Tag: Judaism
A half-shekel, a whole people
These days, we hear dire warnings from around the world of an impending rift in the vaunted unity of the Jewish people. Israel is lurching dangerously rightward, they say, while much of American Jewry...
Wearing tefillin may prevent damage from heart attacks
Wearing tefillin may have life-saving cardiovascular benefits for both men and women, according to University of Cincinnati researchers.
Tefillin, or phylacteries, are small leather boxes containing biblical passages on parchment scrolls. There are two in...
30 deaf and hearing-impaired youths celebrate bar and bat mitzvahs in Jerusalem
Thirty deaf and hearing-impaired students from across Israel celebrated their bar and bat mitzvahs in Jerusalem this week as part of a program developed by Young Israel in Israel’s Judaic Heritage Program for the...
The Torah, morality, antisemitism and the Tao
The question of the origin of morality is probably unanswerable, but a courageous attempt was recently made on this site, and with it an even more daunting effort to explain the cause of antisemitism.
In his article,...
‘There is no problem with having a halachic state’
The return of the right to power in the recent Israeli elections is “a badge of honor for the sector and proves that this is what the public wants,” according to Rabbi Haim...
Judaism and Israeli heritage front and center on Netflix show
When it comes to finding your soulmate, putting all your eggs in one basket on a reality TV show seems like a recipe for disaster. But for Alexa Alfia, who is appearing in the...
A festival of laughs comes to Brooklyn, N.Y.
There are Jewish comedians. And then there is Jewish comedy.
The first-ever Chosen Comedy Festival, set for Aug. 16 in Brooklyn, N.Y., will bring both.
“There’s so much about Jewish comedy that is talked about in...
Judaism deserves as much respect as Islam
It turns out that there are some stunts in the era of clickbait journalism that really do go too far. When news reporter Gil Tamari of Israeli TV Channel 13 snuck into the city of Mecca earlier...
Secure Community Network issues guide to Judaism for law enforcement
The Secure Community Network, the official safety and security organization for the Jewish community in North America, has published an “introduction to Judaism” guide for law enforcement.
“Introduction to Judaism for Law Enforcement Officers and Security Professionals” seeks to...
In revolutionary move, Israel to appoint female Halachic advisers
Israel’s Religious Services Ministry has announced it will open slots for female Halachic advisers, who will perform similar duties to community rabbis.
The revolutionary move will enable women to serve as community spiritual leaders, including...