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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The Schmooze 6 Movies About Ex-Orthodox Jews Everyone Should See
In contemporary cinema the representation of Jews is not so unusual. However, ex-Orthodox Jewish characters are portrayed far less often. Nonetheless, their role is significant and in some cases, iconic. (See my recent piece about Anna Wexler and Nadja Oertelt’s documentary ‘Unorthodox’ for one of the most recent examples.) Here are six of the best….
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Forward 50 2014 Leah Vincent
Leah Vincent, 32, became the new face of the burgeoning ex-Orthodox community this year with the publication of her feted memoir, “Cut Me Loose: Sin and Salvation After My Ultra-Orthodox Girlhood.” Vincent is just one of several formerly Orthodox authors to tell their stories in recent books. But in addition to describing her own experiences,…
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Forward 50 2014 Eliyahu Fink
“Our mission is to provide the maximum number of positive Jewish experiences to the maximum number of people,” said Eliyahu Fink, 33, the rabbi of the Pacific Jewish Center in the Venice Beach neighborhood of Los Angeles. Through smart use of social media and open-minded outreach, Fink promotes a fresh take on Orthodox Judaism. Fink,…
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Fast Forward Beth Din of America Adds First Female to Board
One of the the preeminent rabbinic courts of North America is set to add its first female board member. The Beth Din of America invited Dr. Michelle Friedman, the founder and chair of the Department of Pastoral Counseling at New York’s Yeshivat Chovevei Torah (YCT), to join its board. Founded in 1999, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah…
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Fast Forward Jewish School Enrollment Rises by 12% — Orthodox Soars
Jewish day school enrollment in the United States is up 12 percent from five years ago, primarily due to growth in haredi Orthodox schools. Nearly 255,000 students are enrolled in 861 Jewish day schools from the 4-year-old level through 12th grade, according to a new census of the schools conducted by the Avi Chai Foundation….
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Fast Forward After Freundel Scandal, Converts in Waiting Complain of Unexpected Obstacles
(JTA) — Tzipporah Laura LaFianza and her family have been living as Orthodox Jews for four years now. They reside in a heavily Jewish suburb of Washington, go to shul every Shabbat and keep a strictly kosher kitchen. But they’re not Jewish — yet. A prospective Orthodox convert, LaFianza, 34, is still waiting for the all-clear…
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News Anti-Abuse Activist Joey Diangello Dies of Overdose, But His Legacy Lives On
As a teenager, Joey Diangello, a self-described survivor of child sex abuse, left the insular Satmar Hasidic community of Williamsburg, in Brooklyn, where he’d grown up and plunged into the world of heavy metal music. There, Diangello, who wore mascara and heavy metal T-shirts and sported long, black hair, found some measure of comfort in…
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Fast Forward Delta Flight Delayed After Haredim Refuse to Sit Next to Opposite Sex
A Delta Airlines flight to Israel was delayed after haredi Orthodox men and women deplaned rather than sit next to members of the opposite sex. The flight Monday night from New York’s Kennedy Airport arrived more than an hour late on Tuesday afternoon due to the incident, Haaretz reported. After the haredi passengers decided to…
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