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Are Good Intentions Enough?
American and Israeli Jews (Jerusalem Post)There’s an old line by Rodney Dangerfield: he went to his local Reform temple for Rosh Hashanah, and the sign on the door read, “Closed for the holidays.”It’s...
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The Right Way to Seek Bi-Partsian Support for Israel
Is bi-partisan support for Israel still possible? (The Guardian)I am a huge fan of Nikky Haley. Her admonition of AIPAC has not diminished that for me. If she were running for President, I would vote...
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A House Divided
R' Shaul Alter at a celebration last week (Jerusalem Post)I am not a Chasid. Although I descend from a Chasidic Rebbe (Rebbe Shimon Yaroslover) going back 7 generations, I do not share their Hashkafos...
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Charedi Rabbis and Their Politicians
Charedi politicians: Gafni, Deri, and Litzman (TOI)Rav Soloveitchik once said (during a lecture to Yeshiva University’s rabbinic alumni) that he could not care less what Agudah thinks. I have a...
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Daas Torah Ain't What it Used to Be
Republican candidate for mayor of New York, Curtis Sliwa (NYP)I have often (and as recently as last Friday) expressed my problem with the way Daas Torah is defined by Charedim. That of course does not...
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When Religious Icons are Psychopaths
Celebrated Charedi author, Chaim Walder (TOI)Although I have nothing to do with him, his name sounds vaguely familiar. Maybe because 52 year old Chaim Walder has had so many accomplishments in his...
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Are You Part of the Problem? Or Part of the Solution
An Orthodox Jew getting vaccinated (CNBC)Sometimes I wish America was ruled by fascism. Well… not really. I cherish the freedom this great American democracy grants me and all other citizens. But there...
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A Seat at the Table? Yes. Calling the Government Anti Religious? No.
Israeli Prime Minister, Naftali Bennett. Is he anti-religious? (JC)As Israeli government reforms to undermine halachah are in full swing, delegates from around the world have come together with the...
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On Being Holier Than Thou
Rav Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld and Rav Avrohom Yitzchok HaKohen KookOne of the many thing that trouble me is the ‘holier than thou’ attitude on the part of so many of my co-religionists. I see it all the...
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What About the Women?
Charedi women in the workplace (TOI)My views about the Charedi way of life are well known to regular readers here. But for the sake of those that are not regular readers, let me briefly describe them.I...
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The Rittenhouse Verdict - Why Both Sides Are Wrong
Protesting the Rittenhouse Verdict in New York last Friday (NPR)It’s not a cause for celebration. The acquittal of 18 year old Kyle Rittenhouse on 5 counts of murder was a just verdict. But the killing...
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Yes, We Can Walk and Chew Gum
Rabbi Steven Pruzansky (YUTorah)Is it possible to be compassionate while at the same time staying loyal to our religious beliefs? For Orthodox Jews the answer might seem obvious. Compassion is our...
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Spousal Abuse of Men?
Naama Zarbiv (Arutz Sheva)The plague of women who are Agunos still exists. Although there has been some improvement in the form of Halachic prenuptial agreements (which is beginning to take hold even...
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Orthodoxy is Growing but All is Not Well
Rabbi Dr. Jacob J. Schacter (Jewish Link)One of the sad realities I have discussed here (many times) is the gloomy future for the vast majority of American Jewry. As Pew Research has shown, 72% of non...
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A Better Thanksgiving than Last Year
Touro Synagogue - original symbol of religious freedom (flickr)What a difference a year makes. Last year, getting together for Thanksgiving seemed like it would never happen again. This year we are...
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Antisemitism? Clearly. But...
Image from Cross CurrentsI am not blaming the victim. This will surely be how many will see what I am going to say about an antisemitic event that took place at a Planning Board public hearing in...
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The Closet OTD Phenomenon
There seems to be a lot of Jews in the closet. I say ‘seems’ because I don’t know this for sure. But a discussion on Frum/OTD Dialogue has opened my eyes to the struggles of Jews that no longer believe...
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Why Moving to the Right has Hurt Shidduchim
Image from the ForwardRabbi Yair Hoffman has reported on VIN about a panel discussion on the so-called Shidduch crisis’ at the Agudah convention. I think we can all agree with what Rav Elya Ber...
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Rabbi Wachsman is Both Right - and Wrong
Rabbi Ephraim Wachsman (screenshot)Rabbi Ephraim Wachsman once again spoke at the Agudah convention. (See video below) Unsurprisingly he used his trademark Fire-and-Brimstone approach to make his...
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Achdus - Tolerance and Respect Despite Our Differences
By Rabbi Sender HaberImage for illustration purposes only (TOI)I am pleased to host this guest contribution by Rabbi Haber. His thoughts show that Achdus is possible - if only we can learn to be more...
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