Category Archives: Hirhurim

Is It Permitted To Evaluate Your Teacher Honestly?

DF posts: "Very often "halacha" is just common sense. [Except in matters of ritual, where it is frequently the opposite.] In this case, Dr. Meir quotes the Chafetz Chayim to say you can use surveys if it’s constructive, and that … Continue reading

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The Responsa Of Louis Ginzberg

Rabbi Gil Student writes: R. Mintz discusses a number of responsa of this leader of the Conservative movement in the early twentieth century and acknowledged talmudic expert. R. Mintz advances the theory that Prof. Ginzberg was trying to balance the … Continue reading

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Equality In Shul

I think people who feel secure with themselves find most shuls to have a large amount of social equality, about as much as is desirable. For those with a chip on their shoulders, Jewish life revolves around the rich, blah, … Continue reading

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Papal Infallibility And Its Parallels In Orthodox Judaism

Rabbi Gil Student writes: There is a review in the new issue of First Things of a book by a Protestant scholar on papal infallibility (link – subscription required). To my surprise, mainly due to my ignorance of Catholic history, … Continue reading

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Using Torah For Secular Songs

Orthodox rabbi Gil Student blogs: The Forward has an article about a recent trend of mainstream Israeli singers using passages from the Bible and other religious texts in songs (link). While it is not clear to me how much of … Continue reading

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The Religious Zionist Approach To Jewish Law

Rabbi Gil Student writes: When I look at the halakhic writings that have emerged from the Religious Zionist sector in Israel, I am sometimes highly uncomfortable. In a recently published Orthodox Forum book, Religious Zionism Post Disengagement: Future Directions, there … Continue reading

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The Latest Issue Of Tradition Magazine

Rabbi Gil Student writes: A new issue of Tradition has been published (link): Let Him Who Is Not A Camel Among Youby R. Shalom Carmy – Makes the point that much of the media coverage of the impact of the … Continue reading

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A New Prayer Book From UK Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks

Rabbi Gil Student writes: Last week I had the pleasure of meeting Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks at a New York luncheon celebrating the publication of the new Koren Sacks Siddur (link). R. Shaul Robinson of Lincoln Square Synagogue arranged … Continue reading

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Orthodox Union Press Hires Rabbi/Blogger Gil Student

From Hirhurim: Link: OU Press Hires Rabbi Gil Student to be Managing Editor May 26, 2009 He’s a student of the publishing industry with hands-on experience running his own book company; he’s a knowledgeable businessman with years of experience in … Continue reading

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Redefining Marriage

Rabbi Gil Student blogs: "R. Yair Hoffman explains his opposition to the redefinition of marriage (link). If you ask me, I’d say that we should make civil unions that have all the rights of marriage but not the name, so … Continue reading

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