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Category Archives: Orthodoxy
‘Praying In Her Own Voice’
It’s a testament to my growing spiritual sensitivity that I’m able to enjoy a movie about such ugly women. People will either love or hate the protagonists of this documentary from Yael Katzir. The hour-long production makes no pretense about … Continue reading
Time Off From God
This morning the rabbi said there should be no time off from God. He bemoaned how kids in his religious school were unaware of the Torah portions between the middle of Bamidbar (Numbers) and the beginning of Devarim (Deuteronomy) because … Continue reading
Why Do People Become Orthodox?
Conservative rabbi David Wolpe of Temple Sinai writes: The three principal, positive reasons why I believe people choose to be Orthodox: community, coherence and connection. Community. Orthodoxy creates a powerful caretaking community. Little wonder that so many step into an … Continue reading
The One Problem With The Happy Minyan In Particular And Orthodox Judaism In General
The Happy Minyan meets on Shabbos at a karate studio. The bathroom is in the back, near the woman’s section. Women tend to congregate around the bathroom. There’s no loud fan in the bathroom and you couldn’t turn it on … Continue reading
The Role Of Midrash In Orthodox Jewish Education
I heard a talk decrying the use of midrash as a literature co-extensive with the Bible. Midrash is not so much scriptural interpretation as homiletics (inspiring stories), said the Orthodox rabbi, citing Maimonides. When we treat midrash as equal to … Continue reading
What Kind Of Moral Qualifications Do You Need To Lead Prayers At An Orthodox Shul?
Is it ok to have someone lead davening who desecrates the Sabbath? What about someone out of the closet and leading a gay life? Does the davener just need to have long pants (in America) and know the prayers? What … Continue reading
Why Don’t Orthodox Shuls Ever Start Their Shuvuot Learning Before 11 PM?
Some of us need our beauty sleep. Conservative shuls know how to do Shuvuot right. They tend to start around 9 pm. Beth Am on La Cienega and Olympic Blvds has a dynamic program.
Religious tensions at boiling point in Beitar Illite as 14-year-old girl attacked by member of town’s ‘modesty guard’
From YNET News: A 14-year-old girl from Beitar Illite was taken to the Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem after an unknown person spilled acid on her face, legs and stomach, causing light burn wounds. The act has been attributed … Continue reading
From Orthodox Rabbi To Secular Humanist
Rabbi David S. Gruber writes: Having grown up an Orthodox Jew since the age of eight, having gone to prominent Israeli high school and post high school yeshivas, having been ordained by the Chief Rabbis of Israel, having served as … Continue reading
Orthodox Jews Shocked By The Sex In ‘Sex and the City’
I’ve heard complaints from Orthodox Jews that the sex in this new movie is gratuituous. How can you have gratuituous sex in an R-rated movie called "Sex and the City" that is based on a sex-centered HBO show? What were … Continue reading