Category Archives: Orthodoxy

Google Your Way To Orthodox Judaism

People treat you the way you train them. If you let them get away with it, people will abuse you. If you appeal to their nasty side, you’ll get treatment. If you appeal to their nobility, you’ll get that. I’ve … Continue reading

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Google Your Way To Orthodox Judaism

My helpful essay on how to convert to Orthodox Judaism. Watch the whole show.

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A Brief History Of My Beard

Noon. Thursday. Jan. 31. 2008. I’m at the Robertson branch of the Los Angeles Public Library leafing through the February issue of Commentary magazine. It’s been a few days since I’ve shaved. I stop at an article on the role … Continue reading

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Wanna Be Friends?

A couple of years ago in a fit of reckless need, I friend requested half a dozen rabbis I knew. Some of these rabbis, I’ve known for more than a decade. I was dying to know if they were willing … Continue reading

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Being Desired By Beautiful Women

Fred emails: Reb yid, Been a lurking fan ever since the Protocols. While you gravitate towards Yiddishkeit, I am repelled by it. Not repulsed, as I once was, after being a ritualistic agnostic and feigning the part of a litvisheh … Continue reading

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Is is proper to celebrate when a wicked person dies?

I love this issue because it separates Torah scholars from pretend Torah scholars. Anyone who says that the Torah prevents us from celebrating the death of a terrorist is a pretend Torah scholar and a fool. Most congregational rabbis have … Continue reading

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Casino Jack

I enjoyed this new film about disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff. It reminded me of myself. Like Jack, I converted to Orthodox Judaism (he was born Jewish but came to Orthodoxy later in life) but simultaneously yearned to be a big … Continue reading

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Rethinking Jewish Day Schools

From DonnaBurstyn.com: I was calculating what I spent on the education of my four daughters before they hit college. Three of them went to Orthodox Jewish day schools. A fourth one went until third grade and then was in other … Continue reading

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I Hate It When I’m Just A Symbol

I hate it when I’m just a stand-in for somebody you truly hate. A couple of years ago, I had a woman flee my place after her first visit because my beard and my Orthodoxy made her feel like she … Continue reading

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Orthodox Judaism In The Post-Modern World

I often get asked why I don’t always speak and behave in accord with Orthodox Judaism. With Orthodox Jews, I just say, “I’m not there yet.” With the goyim, I never answer by watering down Orthodox Judaism and pretending that … Continue reading

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