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Yanky, Moishe, and Solomon
Chasidic youth in Brooklyn (Aeon)Once again the fascinating story of Chasidim going Off the Derech (OTD) has been published. This time it is in Aeon Magazine, a secular publication. It tells the story...
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Working Charedim
Shmuel Chaim PappenheimThe denial came very quickly. Former Eida HaCharedis (unofficial) spokesman Shmuel Chaim Pappenheim is featured in a Yesh Atid ad (viewable below) promoting the idea of Charedim...
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Exposing the Truth about Sex Abuse and Cover-ups
Rabbi Yitzchok Groner (The Gaurdian)Imagine the most respected rabbi in your community, someone that you actually know. A saintly man held in esteem by his community and beyond for many decades. An...
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Sem Girl Says
Guest Post by Mindy SchwartzBeit Midrash of Migdal OzA young woman by the name of Mindy Schwartz sent me the following e-mail: Hello, name is Mindy Schwartz and I am currently studying for my year...
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The Rise and Fall of Joseph Aaron
Joe Aaron - publisher of the Chicago Jewish NewsWhat a frustrating time it must be for Chicago Jewish News editor and publisher, Joe Aaron. The paper’s circulation numbers are apparently so low,...
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A Man for All Seasons
Lord Rabbi Jonathan SacksIf anyone wants to know why Lord Rabbi Jonathan Sacks is so high up on my list of great Jewish figures, they should watch this 2 part interview on PBS's Religion and Ethics...
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Dov Lipman - Telling it Like it Is
Guest Post by Rabbi Dov LipmanIsraeli MK, Rabbi Dov LipmanMy admiration for Dov Lipman is well known to readers of this blog. He is a man of great courage. Where others speak… he does! He not only...
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Breaking the Chains
Lipa Schmeltzer (Gothamist)I remember meeting him for the first time. It was at least 20 years ago. He was the ‘Badchan’ at a Chicago wedding that I recorded in my capacity as a videographer. A Badchan...
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The Highest Level of Spiritual Purity
A typical Charedi elementary school classroomAl Taharas HaKodesh. This phrase is one of the most commonly quoted phrases in the world of Charedi Chinuch. It comes from a Gemarah that talks about...
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A Win for Herpes
Bris Milah - the circumcision ceremony (photo credit: Forward)The pressure from the Charedi world was immense. And New York Mayor Bill de Blasio seems to have succumbed to it. From the New York Times:...
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Is This a Declaration of War?
I often talk about the extreme portions of Orthodox Jewry. Sometimes about the left and sometimes about the right. Unfortunately the left has gone too far in some areas making their legitimacy as an...
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Shmuley’s Chilul HaShem
Netanyahu praying at the Kotel prior to leaving for the United States (TOI)Sometimes it’s hard to believe how partisan we all are. And yet that is exactly the case. It seems that when it comes to...
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Another Charedi Cry for Help
Poor Charedim lining up for food handouts before last Pesach (Ha'artez)Once again, I have to thank Marty Bluke for paying attention to what is going on in the Charedi world in Israel, and reporting on...
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Message to Congress: Never Again!
Prime Minister Netanyahu addressing Congress earlier today (NYT)James Clapper is the Director National Intelligence. This office is responsible for coordinating all American intelligence agencies. It...
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President Obama, Listen to Netanyahu on Iran
Faisal Abbas, Editor-in-Chief of Al Arabiya EnglishThere is unfortunately evil in the world. Sometimes it is disguised in religious garb. But that makes it no less evil. When that evil threatens to...
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Getting Nature to Call
-----------------------------------advertisement------------------------------------Bob Schwartz,Yossi Cohen, and Peter Arneves - scientists at SelyraM LabsOne of the Mitzvos associated with Purim,...
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Jewish Education and Jewish Philanthropy
Larry Ellison was estimated to be worth $43 billion in 2013. He is Jewish. (TOI)There are 165 Jewish billionaires in the world. They are worth $812 billion. At least as of August of 2013 according to a...
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Is a Halachic State of Israel Possible?
Bostoner Rebbe, R' Meir Alter HorowitzThose of us that are observant have always sought to have Halacha guide the Jewish State of Israel. We believe it can be done – even in the modern era. We believe...
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Viewing the Arab Israeli Conflict Up Close
Guest Post by a High Ranking US Military OfficerI have mentioned in the past that even though my blog deals mostly with issues that impact Orthodox Judaism, there are non Jews that read it too. Last...
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I have taken down the post from yesterday until I have completed my research about the officer that sent it to me. As I have repeatedly said in the comments in response to challenges about its veracity...
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