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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Fast Forward Independent Rabbinical Court Addressing Agunot To Be Launched Next Year
A new independent rabbinical court to address the issue of agunot, so-called “chained women” whose husbands refuse to give them a religious writ of divorce, will be launched next year. The announcement of the court, or beit din, was made Sunday at the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance conference in New York. Rabbi Simcha Krauss of…
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Life The Rise of Ultra-Orthodox Beauty Salons
According to the BBC, a quiet revolution is taking place among ultra-Orthodox women in Jerusalem. They have discovered the power of mascara. There are, of course, numerous strict restrictions on these women when it comes to their appearance. They must wear modest clothes — no elbows, no collar bones — cover their heads, and many…
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Fast Forward Haredim Protest Jailing of Yeshiva Student Refusing IDF Draft
Hundreds of haredi Orthodox protesters took part in a second day of demonstrations against the jailing of a yeshiva student who refused to present himself at an IDF enlistment center. The yeshiva student was imprisoned on Sunday for two weeks. During Thursday’s demonstrations in Kikar HaShabbat in Jerusalem, protesters set trash bins alight and threw…
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Fast Forward Israel Chief Rabbinate Extends Time For Couples to Register Intention to Marry
Israel’s Chief Rabbinate extended the time within which a couple can register its intention to marry from three months to one year. The rabbinate came to the decision on Monday, Rabbi Nachman Rosenberg, executive vice president of the Tzohar rabbinical organization, told JTA. Rosenberg said the added time is a boon to couples who were…
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Fast Forward British Orthodox Body Condems Shul For Allowing Women to Hold Torah
Britain’s umbrella body of Orthodox communities is condemning a London Orthodox synagogue that allows women to hold Torah scrolls. Earlier this year, Golders Green United Synagogue began giving women an opportunity to handle the Torah scroll on Shabbat mornings and festivals, and the change has been well received by members of the community, according to…
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News ‘Chained Wives’ Find Halachic Pre-Nuptial Agreement Is No Panacea
(JTA) — For years, Rachel Light felt like a hostage, worried she would be forever trapped in her marriage to Eben Light. Even in April 2012, after Eben was arrested for allegedly threatening her and was slapped with a restraining order, Rachel was unable to get a writ of Jewish divorce, or get. That made…
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Opinion The Trouble With Idealizing Hasidim
Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein have yet to sell shtreimels. But one fashion commentator — and a whole lot of YouTube viewers — think Hasidic garb is worth another look. “The Substance of Hasidic Style,” a video posted by fashion platform StyleLikeU (and reposted by Upworthy), has garnered more than 170,000 views after it was…
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News Marc Schneier Gets Married (Again!) — and RCA May Move To Resolve Dispute
In the past few months, Rabbi Marc Schneier, founder and president of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding and leader of a star-studded synagogue in the Hamptons, has been busy. The foundation launched a month-long series of programs in Jewish and Muslim houses of worship, while Schneier has been jetting around the globe engaged in his…
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