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 Female Orthodox Leaders: New and Old
In this week’s Reporters Roundtable podcast, host Josh Nathan-Kazis is joined by Forward intern Anne Cohen to discuss the recent graduation of the first class of maharat — orthodox female religious leaders. Then, Yoel Matveev of the Forverts drops by to give a fascinating history of the radical orthodox women who have lead congregations in…
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Opinion Texting and the Power of ‘Half Shabbat’
Should observant Jews text on Shabbat — and if not, why not? I personally do not text on Shabbat because I believe doing so violates the prohibition on working on that day. Gershom Gorenberg eloquently expressed the same viewpoint in the Daily Beast’s Open Zion blog. I’m not sure how well this message would resonate…
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News Orthodox Schism Over Role of Women Widens After Graduation of Maharats
The dust has settled after the June 16 graduation of the first class of female maharats from a groundbreaking Orthodox rabbinical school. But controversy over the role that the newly minted religious leaders from Yeshivat Maharat will play in Orthodoxy — along with 14 more students in future classes — appears to be just getting…
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Opinion Maharats Win Support of Jewish Women
The first class of maharats may be controversial among the Orthodox. But the graduates enjoy overwhelming support from Jewish women from other denominations, who see the battle for recognition as part and parcel of the struggles they faced — and won. “It’s an affirmation of everything that has led to this moment, as well as…
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Fast Forward Barbra Streisand Lashes Out at Orthodox Over Treatment of Women in Israel
Iconic Jewish entertainer Barbra Streisand on Monday took a swipe at Orthodox Jews in Israel who compel women to sit in the back of buses and assault them for following religious rituals traditionally reserved for men. “It’s distressing to read about women in Israel being forced to sit in the back of a bus or……
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News Offering a Lifeline for Growing Number of Jewish Hungry and Poor
This story first appeared in the Yiddish Forverts. It was translated into English by Frimet Goldberger. According to a study by the UJA Federation of New York, the poverty rate of the greater New York Jewish population grew exponentially as of late. More than 560,000 people — 20% of all the Jewish households in the…
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Life Dressing Modestly — and My Black Jewish Hair
When people ask what kind of a Jew I am, I tend to answer, “just Jewish.” It’s easier than explaining the Refoconservadox-style of Judaism I practice, and by that I mean that I pray in Conservative synagogue, keep what some would call eco-kosher (which does not abide by any halachic standard for kashrut) and wear…
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Opinion The Maharat Movement
A telling sign that the first-ever graduation ceremony for Yeshivat Maharat was going to be different from other rabbinical ordinations came in an email message sent several weeks before the June 16 event. “We will be offering child care during the ceremony!” it read. This was clearly a ceremony created by women for women, reflecting…
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