want to make people feel uncomfortable, nor to have to field...
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.
Rome Travelogue2
The Roman Jewish community dates back over 2100 years, which means that it is neither Ashkenazic nor Sephardic, since it predates most of that split. Even before a papal bull herded Jews into a...
Weekly Digest – News and Essays In and Out of Orthodoxy – Week of Parshas Pekudei 5776
Simchas Hachayim – A superlative shiur by Rav Aharon Kahn, shlita. Proud of Our Mission Chief Rabbinate to offer own plan for egalitarian prayer at Western Wall Netanyahu ‘committed to government decision’ on Western...
A Troubling America for Jews…
American Jews might be excused for finding the circus more formally known as the current presidential campaign unthreatening, even amusing. Unthreatening, because the leading Republican candidate has a Jewish daughter; the leading Democratic candidate,...
Rome Travelogue
They told me that Rome would be Jewishly disappointing. Friends who had been there said that Florence was the Jewish destination. Rome’s charm was all in old churches, which hardly touch Jewish heartstrings. So...
Voting Advice
Few things outrage people as greatly as the suggestion that their vote doesn’t really make a difference. “Your vote counts!” is, after all, the essence of Civics 101. And yet it is the most...
Weekly Digest – News and Essays In and Out of Orthodoxy – Week of Parshas Vayakhel 5776
The Impact of Mesorah in our Generation Are Large Frum Communities and Attention to Quality-of-Life Issues Contradictory? – Focus here is on Lakewood. Please also see here (previous article of mine) for discussion on some of...
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Is it permissible to drink water on Shabbos? Yes, the question is facetious. But not pointless. Because the parshiyos of this time of year, which deal with the construction of the mishkan and its...
Torah Law and Torah Values
Technical compliance, but attitudinal disagreement. As the Open Orthodox movement further develops its theology, it is increasingly evident that the above is a principal credo. One should comply with the letter of the Law,...