Category Archives: Orthodoxy

What’s The Difference Between A Torah Scholar And A Gadol?

In a lecture on rabbinic biographies for Torah in Motion, Orthodox rabbi and history professor Marc B. Shapiro says: “In the haredi world [ultra-Orthodoxy], [Rav J.B. Soloveitchik] is recognized as a Torah scholar but not as a gadol [great rabbi]. … Continue reading

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The Apprenticeship Of Luke Ford

I was listening to Dennis Prager’s radio show today. He’d just returned from his fifth trip to Australia, my homeland. Dennis said that Australia was over-regulated and rather reserved. An American woman phones in. “Australians are reserved. Timid. When I … Continue reading

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Australian Orthodox Rabbis Called Ministers

I’m looking at the website for the Central Synagogue of Sydney, Australia. Rabbis in the mainstream Orthodox synagogues of Great Britain are also called “ministers” and they used to wear robes like Reform rabbis in America. “Minister” is a Protestant … Continue reading

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It’s OK To Go To Lectures By Old Ladies

Marc B. Shapiro writes: “Who says we make no distinctions between a regular woman and what I termed a “very old” woman. R. Aviner told me that in his opinion it is forbidden to attend a lecture given by a … Continue reading

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San Francisco Orthodox Jews Are Unique

How do I count the ways? Even for many identifying Orthodox Jews in the Bay Area, being a leftist is more important than being Jewish. Heshy Fried elaborates: * The Gender Neutral Bencher * Kosher weddings with treife wine * … Continue reading

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