What Makes Halakhic Thinking Moral?
Only when halakha manifests a deep passion for justice and human sensitivity will it secure the wide allegiance of Jews today. Moral integrity is, therefore, an existential imperative for contemporary halakha.
Articles
Why Is No One Ensuring That Hasidic Kids Get A Real Education?
Hasidic children often receive less than adequate general education. Lacking basic skills in math, English, science and social studies, they are handicapped when seeking gainful employment. Yaffed is an organization which works to ensure that Hareidi schools are held responsible for meeting State standards for general education.
As Orthodox Rabbis, We Support the Israeli Supreme Court Decision
The Israeli Supreme Court has ruled that the State of Israel must recognize conversions performed by Conservative and Reform rabbis in Israel, for purposes of Israeli Jewish citizenship. This decision has raised a firestorm of controversy, with much of the Orthodox religious and political leadership condemning it. Rabbis Weiss and Angel offer a positive Orthodox response. This article appeared in the March 4, 2021 Jerusalem Post.
Voices of the Western Sephardic Tradition in Nineteenth- and Twentieth-Century America
Rabbi Marc D. Angel describes the lives and teachings of significant American Sephardim of the Western Sephardic tradition. These men and women were influential during the course of their lifetimes...and deserve to be remembered and appreciated.
Minhagim: Divinity and Diversity
We may find it jarring to come into contact with Jews who observe minhagim different from ours. We may think that their practices are quaint, or odd, or plain wrong....The hope is that through greater awareness and empathy, we will function as a stronger, happier, and more diverse Jewish community. We need a genuine recognition that in our various searches for Divinity, different Jewish communities have followed diverse—perfectly halakhic and proper—roads.
The Grasshopper Effect and Other Defects in Modern Orthodox Leadership
Since the days of Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch, the Orthodox world has been blessed with many great leaders and thinkers who have scrupulously observed halakha (Jewish law) but who have, at the same time, adjusted to the modern world, including its science and technology. In more recent times, we have been fortunate to have Yeshiva University as guided by Rabbi Norman Lamm and more recently by Richard Joel. We have had a series of outstanding chief rabbis of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth, most recently, Jonathan Sacks. There was the incomparable Joseph B.
Conversion to Judaism: Halakha, Hashkafa, and Historic Challenge
The current policies of the Orthodox rabbinic/beth din establishment are causing anguish to thousands of would-be converts and their families; are turning would-be converts away from Orthodoxy; are de-legitimizing Orthodox rabbis and converts who do not subscribe to the "establishment" positions; are causing thousands of halakhic converts to fear that their and their children's halakhic status will be undermined.
Interpersonal Mitzvoth and Mitzvoth Between Humans and God
It is well known that all mitzvoth fall into two major categories: those between humans are God-bein adam laMakom, and those between humans and their fellows-bein adam leHaveiro. The question we wish to discuss here is which of these two categories is, as it were, more weighty. Formulated differently: If there were to be a clash between two different mitzvoth from these two categories, which one would prevail?
Maimonides: Pioneer of Positive Psychology
Maimonides’ extensive writings are both important and relevant for the rapidly growing field of knowledge: namely, positive psychology. Why? Many people are seeking to gain a greater sense of spirituality in their lives. This article highlights Maimonides’ teachings related to this important new specialty, what its originators have called “the study of character strengths and virtues.”
Youtube Classes by Rabbis Hayyim and Marc Angel
Rabbis Hayyim and Marc Angel recently gave Zoom classes, and each class has been posted on our Institute's website: youtube.com/jewishideasorg Here are brief descriptions of the classes. This enables you to learn from the classes at your own convenience. Enjoy...and Learn!