This is the Forward’s coverage of Orthodox Judaism, which aims for a stricter observance of halachic law than Conservative or Reform Judaism. It includes Modern Orthodox Judaism, as well as Haredi (sometimes called ultra-Orthodox) Judaism,…
Orthodox Judaism
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Opinion Did Israeli Conversions Just Get a Lot Easier?
Immigrants from the former Soviet Union arrive in Israel. / Getty Images Did you hear about the latest coup for the Reform and Conservative movements in the Knesset? A new piece of legislation that passed the Law Committee today and is ready for voting in a few weeks will apparently bring closer a day when…
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Fast Forward Bloomingburg Mayor Mark Berentsen Who Backs Development Trails by 81-25 Vote
The mayor of a tiny upstate New York village who supports a massive development aimed at Hasidic Jews trails far behind a challenger — although many ballots were challenged and have yet to be counted. Bloomingburg Mayor Mark Berentsen, who backs the sprawling development, got just 25 votes in the election, compared to 81 for…
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Fast Forward Lev Tahor Children May Remain With Parents in Guatemala, Judge Rules
Six children from the haredi Orthodox sect Lev Tahor who fled Canada will be allowed to remain in Guatemala with their parents, but with conditions. Monday’s ruling by a Guatemalan family court judge allows the Lev Tahor members from two families to stay in the Central American country, but they must check in with the…
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Fast Forward Bloomingburg Votes Today Amid Hasidic Development Feud
The upstate New York village of Bloomingburg heads to the polls today for a contentious election that could determine the future of the one-stoplight village. Amid a bitter brawl over a planned 396-home Hasidic development, the election has become a battleground for both the Orthodox developer set on seeing through his large-scale development and fired-up…
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Life Requiem for a Sheitel Makher
Sheitels, or wigs for Orthodox women, come in different colors and styles to match women’s preferences — they are short and neat, long and wavy, matronly and sexy. Maintaining the freshness and vibrancy of a sheitel requires a skilled sheitel makher, a wig stylist. It’s a demanding job that calls for loads of patience, talented…
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Opinion An Unconventional Orthodox Rabbi
It isn’t every day that I find myself truly inspired by an Orthodox rabbi; it isn’t often that Forward readers hear me espouse such sentiments. But when the Forward put out a call to readers to nominate a rabbi that inspired or touched them in some way, I felt it my duty to nominate the…
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News Bitcoin Bites the Dust at Baltimore Shul After MtGox Goes Bust
A small Baltimore synagogue that pioneered use of bitcoin has decided to stop accepting the virtual exchange for donations after a leading exchange collapsed amid reports of seven-figure losses. Congregation Tiferes Yisroel had no relationship with MtGox, which declared bankruptcy over the snafu, and did not lose money when the bitcoin exchange went under. But…
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Fast Forward Mother and 5-Month-Old Infant Belonging to Lev Tahor Sect Taken Into Custody
Canadian authorities have taken into custody two more members of the fringe haredi Orthodox sect Lev Tahor. On Sunday, officials at Calgary’s airport seized a 17-year-old and her 5-month-old daughter. They are scheduled to fly back to Toronto. The mother and baby were part of a group of 14 Lev Tahor children who fled just…
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