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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Fast Forward Orthodox Rabbi Appointed To Serve In Illinois Legislature
(JTA) — An Orthodox rabbi was appointed to serve in the Illinois State Legislature. Rabbi Yehiel Kalish was sworn in to the Illinois House of Representatives on Sunday night. Kalish, 43, is the first rabbi to serve as an Illinois state representative. “I may be the first rabbi in any state legislature. And that’s very exciting,”…
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Fast Forward Ultra-Orthodox Rabbi Who Visited North Korea Says Don’t Follow Him
A jet-setting Orthodox rabbi who spent five days in North Korea described hiding his religion as a terrifying experience, Insider reported. Meir Alfasi is a rabbi, photographer and former photojournalist from Israel who has traveled to 80 countries wearing the traditional Lubavich black hat and bekishe, a long black coat. “I travel with the uniform…
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Community Why Is A Jewish Group Fighting Against Sexual Abuse Survivors?
In fewer than 6 months, God willing, I will be ordained as an Orthodox rabbi. I am becoming a rabbi because I believe that rabbis play an important role in empowering and building strong Jewish communities. It is for this reason that I am ashamed and angry when rabbis of my denomination undermine that mission…
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Fast Forward Orthodox Family In ‘Retarded Jew’ Spat On Spirit Air Flight To Florida
(JTA) — An Orthodox Jewish couple from New York said that a Spirit Airlines attendant harassed them on a flight to Florida, though the company said they ignored safety rules. Chana and Yisroel Beck and their three infant children boarded the flight to Fort Lauderdale Tuesday from Newark Airport, the New York Post reported Thursday….
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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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