Articles
Questioning the Status of a Halakhic Conversion is anti-Halakhic and Unethical
Question: What is the status of the 'extra' conversion immersion [tevila leHumra] demanded by some Orthodox rabbis?
Answer:
1. The minimum standard required by Jewish law is that the rabbinical court consist of three observant laymen. Once the convert is accepted by the court, the conversion takes effect and without cause, may not be called into question.
Who Is (and Is Not) teaching in Modern Orthodox Schools: A View from Israel
Esther Lapian is a teacher and teacher educator in the field of Bible studies and the teaching of Jewish texts. She works extensively in Israel and abroad as a consultant to Jewish educational organizations from every religious sector. She recently opened a private educational consulting service called Paces, aimed at "walking parents through the paces" of educational challenges presented by the Israeli school system.She made Aliyah from the United States in 1987. This article originally appeared in Hebrew, in De'ot, the magazine of Ne'emanei Torah vaAvodah, no.
Machanaim: The Search for a Spiritual Revival of Judaism among Russian Jews
After the Six Day War there was a considerable renewal of interest in Israel throughout the world. At the same time, a Jewish national revival began in the USSR. Jewish identity started to acquire a new shape. Soviet Jews always had a distinct identity, but in many cases it was a "negative" one, caused by discrimination and persecution. Many people started investigating their Jewishness, learning Hebrew and thinking about going to Israel. But still more primary was the total rejection of the Soviet system, its regime, ideology, and values.
Thou Shalt Strive to Be a Robot
One Shabbat, on which we read parashat toledot, I heard a talk-and was duly educated.
The Virtual Parent
It is hard to be a parent in today’s modern world. And it is harder to be a Jewish parent.
Breakfast Program with Lecture by Rav David Bigman
Rav David Bigman, Rosh Yeshiva of the Yeshiva Hesder of Maale Gilboa, will be the guest speaker at a breakfast program sponsored by the Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals. The event will be held at Congregation Shearith Israel, 2 West 70th Street, in Manhattan, on Wednesday morning December 23.