Pathologized Problems
It seems that a good part of my youth was spent in a mental asylum without walls. At least that’s how some mental health professionals might characterize it. Among the boys in my neighborhood...
Stop Otherizing Haredi Jews
An op-ed I wrote about the marginalization of Haredi Jews appears at the New York Times today. It can be read here.
“Orthodox” Gay Marriage and the Path to Destruction
Thankfully, I have not written about Open Orthodoxy for a very, very long time. It is not something I enjoy doing or have the time to focus on, and I only address this topic...
A Misleading Morph
I’ll never forget coming across the phrase “the Holocaust” – complete with the definite article and capitalized second word – in, of all things, a translation of the Mishnah. More unnerving still was that...
Pleasing Orthodox Political Palates
For some of us, double-edged swords don’t come more dangerous than the prospect of a Jewish president. The accomplishment would be heartening in a way, and would say much about America. But the reality...
So Who (What) Are We?
Just what Jews are has been debated for ages. In recent times, the different options have become agendized and politicized. My friend Rabbi Shmuel Goldin recently contributed a delightful, upbeat essay to Torah Tidbits...
The Guard Protecting the Shul
Security for Jewish institutions – shuls, schools, community centers and organizations – has understandably been at the forefront of many minds and agendas in recent months. Agudath Israel of America, where I serve as...
Incendiary Devices
“BLACKS NEED TO RESPECT JEWISH AUTHORITY,” reads the stark, all-caps message on Telegram, an instant messaging service. The word “JEWISH” is reverse-color emphasized. The message came from a fake account, like similar racist sentiments...
Are Attacks on Curricula Related to Attacks on Jews?
A piece I wrote for the Jewish Telegraphic Agency about the dovetailing of anti-Orthodox sentiment and violence against visibly observant Jews is can be read here.
Two More Clips from Rav Soloveitchik zt”l on Torah
I am grateful to Rabbi Mark Dratch for having shared these very important clips with RCA membership: Clip 1 Clip 2