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Sometimes Less is More
An empty street - Shabbos scene in Jerusalem (JTA)A short while ago, the Knesset passed a law that keeps supermarket business closed on Shabbos. Some have protested this as yet another example of the...
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Some Who Go Do Return
Ner Israel Beis HamdrashA few years ago Shulem Deen - a former Skverer Chasid that went OTD - wrote a memoir about his experience doing that. It was entitled. ThoseWho Go Do Not Return. The reason for...
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Nonsense and Common Sense
Rabbi Yosef KelnerI have seen my share of nonsense in this venue. Most of those commenting on my posts are intelligent, rational people. I agree with some, disagree with others, and am neutral with...
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The Street Gangs of Jerusalem
Toldos Aharon Rebbe addressing the audience at a Siyum in 2016 (Hamodia)I didn’t think I was ever going to talk about these reprobates again. I truly believed that I had made my point about their lack...
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Learning from Heterodox Jews
Postmodernist, Jacques DerridaMy friend David is one of the humblest, kindest most ethical people I know. He is also very liberal politically. Mention the name Trump and he goes near ballistic. I can...
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The Sad Odyssey of a Righteous Convert
Ariella Barker (Kol HaBirah)This is a tough one. A heartbreaking one. One that defies the norms of society and tugs at the heart. It is terribly sad. And terribly unjust.Ariella Barker is a Giyores, a...
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For The Sake of Our Children...
An Israeli Ikea bruchure features no pictures of women. (Sputnik)I have a lot of respect for Shoshanna Keats-Jaskoll. She is a real Mentch! When I suddenly lost my brother a couple of years ago while...
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A Win? Or a Defeat?
Is this a real diamond ring?Rabbi Ysoscher Katz has made the kind of unequivocal statement one would – and should - expect from anyone that calls themselves an Orthodox Rabbi. His statement is...
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Why America is Not Poland (or Even England)
Republican Candidate for Congress and American Nazi, Arthur Jones (CNN)There been a bit of an uproar here in Illinois and in some Jewish and other publications about Arthur Jones. He is running as the...
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Common Sense
Mass murderer, Nikolas Cruz and his stash of guns ‘Guns don’t kill people. People do.’ ‘If guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns.’ ‘Every Jew a 22.’ The logic behind the first of these two...
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The Dual Shidduch Crises – Solutions and Exploitations
Modern Orthodox Couple (Forward)A wonderful woman I know quite well that lived on the Upper West Side (UWS) of New York City for many years had terrible dating experiences. I can only imagine the...
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Not Orthodox in the Extreme!
Setting fire to an IDF soldier in effigy - May of last year (TOI)The pattern of behavior is quite clear. It makes me wonder sometimes if we are following the same Torah. I know that I am not alone in...
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Egalitarianism and Modern Orthodoxy
The right stuff: Judge Ruchie Freier - Egalitarian yet traditional (Jewish Link)I have been reflecting a bit on the current trend in the modern world towards egalitarianism between the sexes. On the...
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A Misleading Argument
Typical Chasidic elementary school classroom (New York Jewish Life)Is it possible to honestly agree with what amounts to a lie? The obvious answer is no, it isn’t. And yet I find myself doing that in...
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First the Good News
Israeli Justice Minster, Ayelet Shaked (Arutz Sheva)I am happy to report that Israeli Justice Minister, Ayelet Shaked and her 9 member committee has just appointed Chavi Toker to head the Jerusalem...
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Heaping Scorn on Those that Deserve it!
The entrance to Auschwitz in Poland (The Guardian)There was certainly no love lost for the Polish people by Nazi Germany. The prejudice was there. I recall a line from the epic 70s miniseries...
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Who Will Support Israel in the Future?
Misguided Jews protesting Israel. How far reaching is this? I note with dismay an article in Hamodia (republished at Cross Currents) by Rabbi Avi Shafran. Not because I disagree with him. But by what...
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Keeping Kosher in Israel
OU Mashgiach (supervisor) - for illustrative purposes only (Jerusalem Post)One of my first encounters with the religious politics in Israel was in the field of Kosher food supervision. It became...
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Rav Shmuel Auerbach, ZL
Rav Shmuel Auerbach, ZLI wasn't going to comment on the passing of Rav Shmuel Auerbach. I had some serious issues with him and felt it inappropriate to criticize someone so soon after his death. And...
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Who Would You Trust More?
Checking for worms (Arutz Sheva)Mudslinging is not one of my favorite tactics. I am not inclined therefore to listen to people or organizations that use it to further their agenda. Even when I might...
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