Fresh Air Amid The Reek
Even more remarkable than the article itself was where it appeared. Written by Elissa Strauss, an essayist and a “co-artistic director” of a “non-religious Jewish house of study for culture-makers at the 14th Street...
Knesset Speaker to the US: Do More to Prevent Civilian Casualties in Iraq
It didn’t really happen this way. But perhaps it should. A reader who must remain anonymous for professional reasons contributed this analysis: Yesterday, US State department spokesperson, Jan Psaki expressed concern over the high...
COJs, not OTDs, may be our bigger problem
An article I wrote about “Cultural Orthodox Jews” in the Forward can be read here.
Letter in Today’s NYT
To the Editor: “A Damaging Distance” (news analysis, Sunday Review, July 13) may well be right that the reduced interaction between Arabs and Israelis is lamentable. But to attribute Israel’s erection of a barrier...
AIA Statement on Ground Action in Gaza
With the news that a ground invasion of the hornets’ nest known as Gaza is underway, Agudath Israel of America calls on all Jews to pray for the safety of the soldiers and the...
Mr. Obama, Phone (My) Home
I just can’t seem to remember whether President Obama telephoned me last night. It was a busy evening. I had a chasuna, a seder and davened Maariv. No, I’m quite sure I didn’t get...
Agudath Israel Statement on Hamas Cease-Fire Rejection
Today’s news brought the report that Hamas has rejected an Egyptian-brokered cease fire, while Israel’s cabinet has expressed its willingness to abide by its terms. Once again, Hamas has shown what it truly is...
The Anti-Eyal, Naftali, and Gil-ad
The mind reels from trying to wrap itself around the fact that fellow Jews could not only have murdered an innocent Arab teenager, but done so by sadistically setting him on fire. But there...
Some Jewish Thoughts on Understanding Hobby Lobby: Religious Freedom Did Not Really Win or Lose
by Michael Broyde Introduction The Supreme Court has spoken again on the place of religion: last week the Supreme Court decided (5-4) that closely held private corporations as well as individuals are not bound...
When Waging War is Pursuing Peace
As Pinchas taught us, sometimes an act of violence promotes peace. At the end of last week’s Torah reading, we are told that one of the leaders of the Tribes of Israel engaged in...