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
The Latest
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Community Orthodox Jews Have White Privilege, Too
The issue of whether or not fair-skinned Jews are white has been fiercely debated at length in the American Jewish community. I don’t want to get into that. However, I saw the issue reframed in an interesting way the other week. Assuming white Jews, in general, have white privilege, does that privilege still exist when…
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Fast Forward Ultra-Orthodox Communities Spark New York’s Worst Measles Outbreak In Recent Memory
New York is in the middle of the largest measles outbreak in the state’s recent history, CNN reported. The outbreak, which began in September, has been found in at least 112 people throughout Rockland and Orange counties, home to several ultra-Orthodox enclaves. Fifty-five cases have been confirmed elsewhere in New York City, according to the…
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Fast Forward Kiryas Joel Secedes From Municipality And Renames Itself ‘Palm Tree’
(JTA) — The Hasidic community of Kiryas Joel in New York became what is said to be the first official haredi Orthodox town in the United States. Kiryas Joel on Jan.1 became the town of Palm Tree when it officially split from the Town of Monroe located in New York’s Orange County, the Times Herald-Record…
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Community An Outspoken Orthodox Rabbi Is Breaking The Rabbinate’s Monopoly On Marriage
A version of this article originally appeared in Plus61J, an Australian-Jewish publication. Israelis love complaining about the overbearing power of the Orthodox Chief Rabbinate. Few, however, have done more to challenge the Rabbinate’s monopoly over Jewish life choices than Rabbi Aaron Leibowitz of Jerusalem. After completing his struggle to introduce alternative kosher certificates to restaurants…
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News Is A String Of Attacks Against Brooklyn Jews Really About Anti-Semitism?
Mindel Zaetz’s husband was chased down the street last week by a group of men while he was on his way home from work, just off of Eastern Parkway, the broad thoroughfare that runs through the middle of Crown Heights, in Brooklyn. “He came home really spooked,” said Zaetz, 29, as she was on her…
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Community NYC Is Cracking Down On Yeshivas — And The Satmar Rebbe Has Declared War
For years now, the Hasidic community has feigned compliance with New York State Education laws. While Hasidic yeshivot don’t typically provide much secular education at all, they have at least claimed that they were complying with the law. However, a recent speech by the Satmar Rebbe Aron Teitelbaum disabuses once and for all the notion…
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Community For Some Jews, Israel Has Replaced God
A prominent pulpit rabbi in Florida once got into a dispute with an elderly member who adamantly insisted on fasting on Yom Kippur, despite his doctor’s warnings that doing so could have fatal consequences. After the argument escalated, Rabbi Zev Leff told the gentleman that if he fasted on Yom Kippur, he would not be…
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Fast Forward WATCH: Hasidic Man Punched In Brooklyn, Perpetrator Yells ‘Blah!’
A Hasidic man was punched in the head from behind on Saturday in Brooklyn, NBC New York reported. Video shows a Hispanic man racing up to a small group of people standing on the sidewalk in the Williamsburg neighborhood. He punched the 32-year-old victim and reportedly yelled “Blah!” before running away. The victim was wearing…
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Fast Forward Why some Satmar Hasidic leaders endorsed Zohran Mamdani as mayor, stunning many Jewish voters
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Culture Mamdani’s first statement on antisemitism as mayor-elect got some weird pushback
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News How Mamdani became New York’s next mayor, with Jews divided between fierce opposition and fiery support
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Culture Mamdani quoted Eugene Debs in his victory speech — there’s a long Jewish history there
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