More Israeli ultra-Orthodox Jews buck tradition and head for the army, higher ed
JERUSALEM (RNS) — 'My father didn’t serve and neither did my nearly 100 cousins, not that I hold it against them,' said one ultra-Orthodox soldier.
N.J. town rescinds parks ban alleged to target Orthodox Jews
(AP) The New Jersey town council was pressured by the state to drop its ban on New Yorkers visiting its public park. The council had also tried — and failed — to ban boundary markers Jews use to observe Sabbath rules.
Lawsuit: New Jersey town illegally targeted Orthodox Jews
MAHWAH, N.J. (AP) —The state contends Mahwah township violated New Jersey's Green Acres Act by banning out-of-state residents from its parks after residents complained about their use by Orthodox Jewish families from New York.
Orthodox rabbi to host ‘alternative Yom Kippur’ service in beer garden
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Jews are supposed to abstain from food and drink on the most holy day of the Jewish year. So why is this rabbi holding services in a bar?
Most US Jews oppose Trump but the Orthodox stick with him
(RNS) — The vast majority of Jews did not vote for Trump, exit polls showed. But those who identify as Orthodox were the most supportive of Trump on Election Day and continue to give him high marks.
Pope and Orthodox Christian leader issue unprecedented appeal for the environment
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — 'Our attitude and behaviour towards creation obscures our calling as God’s co-operators,' wrote Pope Francis and Orthodox Christian leader Patriarch Bartholomew.
An Orthodox Jewish woman takes the helm of Chicago Divinity School
(RNS) — For Laurie Zoloth, every word and deed, from academia to social action to raising chickens in her backyard, is seen through the prism of Deuteronomy 16:18-20 — 'Justice, justice shall you pursue.'
Pew wrong: Orthodox Jews esteem Evangelicals
The Coalition for Jewish Values (CJV) today issued a statement declaring that "Orthodox Jews have a high regard for Evangelicals," and that they "applaud" the advocacy of Evangelical Christians for moral values "that come from Hebrew Scripture." This comes in the wake of a report from the Pew Research Center published earlier this year, which determined that Jews regard Evangelicals the least positively among all Christian denominations.
The Maccabeats sing to promote ‘halachic prenups’ for Orthodox Jewish couples
NEW YORK (RNS) The endearing group of a cappella Orthodox Jewish singers is out with a 30-second spot that takes aim at the phenomenon of "agunot," or "chained women" whose husbands will not grant them a divorce.
Orthodox Church debate over women deacons moves one step closer to reality
(RNS) The Patriarch of Alexandria, who presides over the entire Orthodox Church in Africa, reintroduced women deacons last month. Will other Orthodox churches follow his lead?
Orthodox high school girls bused to Western Wall to drown out feminist prayers
(RNS) Opposition to a government plan to turn a site at the Western Wall into an official, government-funded pluralistic prayer space is mounting.
Orthodox Jews attempt to reclaim part of Western Wall where other Jews pray
JERUSALEM (RNS) The Israeli Cabinet voted last year to turn Robinson’s Arch into a government-funded space for more liberal streams of Judaism, but Orthodox Jews are resisting the measure.
Ivanka Trump and other Orthodox Jewish converts to fall under new guidelines
(RNS) Israel's two chief rabbis are promising new guidelines that will make it possible to determine whether a conversion performed outside of Israel would be valid in their eyes.
Iconography classes draw non-Orthodox in search of spiritual images
WASHINGTON (RNS) A growing multifaith movement of people has been drawn to the art and the spirituality of iconography. They are taking short-term classes with experts, who often travel from abroad to teach U.S. students.
Knesset member challenges ultra-Orthodox influence in Israeli society
JERUSALEM (RNS) Rachel Azaria has been described as the only member of Israel’s 66-member coalition government willing to challenge the ultra-Orthodox monopoly on family rights and religion-and-state issues.