Monthly Archives: March 2012

When Mechitzas Weren’t Kosher

Posted on March 14, 2012 by Luke Ford

From the second lecture on the Rabbi Abraham Samuel Sofer (Ketav Sofer) for Torah in Motionby Orthodox rabbi and history professor Marc B. Shapiro: “In those days (19th Century), you didn’t have mechitzas in Hungary. You had women up in … Continue reading →

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How Much Secular Learning Does A Rabbi Need?

Posted on March 14, 2012 by Luke Ford

At the Hungarian Jewish Congress of December 14, 1868, German Modern Orthodox rabbi Esriel Hildesheimer said it would not be a problem if the government required rabbis to have a secular degree. That would be the law of the land … Continue reading →

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Underbelly – Australia’s Best Crime Drama

Posted on March 14, 2012 by Luke Ford

I love this TV show. It is based on a mafia war in Melbourne between 1995-2004. (Episode One – warning – there’s a lot of shagging) It’s a jungle out there.

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Eager Young Minds?

Posted on March 14, 2012 by Luke Ford

Steve Lopez writes in the Los Angeles Times about California: “At every level, cuts decimate once-great institutions and devalue our greatest resource — eager young minds.” I went to school for many years in California and only on the rarest … Continue reading →

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Is The Shulchan Aruch The Jewish Constitution?

Posted on March 14, 2012 by Luke Ford

One frequently given definition of an Orthodox Jew is one who abides by the 15th Century code of Jewish law — the Shulchan Aruch. In his third lecture on Rabbi Abraham Samuel Sofer (Ketav Sofer) for Torah in Motion, Orthodox … Continue reading →

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