Welcome to 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 London Jewish School Censored ‘Homosexual’ From Textbook
An Orthodox Jewish school for girls in London blacked out the word “homosexual” from an official textbook, along with references to women and men hanging around together, according to a report in The Guardian. The textbook, titled “Understanding the Modern World,” is part of the official curriculum of the state-funded school. School authorities censored an…
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Opinion Yes, Farrakhan Is Still Dangerous. Just Ask Us Orthodox Jews.
If you think Farrakhan is irrelevant, it’s likely because you haven’t been spat in the face or heard your children cursed in the street. Watching the tepid response to the Women’s March Louis Farrakhan controversy, I can’t help but feel despondent. Even with a few voices in the Jewish media speaking out, many see Farrakhan…
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The Schmooze Orthodox Courtship Can Be Quick As ‘The Bachelor’ — But It’s So Much Different
On the season finale of “The Bachelor” Arie Luyendyk — whose last name, rather appropriately, rhymes with d*** — proposed to Becca Kufrin, one of over a dozen women vying to be crowned fiancée. But then he pulled a “I’ve got to follow my heart” move — he broke up with her by the end…
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Community Ultra-Orthodox Legislators Are Weaponizing Torah Study
A version of this story first appeared in +61J, an Australian Jewish publication. How ironic would it be if Netanyahu’s government came to an end not due to his investigations, but as a result of the messy politics of religion and state? This week, representatives of the ultra-Orthodox sector in Knesset staged a coalition crisis…
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Community Is Modern Orthodoxy Just A Social Club?
The Orthodox Jewish community is often characterized as being obsessively ritualistic, pious and insular. More so than other denominations, our religious practice requires fealty in every area of our lives, from the first words we say when we wake up in the mornings, every morsel of food we consume, the clothes we wear, and the…
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Life Why Did Netflix Cut ‘I’m Gay’ From Documentary About Ex-Hasids?
NEW YORK (JTA) — A woman who was featured in a hit Netflix documentary about former Orthodox Jews says the fact that she was openly lesbian was cut from the film. Etty Ausch, 33, is one of three people who tell their stories of leaving the Brooklyn Hasidic community in “One of Us,” which was…
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News Ultra-Orthodox Americans Tell Israel To Stand Ground On Western Wall
American ultra-Orthodox leaders traveled to Israel this week to tell Israeli officials to ignore liberal American Jews’ demands to allow women to pray at the Western Wall. In statements and documents announcing the trip, the ultra-Orthodox leaders attacked non-Orthodox Jewish groups, saying that while ultra-Orthodoxy is growing, non-Orthodox Jewish movements are “dying,” and that acceding…
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Fast Forward Muslim Hijab Brand Creates Pro-LGBTQ Rainbow Scarf
Yesterday, UK-based Gay Times reported that MOGA, a Muslim-owned Melbourne brand that sells women’s headscarves and shawls, would be re-issuing their pro-LGBTQ rainbow-print scarf for Sydney, Austrailia’s annual Mardi Gras celebration. The Pride flag-esque hijab was created last year to support Australia’s legalization of same-sex marriage — legislation which Australia’s parliament overwhelmingly voted in favor…
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Fast Forward Why the Antisemitism Awareness Act now has a religious liberty clause to protect ‘Jews killed Jesus’ statements
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Culture Trump wants to honor Hannah Arendt in a ‘Garden of American Heroes.’ Is this a joke?
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News School Israel trip turns ‘terrifying’ for LA students attacked by Israeli teens
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Fast Forward The invitation said, ‘No Jews.’ The response from campus officials, at least, was real.
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Music Jill Sobule was as much a Jewish icon as a queer one
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