MK Aryeh Deri derided Modern Orthodoxy as “Borderline Reform” as reported by Israel TV’s Channel 2. This head of the Haredi Sefardic political party, Shas, has served a prison term for criminal corruption, hardly a badge of honor for an Orthodox spokesman we would expect to be committed as a matter of conscience to “doing what is right and good” [Deut 6:18].
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(This article originally appeared in The Jewish Journal, February 23, 2016)
Rabbi Yona Metzger served as the Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi of Israel from 2003 to 2013. He was indicted in 2015 for various crimes, including fraud, bribery, breach of public trust, theft, money-laundering, tax violations, conspiracy to commit a felony—all while serving as Chief Rabbi.
It is with sadness that we record the passing of Mr. Allen Nussbaum. We extend heartfelt sympathy to his wife Miriam, and to their children and grandchildren. On a personal note, Allen was our mehutan, father of our son-in-law Dr. James Nussbaum.
In February 2010, I wrote a blog in reaction to a proclamation of the "Moetzes Gedolei haTorah" of the Agudat Israel, in which they declared that women are not allowed to serve in "rabbinic" positions since this is a violation of Torah tradition. (https://www.jewishideas.org/blog/women-orthodox-religious-leaders)
We posted an article by Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo, in which he faults Orthodox synagogues for their tepid response to the tragedies going on in Syria. You can find the article on the homepage of jewishideas.org.
A black professional football player recently refused to stand during the pre-game singing of the American National Anthem. "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color," he said after the game.
I write these words of eulogy in New York, being unable to be with you in Seattle for the funeral of Elazar Behar. [The funeral took place on Monday, August 29, 2016.] I write with a heavy heart. Lazar was a lifelong friend and I—along with all of you—feel a profound sense of loss.
Did Esti Weinstein die in vain?
When we were in Jerusalem in late June, we heard the news of the suicide of Esti Weinstein, a 50 year old Israeli woman. She left a suicide note: “In this city I gave birth to my daughters, in this city I die because of my daughters.”