Orthodox Judaism

American Jewish coalition wants to break Israel’s Chief Rabbinate monopoly
By Lauren Markoe — December 23, 2014
(RNS) A broad coalition of American Jews is mobilizing to lobby against the Orthodox religious establishment in Israel.

Boston grieves rabbi killed in Jerusalem synagogue
By G. Jeffrey MacDonald — November 19, 2014
SWAMPSCOTT, Mass. (RNS) When word spread that Boston native Moshe Twersky was among those murdered in a Jerusalem synagogue attack, local Jews grieved not only a native son but also a loss to a great rabbinic tradition.

Rabbi accused of spying on women took students to his mikvah
By Lauren Markoe — October 22, 2014
(RNS) Officials at a Maryland university are voicing concern at news that Washington's so-called Peeping Tom rabbi invited college students to try out his synagogue's ritual bath.

Israel’s High Court orders cuts to yeshiva students’ stipends
By Michele Chabin — February 5, 2014
JERUSALEM (RNS) Israel’s High Court of Justice ruled Tuesday (Feb. 4) that the government must suspend stipends to 18- to 20-year-old yeshiva students whose military conscription has been postponed.

Video: L’Chaim on a Roll – Have a Little Faith
By Sally Morrow — October 21, 2013
On YouTube channel SoulPancake, host Zach Anner visits Mendy Pellin, a Hasidic Jew and president of Jewbellish, and asks several enlightening questions like: How has being a father changed your relationship to your faith? Do all yarmulkes have yellow zippers? Why are people paying over 100 bucks for a lemon?

Winners and losers in the Pew Research poll on American Jews
By Menachem Wecker — October 4, 2013
(RNS) Among the winners in the new Pew Research Center poll on American Jews, the Orthodox movement and Israel. Losers include the Conservative movement.

For somber Jews on Yom Kippur, white is the new black
By Lauren Markoe — September 11, 2013
(RNS) In her simple, white linen dress, Stacey Robinson says she can heighten her experience of atonement and renewal. “I can stand now, ready, clean ... to reach out to God as God reaches out to me."

Yeshiva University’s Norman Lamm resigns amid sex abuse scandal
By David Gibson — July 1, 2013
NEW YORK (RNS) “I understand better today than I did then that sometimes, when you think you are doing good, your actions do not measure up,” wrote Rabbi Norman Lamm, for decades a leading figure in Orthodox Judaism.

Religion & Ethics Newsweekly Video: Leaving Ultra-Orthodox Judaism
By Sally Morrow — May 17, 2013
Ultra Orthodox Hasidic Jews observe the strict rules of the Torah, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, and its 613 commandments. But, for some, the lack of choices is too rigid, so they choose to leave, even though doing so can be very painful.

French Jews face uncertain future after scandal
By Elizabeth Bryant — April 22, 2013
PARIS (RNS) After the country's top rabbi resigned after admitting to plagiarism, the search begins for a new grand rabbi to lead Europe's largest Jewish population amid questions about how inclusive French Judaism should be.

Orthodox rabbis laud conviction of Hasidic man on sexual abuse charges
By Lauren Markoe — December 11, 2012

(RNS) A prominent group of Orthodox rabbis is applauding the conviction of a Hasidic rabbi on sex abuse charges, and denouncing efforts of some Orthodox Jews to hide sexual abuse within their communities. By Lauren Markoe.

Q&A with pioneering Rabbi Miri Gold
By Lauren Markoe — October 25, 2012

WASHINGTON (RNS) Rabbi Miri Gold recently won a landmark case before Israel's Supreme Court that will make her the first non-Orthodox rabbi on the Jewish state's payroll. On her American victory tour, she talked about religious freedom, her belated bat mitzvah, and why she believes in the separation of church and state. By Lauren Markoe.

Seven years after Katrina, New Orleans Jews wander no more
By Bruce Nolan — August 29, 2012

NEW ORLEANS (RNS) Three days before the seventh anniversary of Hurricane Katrina that flooded their synagogue and two days before Hurricane Isaac hit landfall in Louisiana, the wandering Jews of Congregation Beth Israel are finally home. By Bruce Nolan.

Orthodox Jews use smartphones, websites to complete Talmud cycle
By Chris Lisee — July 31, 2012

(RNS) As 150,000 Orthodox Jews in North America celebrate the completion of a seven-year Talmud study program August 1, it’s easier than ever to study scripture, with the advent of websites, podcasts and smartphone apps. By Chris Lisee.

COMMENTARY: New survey brings good and bad news for Jewish community
By A. James Rudin — July 2, 2012

(RNS) A new survey brings both good and bad news for America's largest Jewish community: New York City, Long Island and Westchester County. By A. James Rudin.

← Page 3
Page 4 of 4

Latest Stories

News
United Methodists redefine marriage, end official condemnation of homosexuality
News
Priests prepare to bring synodality from the Vatican to parishes around the world
Opinion
The countercultural joys of a big family
Religion Hub
Lebanese Christian leader says Hezbollah’s fighting with Israel has harmed Lebanon
Religion Hub
Police arrest Polish teenager suspected of throwing firebombs at synagogue