A Time to Perfect Ourselves and Thereby the World

Posted on: September 27th, 2012

The Torah assures us that perfection of the world comes through perfection of self. On Rosh HaShana we daven for the world to become a better place. It's in our hands to make it so.

Iran, Israel and America

Posted on: September 25th, 2012

I have to believe that the prime minister has red lines. He knows when they will be crossed. He is not going to wait a moment beyond that to destroy Iranian nuclear reactors. He knows that if he doesn’t act decisively at the right moment - the consequences of a nuclear attack against Israel will rival those of the Holocaust. Only this Holocaust will be nuclear.

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The Atrocity of Ignorance and Fanaticism

Posted on: September 23rd, 2012

Recent anti-Christian acts are due to a culture of hatred of the goy (non-Jew) that permeates certain circles.

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A World Untouched by Civilization

Posted on: September 21st, 2012

The way of Meah Shearim is the way of the Mafia. Not civilization.

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There’s Still Something Wrong with this Picture

Posted on: September 20th, 2012

Charedi schools like Darkei Sarah now realize that the Charedi family can no longer survive on the kinds of menial jobs women can get without a decent education.

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For Victims of Abuse – A Warm Embrace

Posted on: September 19th, 2012

In part the altered lives victims of abuse and molestation live are a result of the abuse itself. But it is in part also because of the unfortunate negative reaction to the victims by their own community.

Just Say No… to the Nonsense of the iPhone Smashing Rabbis

Posted on: September 16th, 2012

Rabbi Lior Glazer smashed an iPhone with a hammer in a show of protest. Like virtually every other Rav in the very right-wing Charedi world of Bnei Brak, Glazer blames personal tragedies on technology and not the abnormal psychology of the individual. I am beginning to find that the more I see a story like this, the more I just want to fold up my tent, and go home. No matter how much one wants to be Dan L’Kaf Zechus and judge people and their actions favorably, a story like this comes along which makes it extremely difficult to do so.

To Inform or Not to Inform – That is the Question

Posted on: September 14th, 2012

With all the bacteria a mouth is known to contain - and the possibility that it might contain bacteria or viruses that are very harmful to a vulnerable 8-day-old child while an adult carrier might not even be aware of it - it is not exactly rocket science to know that putting your mouth on an open wound is not a good idea.

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The Emes Ve-Emunah People

Posted on: September 13th, 2012

The Emes Ve-Emunah blog recently ran an internal poll as to readers religious leanings, here blog author Harry Maryles analyzes the results.

An Eis La’asos – The Time is Ripe

Posted on: September 11th, 2012

Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie, the former president of the Union of Reform Judaism, has argued that the reform movement should look to Orthodox Judaism for guidance. Harry Maryles argues that this provides an important kiruv opportunity.

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The Road Paved with iPhones

Posted on: September 10th, 2012

There are many Halachic reasons to disqualify a witness. Owning an iPhone is not one of them.

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Changing Our Image for the Better

Posted on: September 8th, 2012

Rejecting something with knowledge is one thing, but most Jews in the world today have essentially rejected a life of Jewish observance with very little book or experiential knowledge.

Mrs. Brown’s Journey

Posted on: September 7th, 2012

But it is even more foolish in my view to not teach the science in the first place. Ignorance is our worst enemy. Because the minute one finds a contradiction to the insistence that only the most literal interpretation of the Torah is acceptable, believers can and often will sadly go the way or Mrs. Brown.

When Good People Cheat

Posted on: September 6th, 2012

Somehow, even though it should be obvious to them that the U.S. is different, they have retained the mindset that it’s OK to cheat “the Goyim” - if they can get away with it. And that is what causes the kind of Chilul HaShem that is happening here. And when the criminal is someone who is otherwise a good person, the Chilul HaShem is even greater.

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Why I Believe…

Posted on: September 5th, 2012

Some might call this Emunah Peshuta – simple belief. Perhaps. But it is not blind belief. I am not a blind believer. However, I can understand why someone would call my belief in the truth of Judaism blind.

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The Proper Performance of Bris Milah

Posted on: September 4th, 2012

When it comes to Metzitza B’Peh, we are not discussing a Biblical Commandment, nor are we referring to a Rabbinical enactment from the Gemarah's time. We are referring to a hallowed Minhag from days of yore to use the mouth only.

Metzitza B’Peh: Infant Russian Roulette

Posted on: September 3rd, 2012

I would be opposed to the government legislating against doing MbP. That it is considered so vital by so large a segment of Jewry combined by the low probability of a child ever contracting herpes moves me to oppose it. In this case I do feel that banning the procedure would be an unconstitutional impediment to freedom of religion. But that is not the law being proposed.

Keeping the Faith

Posted on: September 2nd, 2012

An increasing number of Orthodox Jews are questioning their faith and educators don't know how to respond.

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The Winds of Mysticism

Posted on: August 31st, 2012

The mysticism of Sephardim and Chasidus seems to be making in-roads. Especially with mainstream rabbinic figures supporting it. I sure hope this is only a passing fad.

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One Judaism, Two Perspectives on Dressing Modesty

Posted on: August 30th, 2012

Modern Orthodox and Chassidic cultural norms may differ, but members of both communities have a respect for Halachah and desire to serve God.

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