Category Archives: Orthodoxy

The Loss Of Privacy

Ziona Greenwald writes for The Jewish Press: Anthony Weiner is the latest in a long line of public figures caught by surprise at the unveiling of their own closet misdeeds. Weiner (and Arnold Schwarzenegger, and the still-presumed-innocent Dominique Strauss-Kahn, and … Continue reading

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Driving While Davening

Kirk emails: Leaving my house this morning to go to work, a van approaches with a driver (long beard, black hat) that was swerving while making his way down the street. When he passed me I noticed he had a … Continue reading

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Man Tricks Woman By Claiming To Be Elijah The Prophet

Watch the whole show.

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My Anguish Over Hot Orthodox Married Women Dressing Provocatively

I got this tip from Heshy Fried about a letters column in the Jewish Press: Dear Rachel, I am writing this out of my soul-piercing anguish at the epidemic of married “frum” women who dress provocatively. They shamelessly dare to … Continue reading

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The Synagogue In America: A Short History by Marc Lee Raphael

This is a superb new book. I just picked it up at the library and I can’t put it down. It has lots of stories about Los Angeles in general and Pico-Robertson in particular. On page 95, professor Raphael writes: … Continue reading

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Orthodox Judaism Is A Hardball Religion

In the Torah, Moshe and company put to death an Israelite for gathering sticks on the Sabbath. Orthodox Judaism plays hardball. This surprises many outsiders who have a picture of religion as primarily a spiritual loving community. Orthodox Judaism has … Continue reading

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This Story’s For Me

Yehuda emails: Luke, This story is for you. 1. It is about something in California. 2. The girl is a blonde. 3. It’s about male members. 4. It involves an Orthodox shul. 5. Someone gets kicked out of said Orthodox … Continue reading

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The Greening Of American Orthodox Judaism: Yavneh in the 1960s by Benny Kraut

I first heard about this new book in an exciting review by Lawrence Grossman: Orthodoxy is the only form of Judaism that is exuding self-confidence, that holds its own demographically, and whose children, for the most part, are steeped in … Continue reading

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Baruch HaShem, My Dog Was Nifter

Heshy Fried gives this guide to sounding more religious, more Orthodox, than you really are: Funeral: Say Levaya instead Death, died or passed away: Nifter is the supreme substitute, if you want to be a bit more moderishe, but not … Continue reading

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You Can’t Observe The Sabbath In Your Heart Only

A couple of weeks ago was Shuvuot. I got asked why I could not come in to my Alexander Technique training on those two days. I mentioned first that driving was prohibited on holy days but said the main thing … Continue reading

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