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
-
News For Poker Maven Ari Engel, Yarmulke Is Ultimate Secret Weapon
(JTA) — Ari Engel is homeless. It’s been a decade since he last held a regular job and two years since he gave up his apartment. But don’t shed any tears for him. Over the last 10 years or so, Engel has grossed about $5 million playing poker. The son of an Orthodox rabbi, Engel,…
-
Breaking News N.Y. Hasidic Lawmaker Aron Wieder Gets ‘ISIS’ Threat Letter
Federal authorities are investigating a threatening photo sent to a Hasidic lawmaker in suburban New York. Aron Wieder, a Democrat who is majority leader of the Rockland County Legislature, received a photo last week in the mail showing his head pasted on the body of a person beheaded by the Islamic State jihadist group. The…
-
Israel News Turning Shabbat Into Front in War on Secular Jews
(Haaretz) — There really shouldn’t be anything controversial about a traditional Jewish Friday night dinner. After all, a nice meal with a blessing over candles, wine, and challah bread never hurt anybody. Even secular Israelis who don’t find traditional Jewish practice their cup of tea, or simply embrace the idea of Friday night as “family…
-
The Schmooze It Was an Un-Orthodox Year
Photo copyright George Baier Books by and about Jews who leave Orthodoxy have been around for years now — centuries, really — but in 2014 they reached a critical mass. With new memoirs by Leah Vincent and Deborah Feldman, an academic study by Lynn Davidman, and scores of essays, articles, films, profiles and trend pieces,…
-
Breaking News 7 Orthodox Groups Back Muslim Headscarf Suit
Seven national Orthodox Jewish groups filed a Supreme Court brief in favor of a Muslim woman’s right to wear a head scarf at work. The brief was filed by attorney Nathan Lewin of Lewin & Lewin, LLP of Washington D.C. for a case that is expected to be heard in February or March of next…
-
Culture Everything He Wanted To Know About Life Among the Ex-Orthodox
Well before sunset on Friday, as Sabbath is about to start in the holy city of Jerusalem, the central bus station closes its doors to travelers. The last buses have long since departed and no bus seems to be coming. Even the taxis have gone. At the taxi station’s office a man sits talking on…
-
Opinion No, Judaism Doesn’t Justify CIA Torture
Christian art depicting Jews being tortured in hell Are the Jews somehow to blame for the CIA’s torture of detainees? That’s what some want to know after yesterday’s release of the so-called “CIA Torture Report” by the Senate Intelligence Committee. The CIA is in the business of extracting secrets and then burying them deep in…
-
The Schmooze Bono Likes To Bike Around Dressed as A Hasidic Jew
Getty Images I know this is an unpopular opinion, but I hate Bono. And now, he’s just given me another reason. In an interview with CBS radio station KROQ’s Kevin & Bean Show, fellow U2 band-member The Edge mentioned that the lead singer casually dresses up as a Hasidic Jew while cycling around New York…
Most Popular
- 1
Fast Forward Was the viral Ta-Nehisi Coates interview a hit piece or fair play? A journalism ethics expert weighs in.
- 2
Culture How my odious cousin Roy Cohn was responsible for creating Donald Trump — and me
- 3
Culture New conspiracy theory just dropped — Jews are causing the hurricanes
- 4
Sports 5 Jewish things about the Mets — and why Jewish fans adore them
In Case You Missed It
-
Opinion I’m a Jew of color. Ta-Nehisi Coates can’t apply U.S. lessons to Israel
-
Fast Forward ‘All options are on the table’ to keep Iran from going nuclear, Kamala Harris says in High Holiday call with Jewish voters
-
Opinion Forgiveness has its limits: a Yom Kippur reflection on justice
-
Opinion Atoning during a war feels impossible. Instead, resolve to do better
-
Shop the Forward Store
100% of profits support our journalism