“If the accusation of heresy is bandied about constantly, with flimsy basis…, then it will lose any sort of meaning”
I worry that the constant misrepresentation of the boundaries of heresy, such that the...
Category Archives: Jewish
“Many Jews celebrate Purim, but not the chassidic Purim. The chassidic Purim is unique in its richness and multiplicity”
Many Jews celebrate Purim, but not the chassidic Purim. The chassidic Purim is unique...
“Alas it is the centrists who always suffer the most in these battles”
…one sad consequence of this schism and the internecine fighting leading up to it,...
“…Modern Orthodox education does stress some core beliefs: on the one side, the divinity of Torah law and the centrality of Jewish peoplehood and Zionism; on the other side, the unquestionable value of secular education and accomplishment”
…Modern Orthodox education does stress some core beliefs: on the one side, the divinity...
“Make this video aspirational because that’s what the bar/bat mitzvah is all about. It’s not about the child. It’s about our Jewish story”
The story that is important — the narrative that a child joins on this...
“…we must recognize there is a lot of good in all camps and we should support positive developments no matter where they originate”
As noted already, Rabbi Gordimer is an avid reader of Open Orthodox writings. In...
“The firmness of R. lsserles finds its fullest expression in his commentary on the Shulchan Aruch”
The firmness of R. lsserles finds its fullest expression in his commentary on the...
“A rabbi needs sufficient training to go deeper into Jewish tradition than a well-read Jew”
A rabbi needs sufficient training to go deeper into Jewish tradition than a well-read...
“The halakhic inquiry…does not start out from the point of absolute zero as to sentimental attitudes and value judgments”
The halakhic inquiry, like any other cognitive theoretical performance, does not start out from...
“One dramatic change in L.A. Jewish life is the emergence of Hollywood Jews…from the shadows”
One dramatic change in L.A. Jewish life is the emergence of Hollywood Jews —...