Tag: American Jewry

Gedolim are not perfect. They are human, just like the rest of us. A true Gadol will always try to do the right thing. And the public should not lose out because of occasional errors.

It is ethical and moral behavior that makes us a light unto the nations.

Public relations is nearly the whole ball game and we Jews have lost the battle not just in modern times with Israel but throughout a long and tragic history

Many singles are not facing a crisis of shidduchim but a crisis of identity, wrestling with existential questions most families simply do not have the time to consider.

In a world of cynics and naysayers, where too many people almost instinctively assume the worst of their fellow citizens, our generation was fortunate to have Ed Koch.

Metzizah b'peh is not even required by many Orthododx poskim. In fact it is actually discouraged by some.

Jews and Christians here are to the right of the Likud's Benjamin Netanyahu.

After all, who has time to sit in the dark and watch narishkeit? We have a country to build.

In Israel, many of us mistakenly think that world Jewry and international politicians have nothing else on their minds but what's happening in Israel. The opposite is the case.

If we can’t forcibly draft Diaspora Jews, then it’s up to them to enlist on their own.

Odd that CUFI is out there swinging and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee is silent.

In his new book Movers and Shakers, Elliot Resnick was able to capture the essence of each of his subjects.

Among the many things Judaism can do for you is to give meaning to your life.

It is vital for religious Jews of all ages to be involved in public service in some form or another.

Jewish life changes when we are in Galut. Not only does our Clalli soul disappear, but every detail of our life is affected.

By and large, American Jews are not really waiting for Mashiach to come.

One of the most informative books I have ever read on the subject of early 20th century American Jewry was Rabbi Aaron Rakeffet’s biography of Bernard Revel, the 1st President of Yeshiva University. The picture painted of American Jewry in the Revel bio matches that of Rabbi Rakeffet’s own autobiographical account of growing up in pre-war era New York. To put it simply - Orthodox Judaism as we know it today did not exist.

In two weeks millions of Jews will cry out, "Next Year in Jerusalem" and millions more will cry out, "Vote for Obama." And we shall see whose faith will prevail.

Beinart has decided that it is acceptable to boycott products from the West Bank but he encourages purchasing products from what he inaccurately and annoyingly refers to as "democratic" Israel. Here again is the latest form of idol worship that plagues Beinart and many left-wing American Jews - democracy.

Last month’s column outlined the struggle that took place at the beginning of the Civil War to get Congress to allow the appointment of Jewish army chaplains. Originally only Christian clergymen could serve as chaplains, and it was only as a result of pressure from the American Jewish community that in 1861 Congress passed a new law allowing ordained clergy of other religions to serve as chaplains. The Reverend Arnold (Adolph) Fischel (1830-1894) played a key role in this effort.

“The American tradition of the military chaplaincy is as old as the United States itself. Clergymen served with the armies of the individual colonies almost from the first battle of the Revolution, and provisions for the payment of chaplains were enacted by the Continental Congress as early as 1775.

Dear American Jews, I wish to apologize in the name of the State of Israel. We have heard our ad campaign encouraging ex-pat Israelis to come home has offended many of you. That was certainly not the intent, and if it did offend, we are sorry.

I wish to apologize in the name of the State of Israel. We have heard that our ad campaign encouraging ex-pat Israelis to come home has offended many of you. That was certainly not the intent, and if it did offend, we are sorry.

Anyone familiar with Jewish history knows of the blood libels that have been used against Jews for centuries.

That which transpired during these past few weeks should have shaken us all. To be sure, traumatic events have been pounding away at American Jewry for years now - as a matter of fact, from 9/11 on. But few of us have taken them to heart. Something was happening and is happening in the world, but we choose not to see or hear. It's easier to attribute everything to natural causes because then we can go on our merry way and indulge in business as usual.

From 1654, when the first Jews arrived in North America, until 1840, when the first Orthodox ordained rabbi, Rav Abraham Rice, settled in Baltimore, American Jewry was led by chazzanim and baalei batim (private individuals) who had better than average Torah educations. These men did their best to fill the void in rabbinical leadership that characterized American Jewish life until the last few decades of the nineteenth century.

Last week it was reported that major supporters of Brandeis University have cut off their donations in retaliation for the university's hosting of Israel and American-Jewry basher and former president Jimmy Carter on campus.

It may sound like the starkest of contradictions, but Abigail Pogrebin's Stars of David: Prominent Jews Talk About Being Jewish (Broadway Books) is as depressing as it is addictive.

Most American Jews are orthodox. No, that's not a misprint, nor is it a sign that I've taken leave of my senses. In fact, the bulk of American Jewry is very orthodox. The problem is, they're very orthodox in their liberalism, not their Judaism -- and therein lies the answer to all the costly studies, surveys and polls commissioned by Jewish organizations in their never-ending quest to understand why Jews are assimilating themselves out of existence.