31 Jul Conversion Annulments
Over the past few years we have witnessed a disturbing questioning of the validity of long-standing conversions to Judaism. This is a very sensitive topic because many converts — nearly...
Shabbos Times for Oct 18, 2024 | 16 Tishrei, 5785 | | Candle Lighting Time: 5:52 PM | Havdalah (72 min): 7:22 PM
24 Jul Escape from Christian Europe
After Jews were formally expelled from Christian countries, those who remained had to convert to Christianity and maintain their Jewish identities at the risk of their lives. Many attempted to...
17 Jul Barefoot in Shul
I. RASHBASH AND CHUMRA Religious life tends toward conservatism, retaining the practices and rhythms of prior years. New stringencies are often derided as fanaticism, an offensive rejection of earlier generations’ religiosity....
11 Jul A SICILIAN MOB IN JEWISH GREECE
I. UNITY OR COMMUNITY? In 1546, a rabbi tried to unite the Jewish community of Patras, in western Greece and at the time part of the Ottoman Empire. Or as the...
03 Jul Are Casinos Kosher?
A casino visit can be a fun way to spend your leisure time and money but is it a kosher trip? There is more to discuss than just the greed that energizes...
26 Jun Turning a Shul into a Church
I. LOWER EAST SIDE DISPUTE The question has arisen numerous times whether a community may buy a church building to be used as a shul. In the 1850’s, such a question...
19 Jun Lack of Rabbi in the Modern Era
The modern era presents unique challenges to traditional religion. Most changes are matters of a phenomenon’s extent, quantity rather than quality. However, a greatly expanded phenomenon may require a different...
12 Jun Torah and Insight, Not Song
How we treat the Torah impacts what we learn from it. The Torah in its broadest sense is a source of knowledge, a combination of divine revelation and human interpretation....
05 Jun Do You Need a Rabbi for a Wedding?
I. WHAT A RABBI DOES Most of us have been to enough Jewish weddings that we know how they work. We can easily officiate. Even without a big crowd, all a...
29 May My Leniency & Your Stringency
The complex nature of halachah leads to multiple opinions on various issues — expert judgment often varies. We expect that two scholars who legitimately disagree still respect each other’s right...