Welcome to the Forward’s coverage of Orthodox Judaism, which aims for a stricter observance of halachic law than Conservative or Reform Judaism. It includes Modern Orthodox Judaism, as well as Haredi (sometimes called ultra-Orthodox) Judaism,…
Orthodox Judaism
The Latest
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Opinion Who Says Hasidim Have ‘Dead Eyes’?
Hasidim walk through Williamsburg / All photos courtesy of Mo Gelber Pro tip for anyone considering a tour of Hasidic Williamsburg: It’s not that big a deal. You do not need to wear a hat, broad-brimmed or otherwise. You may visit during the week, and you may visit on weekends. You may bring along with…
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News A Six-Year-Old Orthodox Boy and His Barbie Dolls
The last time I took care of Hanina, the 6-year-old I baby-sit, we played Salon, a game in which Hanina’s Barbies visit the salon, otherwise known as the second-floor bathroom, and we peel off their clothes, do their hair, then dress them up. You may wonder what a 6-year-old boy is doing with Barbies in…
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Breaking News Gay ‘Conversion’ Therapists Could Be Liable for Damages, N.J. Judge Rules
A New Jersey judge has ruled that a Jewish gay “conversion” group could be liable for the costs of reversing the damage it caused four young men while trying to curb their same-sex attraction. New Jersey Superior Court Judge Peter F. Bariso, Jr. ruled that Jews Offering New Alternatives for Healing (JONAH) and its co-defendants…
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News Why Would Yeshivas Reject Pre-K Program Designed for Them?
Orthodox yeshivas are poised to opt out of the largest free universal prekindergarten program in the country, one that New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio says he created with them in mind. Despite months of talks between New York City officials and Orthodox leaders, activists say that they now don’t expect many yeshivas to…
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Life What ‘10 Things’ Taught Me About Secular World
Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles in ‘10 Things I Hate About You’ I would be remiss if I let 2014 whoosh by without pausing to commemorate the 15th anniversaries of three of the most seminal coming-of-age stories of our time. I’m referring, of course, to “She’s All That,” “10 Things I Hate About You,” and…
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Breaking News N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo Wants Oversight of Orthodox E. Ramapo School Board
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is pressuring the state Department of Education to ensure oversight of a troubled school district run by a majority haredi Orthodox school board. The East Ramapo Central School district encompasses a suburban area where haredi Orthodox Jews, who do not enroll their children in public schools, make up more than…
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Life Robocall To Orthodox Women: Keep Wigs Short
Nate Lavey Two weeks ago, the rabbis of Lakewood, N.J. called a gathering of female educators to provide words of encouragement in the area of — what else — tznius, or modesty. Among the many dire tznius issues discussed, the rabbis suggested that women cut their wigs shorter to make them less provocative to —…
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Opinion Why ‘Love the Jew, Hate the Judaism’ Is So Wrong
What do some devout Christians say about gays and lesbians? Love the sinner, hate the sin. Love the person even if you believe that at the very core of his or her identity is something so intrinsically wrong, it puts that gay man or woman in a separate, scornful category of being. To the modern…
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