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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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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Community Our Selective Outrage Over Airplane Seat Change Requests
Last week, the Twitter world exploded as an in-flight romance was live tweeted at 35,000 feet on an Alaska Air flight from LaGuardia to Dallas. Over the course of the four-hour flight, we were treated to a play-by-play from two people who had switched seats in order to sit next to each other as they…
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Fast Forward New Jersey Borough Discriminated Against Chabad Congregation: Lawsuit
[JTA] – The federal government is suing a New Jersey borough over allegations that it improperly restricted an Orthodox Jewish congregation from expanding its house of worship. The U.S. Attorney’s Office filed a civil lawsuit against Woodcliff Lake, a Bergen County suburb about 20 miles northwest of New York City. As reported by NorthJersey.com, the congregation,…
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Community What It’s Like To Wear A Yarmulke In Europe
“Traitor!” Each baseball season, I occasionally get this slightly amusing accusation from a few friends and my younger sisters. After all, I have lived in Baltimore for almost 18 years, and I still cannot bring myself to root for the Orioles. Instead, I am a huge Red Sox fan. This is true even though I…
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Opinion Why The Orthodox Hate ‘Tikkun Olam’
Jonathan Neumann is furious at Liberal Judaism and I understand why. It was not so long ago that I was angry at them as well. Sadly, though, his anger makes him commit an infraction that is not so different from the transgression that incites his own righteous indignation. He lacerates his political adversaries for misusing…
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Community Jews Worldwide Must Resist The Power Grab Of Israel’s Chief Rabbinate
Israel’s Chief Rabbinate is becoming the Chief Rabbinate of the Jewish world before our very eyes — a development which is likely to have fateful consequences for the unity of the Jewish people. Within Israel, the Rabbinate’s strict halachic approach is causing societal rifts and marginalizing many of the country’s citizens. While the Rabbinate still…
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Life After A Tragedy, The Frock Expands In Crown Heights
It was a sunny Sunday afternoon when I walked into The Frock’s pop-up shop. Set up in a corner space in Crown Heights, the light streaming through the windows, racks of clothes lined the walls. By the time I had arrived, at around 2 p.m., the place was bustling; there were women pulling dresses off…
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Culture At Eurovision, Israel’s near triumph shows the limits of tolerance
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Opinion The profound internal contradiction that could spell doom for Hillel
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Sports An op-ed compared an NBA team to Israel as underdog success stories. Then the threats poured in.
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Fast Forward Talarico won’t campaign with Democratic House candidate who wants to open ‘a prison for American Zionists’
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