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Rabbi Marc D. Angel

ESSAY CONTEST: Making Orthodox Synagogues More Meaningful

We thank all those who shared their ideas on how to make Orthodox synagogues more meaningful. We've chosen SEVEN winners. Their suggestions can help our synagogues and communities be stronger, more creative, more engaging. The winning essays are from Pam Ehrenkranz (Stamford, Connecticut); Yael Kassorla (Atlanta, Georgia); Dr. Alan Krinsky (Providence, Rhode Island); Rabbi Arnold Samlan (West Hempstead, New York); Barbara Mendes (Los Angeles, California); Leonard Stein (Beer Sheva, Israel); and Hinda Bramnick (Boca Raton, Florida).

We hope that you discuss these suggestions among friends and congregants.

Let us work together for an intellectually vibrant, compassionate and inclusive Orthodox Judaism.

 

 

 

 

Conversion to Judaism: Halakha, Hashkafa, and Historic Challenge

Rabbi Marc D. Angel is Founder and Director of the Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals, and Rabbi Emeritus of Congregation Shearith Israel. Author and editor of 26 books, he wrote "Choosing to Be Jewish: The Orthodox Road to Conversion," available through the online store of our website jewishideas.org.  This article is reprinted with permission from Hakirah: The Flatbush Journal of Jewish Law and Thought, Volume 7, Winter 2009.

The Jewish community underwent cataclysmic changes during the course of the nineteenth century. While most of world Jewry was religiously observant in 1800, a large majority were no longer devoted to halakhic tradition by 1900. Nineteenth-century Orthodox rabbinic leadership had to cope with the rise of Reform Judaism, the spread of Haskala, the breakdown of communal authority over its members, the defection of Jews from Torah and mitzvoth-and from Judaism altogether.

The dramatic erosion in religious observance led to various responses among 19th century Orthodox rabbis.

An Insult to Women--and to Men!

We've all been reading of tensions in Israel due to the "Hareidization" of standards of conduct involving women and men. Serious problems have emerged in Bet Shemesh, because some Hareidim were disparaging and spitting at a modern Orthodox girl who was dressed modestly--but not according to Hareidi norms. There has been a long ongoing battle over public buses where the Hareidim demand that women sit in the back and the men in the front. They allow no intermingling of the genders, so they impose their values on everyone else.

The Puah Institute, specializing in medical research on women's health and especially on fertility issues, recently held a conference, but would not allow female doctors to present papers or to be on panels.

The Conversion Controversies Continue

The Israeli Chief Rabbinate has recently rejected the applications of several Orthodox Jewish converts who have applied to live in Israel. This rejection has been reported widely in the Jewish media, and has generated much discussion--and anger, frustration, disgust. These cases are being appealed, and we hope that these converts will indeed be allowed to settle in Israel as Jews.

The Chief Rabbinate only accepts Orthodox conversions performed under their jurisdiction and/or with their express approval. Orthodox rabbis who refuse to bend to the will of the Chief Rabbinate are excluded from the Chief Rabbinate's "approved" list.

This policy is problematic on many levels.

New Book on Jewish Ethics and Social Justice

Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz, founder and President of Uri L'Tzedek, has compiled a collection of his essays on various aspects of Jewish ethics and social justice. A graduate of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, Rabbi Yanklowitz has devoted considerable time and effort to studying and promoting an activist Orthodox Jewish agenda. Uri L'Tzedek has been at the forefront of a new generation of Orthodox idealism and social activism.

His new book is entitled "Jewish Ethics and Social Justice." It is scheduled for publication in March 2012, but can be pre-ordered at amazon.com.

"Recalling the Covenant"--an Important New Torah Commentary

Would you like to study Torah with a Rabbi who has mastery over the text, depth of understanding, and breadth of knowledge? Do you want a teacher who not only is steeped in classic rabbinic interpretation, but who is aware of and sensitive to the literary features of the text, the relationships of Torah narratives with ancient stories of the Near East, insights of modern biblical scholarship?

All of us should want such a Rabbi and Teacher of Torah.

We have such a Rabbi and Teacher of Torah: Rabbi Moshe Shamah.

Jewish "Without Religion"?

The Israeli newspaper, Haaretz, recently reported:

"One of Israel's most celebrated writers, Yoram Kaniuk, has resigned from the Jewish religion. He won his case in court to have the word "Jewish" removed from his identity at the Population Registry, and from now on he will be listed as 'without religion'. He is not alone. Apparently, hundreds of Israelis are lining up to follow his example."

Why would Israeli Jews--who live in the Jewish homeland, speak Hebrew, and feel comfortable as Jews--want to resign from the Jewish religion? What's their problem? According to halakha, one can never resign from one's Jewishness, so Mr. Kaniuk is Jewish regardless of what is recorded on the Israeli Population Registry.

Some Thoughts at a Time of Financial Turmoil

Recent economic news has been dis-heartening, to say the least. The current volatility of the stock market, which has been suffering serious losses, reflects the mood of uncertainty and pessimism that seems to have gripped our society.

Most of us are poorer today than we were several weeks ago.

Hopefully, the prevailing sense of fear and panic will soon subside, and things will return to "normal".  What can we learn from the financial crisis that can have lasting value for us? Here are a few ideas.

Religious Leadership--and/or Mis-leadership

A terrible crime recently made the headlines in Israel. A well-known rabbi, reputed to be a wonder-worker, had a large following of supporters who sought his prayers and blessings. One such follower came to him to seek a prayer/blessing so that a certain result would ensue. The rabbi offered his prayer/blessing and assured the man that the requested miracle would occur.

The miracle did not occur.

The man became enraged that the rabbi had misled him and had not delivered on his promise of a miracle. Apparently the man had made a contribution to the rabbi to ensure the effectiveness of the prayer. In a fit of fury, the man went to the rabbi and stabbed him to death!

Important New Developments: A Report from Israel

Shalom uvrakha to all members and supporters of the Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals. During the past several weeks, I have had many meetings during our stay here in Jerusalem. I've met with current and future authors of articles for our journal, Conversations, and our website jewishideas.org. I gave a lecture at the Pardes Institute, and will be speaking this Shabbat at one of the local synagogues.  Our Institute works with like-minded groups in Israel, and I'm pleased to be able to report some important developments.

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