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 Charles Hynes Crushed by Kenneth Thompson in Brooklyn District Attorney Race
Longtime Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes lost his longshot reelection bid by a crushing 2-1 margin to Democrat Kenneth Thompson. Hynes, who had made his handling of sex abuse in the Orthodox community a key issue, fell to Thompson by 72%-to-28% in the general election. “I had a great, great run,” Hynes told a gathering…
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Opinion Fight for Chained Wives Goes Online
(JTA) — The websites look like those of political prisoners. Under the caption “Free Tamar Now!” there is a close-up photo of demonstrators with signs and megaphones. “Stop the abuse,” one sign reads. But FreeTamar.org and the Free Gital Facebook group seek emancipation not from literal bars or chains. Rather, they seek liberation for agunot…
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Opinion Why Is Orthodoxy Packing Up Big Tent?
Readers of Israel’s Haaretz.com, many of them liberal and secular, must have been surprised to read, in late October, a public manifesto, signed by 42 members of the Rabbinical Council of America castigating “Open Orthodox rabbis and leaders” in the United States. The signatories — none of them, it should be noted, an officer of…
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News Jews in Prison Stick With Faith To Cope With Flood of Anti-Semitism
Joseph was lying on his bunk, looking at the Hebrew blessings he’d hung on the wall to celebrate his first Hanukah in prison when his new, neo-Nazi cellmate was brought in. The man sported a large swastika tattoo on one arm, with Adolf Hitler’s face drawn in the center. “Skinhead” was tattooed across his chest…
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Opinion Who’s In and Who’s Out in Orthodoxy
At a time when most Jewish leaders are eagerly embracing anyone who claims a shred of Jewish identity or heritage, some Orthodox leaders are doing just the opposite: dramatically restricting the acceptable behaviors and belief systems of even their own. So we have the embarrassing spectacle of Rabbi Asher Lopatin, the new president of Yeshivat…
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Fast Forward Israel Bill Would Open Door to Adoption by Non-Orthodox Families
A new bill would allow non-Orthodox Israeli parents to adopt non-Jewish children. The bill was approved Sunday by the Ministerial Committee for Legislation and would amend the current Adoption Law. It must undergo a preliminary reading in the Knesset and pass two more readings before becoming official. Under the current law, only Orthodox couples are…
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News Brooklyn District Attorney Candidate Ken Thompson Backpedals on Hasidic Abuse Scandal
On the campaign trail, Ken Thompson, the Democratic candidate for Brooklyn district attorney, has sharply criticized incumbent Charles Hynes’ prosecution of a prominent Hasidic advocate against sexual abuse, even attending a rally calling for charges against the man to be dropped. But Thompson, who is widely expected to win the November 5 election, is now…
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News Space to Spare, Reform and Conservative Congregations Turn to Orthodox
(JTA) — Marla Topp of Temple Judea Mizpah in Skokie, Ill., doesn’t need survey data to tell her that Reform Judaism is in decline and Orthodox Judaism is growing. She has to look no further than her own synagogue. A couple of months ago, the temple began renting out unused classroom space to an Orthodox…
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