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 Swiss Tourism Official Complains About Behavior Of ‘Jewish Guests’
(JTA) — A tourism official from the Davos area in Switzerland penned a letter complaining about the behavior of Jewish visitors, which was then translated to Hebrew and posted publicly at hotels. Reto Branschi, who heads the tourism office of the Davos skiing village and that of nearby Klosters, on July 16 sent to the…
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Film & TV Ruchie Freier’s Fight Exemplifies Orthodox Feminism. Is That A Good Thing?
Many people assume that the hardest part of being an Orthodox woman is following the religious code. But it’s not — it’s playing by the social rules. The new documentary “93Queen” follows Judge Ruchie Freier, a Haredi woman, through the founding of the first all-female Orthodox EMT group, Ezras Nashim, and Freier’s campaign for Civil…
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Fast Forward Largest Measles Outbreak In Decades Caused By Orthodox Jews Not Vaccinating
The largest outbreak of measles in New York City in decades occurred in 2013 entirely within the Orthodox Jewish communities of Williamsburg and Borough Park, Brooklyn, according to an analysis published Monday in the academic journal JAMA Pediatrics. Fifty-eight people were infected with the disease, with a median age of three, according to the report;…
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Life ‘My dark secret’: Orthodox women reveal their abortion stories
Abortion is never simple — no matter the state, the stage of pregnancy, or the reason. While the nation is besotted with headlines, as Roe v. Wade is once again brought to the forefront of debate, we often overlook the actual stories of women who go through this experience. But there is one group of…
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Community Inflexibility Puts All Of Judaism In Jeopardy
Throughout the Tanach, God models extraordinary behavior and spotlights key virtues for the benefit of humankind, simultaneously sparing us pain and setting an example worth following. In fact, from the very first interaction with man, God establishes a precedent for acting and reacting with patience and compassion, and emphasizes the importance of living a life…
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Letters Jewish Continuity Isn’t Sexist — It’s Necessary
Is Jewish continuity inherently sexist? In some people’s minds, like the author of a recent op-ed in these pages, Jewish continuity is toxically identified with Jewish sociologist Steven M. Cohen. I’m neither judge nor jury, but if the #MeToo allegations against Cohen are true, and they may well be, the prominent sociologist should be held…
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Opinion Why These Orthodox Jews Are Fighting For Muslim Rights
An intriguing alliance, ad hoc but no less notable for the fact, took place in Israel’s Knesset recently. Two Haredi parties, United Torah Judaism and Shas, came to the defense of the Joint List of Arab parties to block a bill that would ban religious institutions from using loudspeakers. The legislation was clearly aimed at…
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Life I Don’t Want To Marry Young — Despite Pressure From My Syrian Jewish Community
When my ancestors escaped Aleppo decades ago, settling in what is today’s 60,000-strong Syrian Jewish community in Brooklyn — they had left Syria behind, but brought with them our language, food, and values. For the community’s women, the expectations were clear: Women wed young, had children, and became shaatras — the ultimate homemakers. While our…
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