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Learning, Money, and Good Looks - the Business of Shidduchim
A young married Charedi couple (Jewniverse)Jonathan Rosenblum’s article in Mishpacha Magazine last week (available in full here) dealt with the ubiquitous topic of Shiduchim in the Charedi world. Which...
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A People Extremely Apart
This is what they protest! (Jerusalem Post)These Jews of Ramat Bet Shemesh-B are not my people. Anyone that can behave the way this crowd did, cannot possibly be from the seed of Israel. One look at...
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Is it a Witch Hunt?
Robert S. Mueller - newly appointed special counsel to investigate the PresidentOnce again, I find myself in the awkward position of defending a President that I wish would never have been nominated –...
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Can Religious Zionism Survive?
RZ students in Merkaz Harav -They are exempt from army service (JP)One might think that Modern Orthodox (MO) Jews are doomed after reading the somewhat shocking results of a survey in Israel. Well,...
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Why Rabbi Mazuz's Tirade Against Reform Judaism is Wrong
Rabbi Meir Mazuz - center of photo (Arutz Sheva)Reform Jews are Jews in every sense of the word. I mention this in light of yet another tirade by Charedi rabbinic leader, Rabbi Meir Muzuz, head of the...
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Trump’s Trip
President Trump at the Kotel - which is on the West Bank (Jewish Press/ABC)I am a big fan of peace. Especially in my ancestral homeland, Israel. Which is why I support any reasonable plan that can be...
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Misguided Ideals - Opting Out of Orthodoxy
Maharat ordainees at their 2013 graduation ceremony - idealistic but misguidedIt appears that the OU (Orthodox Union) is following up on its directive to their member synagogues. Which was that they...
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Jerusalem Day
Israeli paratroopers upon entering Jerusalem in ‘67 and seeing the KotelI can’t let this day go by without mention of Yom Yerushalayim. Today is the 50th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem...
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The Elephant in the Room is Islam
Manchester Arena after an Islamist suicide bombing Monday evening. (NYT)First I want to make it abundantly clear that this is not an anti Islam rant. What I am about to discuss is not meant to bash...
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Protecting the Vulnerable; Strengthening the Defenseless
Rabbi Zvi Gluck - founder of AmudimA few weeks ago, Pope Francis met with a Charedi Rabbi by the name of Edgar Gluck and his son Rabbi Zvi Gluck. That meeting raised a few eyebrows for a number of...
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Wise Guys - Not Wise Jews
Shalom Lamm at his development, Chestnut Ridge in Bloomingburg, (NYT)In his latest article in Hamodia (republished on Cross Currents) Rabbi Avi Shafran asks the following question: ‘Does widespread...
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A Warped Interpretation
Illustration from JTAI cannot believe how warped the thinking of this rabbi is. And yet that is exactly what Conservative Rabbi Adina Lewittes has done with a Midrash about the Luchos – the 2 tablets...
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Ruthie’s Conversion
Shoshanna Keats JaskollTis the season. Invariably the discussion turns to the subject of conversions to Judaism this time of year. The reason for that should be obvious. It is on the Yom Tov of...
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Withdrawing from the Paris Agreement and Shavuos
Getty images via NYTClimate change is one of those issues that is surrounded by controversy. While I don’t think anyone of any intelligence doubts that the climate is changing (as is evidenced by...
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Blaming the Victims
Charedi Protesters (illustration) Arutz ShevaOnce again extremist Charedim have struck. I am so sick of these people. As I am of the lack of the authorities - both rabbinic and municipal to address...
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Shuvu - A Model for Maintsream Charedim
Dayan Yonason Abraham, London Beth DinI found Jonathan Rosenblum’s Mishpacha column on London’s Charedi Dayan Yonanson Abraham, the new head of Shuvu rather enlightening. Not so much about Rabbi...
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Conservative Judaism, Homosexuality, and Halacha
First let me reiterate what I have said countless times on the subject of homosexuality. There is absolutely no sin in being attracted to members of the same sex. That is nobody’s business and the...
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The Modesty Chase
Tznius sign in Bet Shemesh (Kikar HaShabbat)A few years ago, a sect arose among Orthodox Jewish women that decided that they were going to observe modesty in dress to the highest level possible. Toward...
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The Next Watergate?
Former FBI Director, James ComeyThe word ‘Watergate’ is increasingly coming up in punditry about the Trump Presidency. I find this both funny and sad at the same time. I also find it ironic that I have...
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The Rate of Jewish Population Decline
Why Orthodox Jews succeed where other fail: EducationThere is more evidence of Jewish population decline among non Orthodox Jews. A 2013 Pew Research study has shown that there is a high rate of...
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