Category Archives: Marc B. Shapiro

Was One Jewish Grandparent Enough To Send You To The Concentration Camps?

In his second lecture on R. Shlomo Yosef Zevin for Torah in Motion, historian Marc B. Shapiro says: Every Jew knows that if you had only one Jewish grandparent, you were sent to the camps. Not true. If you had … Continue reading

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Marc B. Shapiro: The Worst Thing Chabad Did

According to Wikipedia: “[Yosef Yitzchok (Joseph Isaac), the sixth Lubavitcher rebbe] Schneersohn argued against his Hasidim leaving Russia[in the 1920s, 1930s], even if they were able do. He explicitly forbade his followers from leaving, describing those who did as “deserters”.” … Continue reading

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Orthodox Jewish Definitions Of Modesty

I grew up a Seventh-Day Adventist. Compared to other Christians, Adventists feel modest. By Muslim and Orthodox Jewish standards, however, they dress like hookers. Modest Adventist women feel little compunction about walking around in pants or shorts or knee-length dresses … Continue reading

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May Women Be Called To The Torah?

Historian Marc B. Shapiro writes: R. Samuel Portaleone’s opinion that in theory it is permitted to give a woman an aliyah in a private synagogue. Without knowing of Portaleone’s view, R. Yehuda Herzl Henkin concluded that ”if done without fanfare, … Continue reading

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Does A Woman Singing The National Anthem Cause You Sexual Thoughts?

If not, I say it is permitted to listen. Historian Marc B. Shapiro writes: My correspondent further wrote: “I wanted to let you know that the son of Rabbi _____ (former president of the RCA [name deleted by MS]) told … Continue reading

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