Category Archives: Marc B. Shapiro

Distorting The Jewish Dietary Laws

Moshe Zev posts to Marc B. Shapiro: I would love to see more about how kashrus has been distorted today in America. We have been taught to believe that nothing is kosher unless it has a certification. Yet it is … Continue reading

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Should You Only Trust A Vaad?

A "vaad" is a council of rabbis, like the RCC, the dominant Jewish law court in California. Marc B. Shapiro blogs: Experience has shown that a rabbi who is financially corrupt can easily win back his reputation (and in some … Continue reading

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The Pretty Woman Sheitl

Dr. Marc B. Shapiro blogs: "One wonders if he was writing his book today, which problems he would identify. I don’t think English sermons would still be an issue for him, although I think it is fair to say that … Continue reading

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The Rav Vs. The Eruv

Dr. Marc B. Shapiro blogs: In Boston, as long as R. Joseph B. Soloveitchik was active, there was no eruv. The Rav publicly declared: I am opposed to the establishment of eruvin. An eruv in American means the abolishment of … Continue reading

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One Way To Get Rid Of A Rabbi

Dr. Marc B. Shapiro blogs: Speaking of rabbis who were chased out of their communities, let me repeat what I heard from the late Rabbi Louis Jacobs.[13] This story is not documented anywhere, but is something that Jacobs no doubt … Continue reading

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The Chemical Method Of Studying Talmud

Dr. Marc B. Shapiro blogs: The Ridbaz’ attack on the Brisker method is well known. In the introduction to his responsa, Beit Ridbaz (Jerusalem, 1908), Ridbaz writes as follows: A certain rabbi invented the "chemical" method of study. Those in … Continue reading

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Do I Own My Own Torah Thoughts?

As I spend my days engaging with the sacred texts, I often jot down my insights. This is just part of my communication with God and His Torah. It pains me to think that these private musings might be made … Continue reading

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Modern Orthodoxy Vs Traditional Orthodoxy

Shula Cohen writes on Hirhurim: "Every time that Modern Orthodoxy bows to Hareidi Judaism, even implicitly, as being more authentic, it damages itself. If Modern Orthodoxy is to thrive it must defend itself…arguing…why it is a superior form of Judaism…" … Continue reading

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The Strange Charedi Judaism Of Aish HaTorah

In his second lecture on Rav Elazar Shach, Dr. Marc B. Shapiro says: "His antipathy to kiruv (outreach) has nothing to do with his feelings for Chabad. What does it mean to do kiruv? It means to leave the yeshiva. … Continue reading

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Papal Infallibility And Its Parallels In Orthodox Judaism

Rabbi Gil Student writes: There is a review in the new issue of First Things of a book by a Protestant scholar on papal infallibility (link – subscription required). To my surprise, mainly due to my ignorance of Catholic history, … Continue reading

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