In his monumental work on Jewish law, Menachem Elon writes: "... Nahmanides coined an apt and pointed term that illuminates the meaning of 'doing what is right and good;' A person who acts according to the technical and formal sense of the Torah's laws, i.e.: who carefully follows only the explicit rules but not those implicit from the general spirit of the text, is 'a … [Read more...] about Hateful comments expressed in Israel regarding liberal Jews
Members' Posts
On Orthodox Conversion in the Twenty-First Century
A Conservative colleague once told me that the auspicious Rabbi Max Kiddushin told her that if a person says that s/he wants to convert a rabbi should convert that person immediately and teach the person later. Little did I know at the time that Rabbi Chuck Davidson's research, found in our newsletter of January 18th, would prove definitively that Rabbi Kiddushin's viewpoint … [Read more...] about On Orthodox Conversion in the Twenty-First Century
Judaism can marry modernity to traditional life
For more than a century Jews have debated how to guide the Jewish character of a sovereign Jewish State. Until recently, few thought seriously in terms of national halakhic standards. The Founders envisioned a Jewish ethic, not ritual Jewish practice. In Anita Shapira's 2014 book, Ben-Gurion: Father of Modern Israel, she writes: Just before the state was established, he … [Read more...] about Judaism can marry modernity to traditional life
Israel – pushed towards theocracy
Contrasting visions for the State of Israel on matters of religion and state Minister Rabbi Litzman: "Netanyahu either loves the Reform Jews of the Diaspora, or the Haredim of Israel; it's either-or. There are no two ways about it... The Supreme Court is destroying everything good related to religion & state, and... the only way to stand against it is by passing … [Read more...] about Israel – pushed towards theocracy
Rising flames of resistance to the Western Wall agreement
Since last week’s RRFEI bulletin [link], the flames of religious detraction against the Kotel agreement have been rising. This has been covered widely in the Anglo Jewish and international media; below, RRFEI provides you with the original Hebrew pronouncements of: the Chief Rabbinate, the Ashkenazi Council of [Great] Torah Sages [link], the Sephardic Council of [Wise] Torah … [Read more...] about Rising flames of resistance to the Western Wall agreement