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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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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Israel News Israel Jewish Marriage Law Relaxes Orthodox Grip a Bit
In a landmark vote, the Knesset has allowed Israeli Jewish couples to do what their American counterparts have long done: Shop for a rabbi. The Knesset vote marked the first tangible gain for secular Israel since the country’s ultra-Orthodox parties were frozen out of the government after the last election. But the new law still…
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Fast Forward Bill to Legalize Civil Marriage in Israel Submitted to Knesset
A bill that would legalize civil marriages in Israel was submitted to the Knesset. Under the measure presented Tuesday by the Yesh Atid party, any two people — no matter their religion or sexual orientation — could enter into a civil union with the same legal status as any marriage. The bill would create a…
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News Coney Island’s Sea Gate Still Defenseless After Sandy — By Its Own Choice
Pinny Dembitzer bounced his SUV past the “For Sale” signs lining Sea Gate’s Atlantic Avenue, slamming his way through potholes in this gated community on the western tip of Coney Island. Dembitzer apologized for the rough ride. His car, like most cars in the neighborhood, replaced one that was destroyed in October 2012, when Hurricane…
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Opinion I grew up believing Australia was the best place to be Jewish. This Hanukkah shooting forces a reckoning I do not want.
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Yiddish ווידעאָ: היסטאָריקערין וויווי לאַקס באַשרײַבט געשיכטע פֿון לאָנדאָנער ייִדישער פּרעסעVIDEO: Historian Vivi Laks tells history of the London Yiddish Press
שבֿע צוקער פֿירט דעם שמועס מיט וויווי לאַקס און ביידע לייענען פֿאָר עטלעכע פֿעליעטאָנען פֿון יענע צײַטן.
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Yiddish World Puppet Monty Pickle is guest on the Forward’s ‘Yiddish Word of the Day’
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Culture We tried to fix Hallmark’s Hanukkah problem. Here’s the movie we made instead
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Fast Forward Holocaust survivor event features a Rob Reiner video address — recorded just weeks before his death
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