The Event Shockingly Has Nothing to Do with the Talmud Bavli. I kind of knew to expect this—forgive me if what follows sounds hopelessly naïve—but I was struck by how the event had no educational[…]
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Category: Haredim/Haredi-ism
“The way to rectify corrupt sexual mores is by replacing them with a healthy code of sexuality, not by advocating asexuality”
The way to rectify corrupt sexual mores is by replacing them with a healthy code of sexuality, not by advocating asexuality. Classical tzniut is too often predicated on the negation of people’s sexuality, creating a[…]
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“Historically, ideological matters were kept separate from halakhah”
Historically, ideological matters were kept separate from halakhah. The various rabbinic organizations in Europe and the United States were comprised of rabbis who held different views about Zionism and other matters. If you were a[…]
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“There is no substantial evidence to see if Aish’s movement is more effective than Chabad’s, but the more modern approach to the material does continue to set the difference in tone in these two online orthodox movements”
Like Chabad, Aish provides links to information about their schools and drop-in classes. The website has articles like “Nobituary” with a photo of Whoopi Goldberg, and the caption attached states, “One Jew’s creative way to[…]
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“…there is no such concept [of “falling in love”] in the haredi world”
…there is no such concept [of “falling in love”] in the haredi world (and in traditional Jewish societies, in both the Ashkenazic and Sephardic worlds, such a notion was hardly found at all). Any love[…]
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“…degrading one’s ideological opponents despite their great Torah knowledge…stands at the root of all the terrible disputes in the haredi world”
A basic feature of “official” haredism, especially in Israel, is the attitude that even if someone is a great posek, he is still disqualified if he doesn’t follow the correct Da’as Torah. It is hard[…]
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“As a religious person, I find the debate over women’s images in publications in itself embarrassing”
…when I am told constantly, that the religious world protects women from being objectified, by omitting their images — that this reflects some “essential community value” of appreciating women’s inner beauty over externals, I can’t[…]
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“But how can you be a light if almost no one can see you?”
…Orthodox answer is “to keep the commandments.” That suffices, we are reassured, because when Jews do that, Jews will be a light unto the nations. But how can you be a light if almost no[…]
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“…it is difficult to accept a haredi message about women’s more private roles when haredi kollel culture means that their women have to take jobs requiring much more exposure to the broader world…”
In general, it is difficult to accept a haredi message about women’s more private roles when haredi kollel culture means that their women have to take jobs requiring much more exposure to the broader world[…]
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“…Agudah finally threw in the towel and accepted the internet, setting up a website for the convention and broadcasting live…”
This past year, we were told that it was Agudath Israel of America’s 93rd convention. This convention was significant as the Agudah finally threw in the towel and accepted the internet, setting up a website[…]
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