What We Build and What We Are
As the 93rd takes place, the 78th comes to mind. Agudath Israel of America’s national conventions, that is. The 93rd gathering is featuring a constellation of topics and speakers, include the presence of Gedolim,...
On Pink Elephants, Accomodating The Latest Trends, And Heroism
There is a “pink elephant” in the room as Orthodoxy discusses authentic Torah values in an environment rife with secular stirring. It is a fear that may hinder some without their even realizing they...
A Fascinating Session with Mishpacha Magazine
The questions were probing and at times invasive (in a positive way), the discussion was penetrating and on occasion tense, and I came away having learned a ton about the root causes and deeper significance...
Women Rabbis and the Rabbi Bakshi Doron Letter: Time for a Fact Check
(This article first appeared on Arutz Sheva.) When you do not like the facts, ignore them. When you do not like the situation, pretend it is not so. This sentiment can unfortunately...
There Is No Continuity Without Authenticity
Analogizing to competition sports, rabbinic debate usually resembles nothing more exciting than tiddly-winks or croquet. Last week, however, rabbinic sport turned to mud-wrestling. The slimy stuff flew between supporters and detractors of the RCA...
UnOrthodox Protest of the New RCA Resolution Against the Ordination of Women
It is unfortunate that Open Orthodox opponents of the new RCA resolution have vilified the resolution and the RCA in the secular Jewish media, issuing a flurry of attacks in The Jewish Week, Forward and...
The New RCA Resolution About Women Rabbis – What It is, and What It Is Not
JOFA (Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance) continues to be disappointed by the RCA’s insistence that only men may assume positions of “rabbinic status,” which as far as we can tell, amounts to nothing more than an...
Intermarriage: Just Say “No”, and Mean It!
Intermarriage is probably the reddest line that exists for Orthodox Jews. There are Jews who identify as Orthodox yet are not fully careful about kashrus, about certain aspects of Shabbos observance, and so forth...
Who Will Be the Next President of YU? Placing the Horse Before the Cart
Who will be the next president of Yeshiva University? This seems to be the question of the day, as journalists speculate and suggest all types of names and ideas. The discussion has been brought to our Shabbos table...
Barack is Leaving the Building
Although Barack Obama’s last day in office won’t come until January 20, 2017, the spectacle of the various presidential debates reminds us all that we won’t have him to kick around too much longer....