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Jewish Ideas

Has God "Relocated" from Our Synagogues?

My dear and respected friend, Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo, recently wrote an article about the "relocation" of God. Here is an excerpt from that article.

The Conversion Crisis

This article appears in Haaretz, February 8, 2013: http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/converts-to-judaism-are-victims-of-israel-s-insulting-and-cruel-rabbinate.premium-1.502333

Reflections on the Conversion Crisis and the Rabbanut.
By Rabbi Marc D. Angel

(Rabbi Angel is Founder and Director of the Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals (jewishideas.org); and Rabbi Emeritus of the historic Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue of New York City, founded 1654. Author and editor of 31 books, he is Past President of the Rabbinical Council of America (Orthodox), and a co-founder of the International Rabbinic Fellowship, an association of modern Orthodox rabbis.)

Salaries of Executives in Jewish not-for-profit organizations: Thinking about our Charity Dollars.

The "Forward" (December 10, 2012) has published an article listing the salaries of executives in Jewish not-for-profit organizations. Eighteen of these individuals are earning over $400,000 per year, with the top salary at over $879,000. When the "Forward" published its report last December, I wrote the following Angel for Shabbat column. It seems to be just as relevant today as it was then...perhaps moreso.

Prudence in Good Times and Bad: Thoughts for Parashat Mikkets
By Rabbi Marc D. Angel

Thanks to Joseph’s interpretation of Pharaoh’s dreams, the Egyptians were spared a terrible calamity. Joseph offered a plan whereby the Egyptians could store produce of the seven years of abundance, so that they would have food during the following seven years of famine.

Controversies at the Kotel: A Suggestion

The Jerusalem Post and other media reported that a leader of "Women of the Wall" was arrested at the Kotel in Jerusalem for raising her voice in song and prayer. She, together with a group of hundreds of women, have been attempting to gain the right for women to pray at the Kotel, each according to her preferred style of prayer--with prayer shawls, chanting aloud, reading from the Torah etc.

The arrested woman was kept in prison overnight, and complained that she was treated as though she were a notorious and dangerous criminal.

Refugees in Israel: Guest Blog by Rabbi Eliezer (Louis) Finkelman

(Rabbi Finkelman is a member of the International Rabbinic Fellowship. He earned his rabbinic ordination at Yeshiva University, and has a PhD in Comparative Literature from the City University of New York. He teaches literature at Lawrence Technological University, as well as adult education classes in his local Federation.)

To be or not to be (considered Jewish): that is the question! Blog comments by Jack Goldstein

(Jack Goldstein is an active member of the Jewish community in Bogota, Colombia. He manages Lancaster House, Hotel and Conventions, in Bogota.)

Upon arriving to the gates of heaven, Moishe Pippick is received by God, who offers him a succulent meat dish to welcome him. Moishe, neither short nor lazy, and already accustomed to dodge these situations, asks: “Respected God, and who supervised the shechita?” Quite surprised, the Lord says “But if I, your God, am offering it to you! Perhaps you doubt me?” Moishe with little humility replies: “You know what? Better give me a salad.”

Two Communities, One Destiny

(This article, by Rabbi Marc D. Angel, appeared in the Israeli newspaper, Haaretz, May 23, 2012.)

“Something there is that does not love a wall.” So wrote the great American poet, Robert Frost. Walls divide us, separate us, block us from free contact with each other. And yet, we can’t live without walls. We need boundaries to maintain our individual selves, our communities, our nations. Just as we feel the need to resent walls, we also need to appreciate their value.

But where to draw boundaries and where to build walls are matters of great controversy.

"Marriage Equality"--A Blog by Rabbi Marc D. Angel

President Obama framed his endorsement of same-sex “marriage” as an advancement of civil rights and “marriage equality.” After all, why shouldn’t two people who love each other be allowed to marry?

Fyodor Dostoevski once wrote: “If there is no God, then everything is permissible.” Stated another way, if morality is entirely determined by human beings, then human beings can decide what they think is moral or immoral. God is not part of the equation. Thus, if humans decide that same sex “marriage” is moral, then that is their right. God has no say in the matter.

What About Me? A Blog Essay by a Frum Man With Complaints

What About Me?

“The slave lives in silence, if such a meaningless existence may be called life. He has no message to deliver. In contrast with the slave, the free man bears a message, has a good deal to tell, and is eager to convey his life story to anyone who cares to listen.” (Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik, “Redemption, Prayer, Talmud Torah”)

For the past few decades, we have all examined, explored, debated, and tried to adjust the women’s role in Torah observant Judaism to work more productively with contemporary sensibilities and realities. I appreciate the need, the effort, and some of the results. However, as a man I often say to myself, as did the simple attendant to the demanding Shakespearean stage actor in the 1983 film The Dresser, “What about me?”

The Exodus, The Jewish People, and Resilience: blog thoughts from Dr. Esta Miran

EXODUS: GOD’S GUIDE ON DEVELOPING RESILIENCE

By Esta Miran, Ed.D.

(Esta Miran, Ed.D. works for Dr. Michael D. Miran, Ph.D., Psychologist PC. She has published extensively in the area of Creativity.)

The story of the Exodus has always boggled my mind. On the one hand, God is promising the Jewish people freedom from slavery. Then God actively manages the journey to freedom by obstructing the effort. God sends Moses and Aaron to Pharaoh asking “Let my people go.” Then God hardens Pharaoh’s heart and Pharaoh refuses to release the Israelites from slavery. This happens again and again. How can we make sense out of Exodus? God explains that he wants to show Pharaoh, the Israelites, and all Peoples His “miraculous signs and wonders.” God wants to “display His Powers.”