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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Life Why Choosing A Torah Life Was the Hardest Thing I Ever Did
As a writer, I’m always looking for material. Even after I made a life-changing commitment to live as an Orthodox Jew, though, it never occurred to me to write my story. In the past decade, however, telling my story felt not only important, but also urgent. Orthodox Jews are constantly trying to explain themselves to…
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Opinion I Am A Maharat. The O.U. Thinks I’m The Biggest Threat To The Jews.
I don’t know that I will ever get used to the fact that I make some people uncomfortable. Partially because there is very little that is imposing about me. I am not particularly tall, nor do I appear to be particularly strong. Yet, as an Orthodox Jewish woman who has been ordained as clergy, I…
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Life Meet The New Female Rosh Kehila Of This Brooklyn Orthodox Synagogue
Meet Michal Kohane, the latest Maharat-in-training to be offered a pulpit in the Modern Orthodox Prospect Heights Shul in the heart of brownstone Brooklyn. Kohane was recently announced as the new “Rosh Kehila,” head of the community, by the community rabbi Ysoscher Katz. Born and raised in Israel, Kohane has had a leading role in…
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Life Do Pluralistic Jewish Organizations Stop At The Orthodox?
My first venture into nondenominational spaces was, like most young Jews, at my college Hillel. I grew up Haredi, so I was interested in meeting other types of Jews and other kinds of Jewish ritual and practice. But I didn’t meet anyone like me. Since then, I have participated in many non-denominational spaces and events,…
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Fast Forward 600 Conservative Rabbis Protest Bibi ‘Betrayal’ Over Orthodox Control
More than 600 rabbis affiliated with the Conservative movement have signed a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu protesting the country’s lack of recognition and support for non-Orthodox Jewish movements. “We ask you to lead; we ask you to fulfill your promise to us that Israel will be the homeland of the entire Jewish…
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Fast Forward Orthodox Woman Wins Right To Wear Skirt To Gym
An Orthodox Jewish woman who was kicked out of a gym for working out in a skirt has reached a legal settlement with the fitness facility that will allow her to return and work out in the attire of her choosing. Yosefa Jalal Wood-Isenberg sued the all-female gym Lucille Roberts after alleging that she was…
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Breaking News British Chief Rabbi Tells Orthodox To Be More Open To Gays
(JTA) — British Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis called on a meeting of more than 100 Orthodox rabbis to be more inclusive toward the LGBTQ community. On Tuesday, at his annual pre-High Holidays conference for the rabbinate, Mirvis also called for extra concern for other special groups as well. “Every person is precious. Single parents, women,…
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Yiddish World The Surfing Orthodox Rabbi Who Inspires Kids To Get Fit
This article originally appeared in the Yiddish Forverts. As a young boy growing up near the ocean in Los Angeles, Rabbi Nachum Shifren would often take a surfboard under his arm and hit the waves. It wasn’t until he was 30, while living in Santa Barbara, that he became inspired by the local Chabad to become an Orthodox Jew. At…
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