Abhorrent Action at a Distance
Direct physical attacks on Jews have, and for good reason, unfortunately, dominated the news in recent weeks. But there have been other kinds of attacks on innocent people who are perceived to be Jewish....
A Hard Look at the State of American Jewry
As we observe Chanukah, celebrating (among other things) our survival while our persecutors disappeared, we recall the infamous Look Magazine cover story in 1964. “The Vanishing American Jew” predicted that American Jewry might soon...
A Freilichen Christmas?
No way. We’re not going there, or any place near it. We can be respectful of our Christian neighbors without going the way of too many American Jews who “get with” the holiday spirit...
The Lesson of London Bridge
At the time of this writing – and, hopefully, of its reading – the most recent domestic terror attack was the shooting in Jersey City that left three civilians, including two Jews, and a...
How Today’s American College Experience Imperils All Efforts Invested by Modern Orthodox Parents
Modern Orthodoxy is in very perilous trouble because, as a general matter, the model as it took full shape in the late 1950s and 1960s never contemplated the current utter public debasement of American culture and society, and in particular the socialist-brainwashing-reeducation-camp intimidation that has overtaken American colleges.
Contemptible Comity
The state of political discourse in these United States today – unfortunately, including much of the American Jewish world (including our corner of it) – was well exemplified in the reactions to something Senator...
Modern Orthodoxy’s Defining Moment
“Modern Orthodoxy is in trouble… Where is Modern Orthodoxy headed?… Is Modern Orthodoxy going to split?“ These questions, prompted by the new Nishma Research study entitled The Successes, Challenges, and Future of American Modern Orthodoxy and by...
How to Deal With Heresy Without Raising Your Blood Pressure
Rabbi Gordimer once again was the Nachshon wading into the turbulent waters ahead of everyone else. His reaction to the new Orthodox heresies pulled no punches. Bottom line: If you are spouting heresy, then...
Why Jews Worry
Some racial or national stereotypes are outright falsehoods. Mexicans may take siestas (as do many Israelis) during the hottest time of the day, but all the workers from south of the border whom I’ve...
Rav Chaim Malinowitz, z”l
by Natan Slifkin [Editor’s Note: The shock has not yet passed. I knew R. Malinowitz when he lived in Monsey. One of my mentors in halacha, the head of an important beis din, sent...