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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Forverts in English Confessions Of A Chaim Berlin Yeshiva Graduate
This article originally appeared in the Yiddish Forverts. I attended Yeshiva and Mesivtah Chaim Berlin from 1954 to 1966. It almost ruined my life. Not that I’m complaining. Chaim Berlin is one of the oldest yeshivas in Brooklyn, established in 1904. It’s one of the most respected Haredi- Lithuanian yeshivas in the United States and…
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Life When Men Pray, Women Are Asked To Leave The Room
Separate but unequal is inherently unequal. The Orthodox requirement for separate religious spheres, including for prayer, is understood in the modern Orthodox world not as an exception to this axiom, but as a divinely ordained protection of complementary roles for men and women in Jewish law. The case is closed for disputing the paradox of…
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Life Meet England’s Hilarious — and Orthodox — Comedian
There are many Jewish comedians in show business, but few are Orthodox. And while most of them live in New York and Los Angeles, the United Kingdom has one of its own: Ashley Blaker, a former BBC writer and producer on the popular show “Little Britain,” and an internationally-acclaimed act. Now, Blaker is bringing his…
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Community It’s Time For Orthodox Jews To Spend More Time With ‘The Other’
Last week, election winners across the country broke glass ceilings and made history. Danica Roem became the first transgender person elected to a state legislature. Michelle De La Isla became the first Hispanic mayor of Topeka, Kansas. Ravi Bhalla, a Sikh man, was elected mayor in Hoboken, New Jersey. Sheila Oliver became the first Black…
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Life A Modest Uniform For Your Cleaning Help, 100% Glatt Kosher
An avid Facebook user posted a photo of an ad for a clothing company from what we can only presume is a Jewish publication. “Cleaning Help Cover Ups” the headline blares. Apparently, within the Orthodox community, cleaning help sometimes show up to work in immodest garb. Although the ad doesn’t specify what kinds of risque…
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Life Raising Kids Orthodox And ‘Woke’ In Face Of Pressure To Back Trump
One year after the election of Donald Trump, the Orthodox Jewish community remains conflicted. Yes, many Orthodox Jews voted for Trump. Yes, many Orthodox leaders hesitated before coming out with a critical statement of the president after the events in Charlottesville, Virginia. And no matter what #45 may do, there is this sense that his…
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News Inspired By Trump Era, Orthodox Rabbis Launch New Political Group
This advocacy group believes same-sex couples should not be allowed to adopt. It says Vice President Mike Pence is a role model because he won’t dine alone with a woman other than his wife. It applauds legislation outlawing abortion after 20 weeks gestation, on the grounds that the “unborn child” can feel “fetal pain.” It’s…
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Life I’m Orthodox, Broke And Proud
My wife and I are broke. Don’t worry, it’s always been that way. Ever since we decided to sell all our stuff and move to Israel, and then sell all our stuff there and move back, we’ve been broke. Not like, broke broke — please don’t misunderstand. We’re not hungry or homeless. We’re middle-class broke….
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