- NEWS & COMMENTARY
A new era of Jewish leadership in L.A.?
Los Angeles chose Eric Garcetti as its first elected Jewish mayor, one of a number of political contests on Tuesday that reflected the city’s diversity, as well as its numerous…
Stone-walling
In the last two years, the Western Wall in Jerusalem — also known as the Kotel — has become a place of controversy as much as of worship. It’s the site of a battle that has long been waged by…
Gun violence in America: Scandal!
Two years after his mother was shot and killed, Dallas Sonnier received a phone call from the police: His father had just been shot and killed.
- HOLLYWOOD
Spielberg to produce ‘Halo’ television series, plus other news from the Xbox One announcement
Microsoft Corp gave the world a first look at its new Xbox One on Tuesday, announcing that its first gaming console in eight years will come with exclusive video and…
Justin Timberlake and Coen brothers answer Jewish questions at Cannes
Using his preternatural smoothness, Justin Timberlake saved the Coen brothers from some serious awkwardness at a Cannes press conference for their folk singer film “Inside Llewyn Davis” on Sunday. “Jewish…
Sean Penn lobbies for Charedi man imprisoned in Bolivia
Actor Sean Penn urged a congressional hearing to pressure Bolivia to release a haredi Orthodox father of five under house arrest in the country.
- LIFE & CULTURE
Sarah Silverman sings about staying home in ‘Perfect Night’
For your listening pleasure, “Perfect Night,” in which Sarah Silverman recounts the benefits of skipping the club for the couch. Because this is a Silverman production you can expect references…
Maccabi Tel Aviv back on top but coach future uncertain
Champions Maccabi Tel Aviv have reasserted their dominance of Israeli soccer but media reports on Tuesday suggested they might have to continue their revival without coach Oscar Garcia.
7 Rules for Perfect Hummus
When was the last time you opened a tub of hummus and swooned? When was the last time a restaurant put a plate of hummus in front of you, and…
- BLOGS
State 194: A Documentary About Palestine
Opening this weekend at Laemmle’s Music Hall 3 is a very hot-button new documentary called State 194, which follows the recent history of Palestine. Many will approach this film with…
7 Rules for Perfect Hummus
When was the last time you opened a tub of hummus and swooned? When was the last time a restaurant put a plate of hummus in front of you, and…
What would my Israeli grandmother think?
When I hear about the latest events in Israel – the air strikes on weapons facilities in Syria, the flare-ups over women donning prayer shawls at the Western Wall –…
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Choosing between love and obligation
"Fill the Void,” which won Israel’s equivalent of the Academy Award last year, is a love story unlike any Hollywood fare and it is set in a Jewish community unfamiliar to most Jews.
Stone-walling
In the last two years, the Western Wall in Jerusalem — also known as the Kotel — has become a place of controversy as much as of worship. It’s the site of a battle that has long been waged by a group called Women of the Wall, who are demanding they be able to pray in the women’s section wearing tallits — Jewish prayer shawls — and also be permitted to read from the Torah, rights that the rabbi of the Kotel, backed by the police, wouldn’t give them.
Knesset, American style
The Israeli parliament, or Knesset, is quiet on Sundays. The plenum does not meet, and the carpeted hallways are silent. But at the end of one corridor, in Room 2021, there’s a lot of foot traffic in and out of Rabbi Dov Lipman’s office.
Conversion 101
Conversion to Judaism is not easy. It requires a change in beliefs, actions and lifestyle. It involves extensive study, practice, a leap of faith, a shift in perception and some sacrifice.
Becoming Jewish: Tales from the Mikveh
Late on a recent Wednesday afternoon, Judith Golden and Suzanne Rosenthal perched at their desks in a small room in the depths of American Jewish University (AJU).
Sharansky’s Kotel plan loses support from both sides
Natan Sharansky’s proposal to reduce tensions at the Western Wall has lost support from Orthodox and non-Orthodox leaders.
Former JFS director of children and family services rejects report she shielded Australian abuser
When veteran social worker Debbie Fox’s name appeared in Australia’s Sydney Morning Herald on April 10, the story about her claimed she was doing the unthinkable: protecting a known abuser of children.
Jewish atheism and Jewish theism in America
Dedication of new Kotel site may happen within one month
Natan Sharansky's plan to expand the non-Orthodox prayer site at the Western Wall could be set in motion in as little as one month, the Jewish Agency for Israel chairman said in an interview Thursday in his Jerusalem office.
RCC still faces questions after sale of Doheny shop
Ever since March 24, when the Rabbinical Council of California (RCC) revoked Doheny Glatt Kosher Meat Market’s kosher certification, the nonprofit consortium of Orthodox rabbis has been trying to explain to kosher observant Jews in Los Angeles what went wrong, why they responded the way they did and what they’ll do differently in the future.
Western wall compromise raises hopes, but still faces obstacles
Natan Sharansky
Mezuzahs set ablaze in haredi Orthodox Brooklyn section
Eleven mezuzahs were set afire in a residential building in Brooklyn in an incident that New York City police are treating as a hate crime.
Jackie and the Jews [Irish, Italians, Blacks, Poles]: Ethnicity in post-war America
Jackie was the first. Jackie could not just play the game for himself. He was playing the game for every one of his race who had been denied a chance, whose future was closed because of racism and segregation. Indeed, as I remember it, Jackie played the game for every minority kid whose opportunities were constrained because of discrimination.
Police: Women prohibited from saying Kaddish at Western Wall
Women will be prohibited from saying the Mourner's Kaddish and other prayers at the Western Wall, Jerusalem police told Women of the Wall.
Statement from the Rabbinical Council of California on Doheny Meats
On Sunday March 24th, the RCC received video footage alleging kashrus violations at Doheny Kosher Meats, a store under its supervision.
Kosher consumers reeling after Doheny scandal
Trust lies at the center of the business of kosher food, and earlier this week, in what is certainly the biggest kosher scandal to hit Los Angeles in 20 years, the trust many kosher consumers placed in Doheny Glatt Kosher Meats, a market on Pico Boulevard in the heart of L.A.’s most prominent Orthodox neighborhood, was shattered.
Reclaiming the Morality of Our Torah: A Response to Rabbi Hershel Schachter
Mayim Bialik Discusses Being Orthodox in Hollywood
Israel’s emerging new government
Barring a last minute glitch, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to sign coalition agreements that will give him a new government just two days before the deadline, and less than a week before President Barack Obama arrives in Israel. The new government will have a total of 68 seats in the 120 seat parliament.
Netanyahu threatens to turn to Charedi Orthodox parties for coalition
The Likud party, citing what it called "excessive demands" from Yesh Atid, threatened to launch government coalition negotiations with the Charedi Orthodox parties.
London Orthodox, non-Jews face off over planning laws
Non-Jewish residents of the heavily haredi Orthodox-populated London neighborhood of Hackney have launched a campaign to prevent Orthodox Jews from changing city planning regulations.
Ruth Calderon — Mother of Redemption?
Ruth Calderon’s Knesset speech has created more buzz around the Jewish world than any speech like it in the history of the State of Israel. Probably because nothing remotely like it has ever happened before. The unexpected, unprecedented, yet incredibly moving sight of a non-Orthodox woman passionately teaching Gemara in the Knesset has captured the attention of Jews everywhere. Most of the reaction has been extremely enthusiastic. I think it might turn out to be one of the most pivotal moments in the last 300 years of Jewish history.
Charedi media personalities call for settlement boycott
Israeli Charedi Orthodox media personalities are calling for a boycott of West Bank settlement products in response to the Jewish Home party's position on drafting yeshiva students.
With time running out to form a government, Netanyahu facing tough choices
When he emerged bruised but unbeaten following the Jan. 22 elections, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced some tough choices.
Women of the Wall Megillah reading undisturbed by Israeli police
A women’s Megillah reading at the Western Wall took place on Shushan Purim without incident or arrests.
Involuntary Participant Observation in the ultra-Orthodox World
Moving and shaking
Rabbi Avi Stewart has been appointed to the head clergy position at Orthodox congregation Westwood Kehilla on Santa Monica Boulevard. His installation ceremony took place Feb. 13 at Sephardic Temple Tifereth Israel in Los Angeles.
Nine months after Israeli court ruling, non-Orthodox rabbis still fighting for equal pay
In a precedent-setting decision, Israel's Supreme Court ruled last May that a Reform rabbi, Miri Gold, should be paid a state salary, just like her Orthodox colleagues.
Ralphs adds kosher mart
At 8 a.m. on Feb. 6, a sizable space inside the enormous and newly remodeled Ralphs at Third Street and La Brea Avenue became the Hancock Park-La Brea neighborhood’s newest kosher market. As the Los Angeles High School Marching Band played, speeches were made ,and checks were presented to neighborhood schools, including Fairfax High School, John Burroughs Middle School and Yeshiva Aharon Yaakov Ohr Eliyahu. Meanwhile, men in kippot and women in sheitels (wigs), berets and scarves appeared proud, excited — and a little anxious.
A voice that was freed – and now is silence
Rabbi David Hartman has gone to his eternal rest, but not before he made a monumental contribution to Jewish life and a significant contribution to Jewish thought.
Rabbi David Hartman’s learned students remember their rebbe
The Jewish community reflects on the life of late Rabbi David Hartman.
Another peace process: Judaism in Israel vs. Judaism in America
While the Jewish world has focused for decades on the Arab-Israeli conflict, it has given far less attention to an equally important conflict: the conflict between Judaism in Israel and Judaism in America. Everywhere I turn, I see more signs of the growing religious schism between these two communities.
Rabbi David Hartman, Jewish philosopher, dies at 81
Rabbi David Hartman, one of the great Jewish philosophers of his generation and the founder of the Shalom Hartman Institute, died on Feb. 10, 2013, at 81. Hartman is considered one of the leaders of liberal Orthodoxy, and his philosophy influenced Jews both in Israel and around the world.
Ten women arrested at Western Wall for praying with prayer shawls
Ten women participating in a women's prayer service with hundreds of worshippers and supporters at the Western Wall were arrested for wearing prayer shawls.
Reform corrals broad array of groups into gun call-in
The Reform movement corralled a broad array of religious denominations to call into Congress on Monday and demand action on gun violence.
Heeding religious groups, Obama administration tweaks contraception mandate
The Obama administration simplified its definition of religious groups that would be exempt from allowing staffers contraceptive coverage.
The curious consensus of Jews on abortion
Inside critics win key amendment to Young Israel constitution
Young Israel-affiliated synagogues can now resign from the umbrella organization of Orthodox synagogues without fear of their assets being seized, thanks to an amendment to the National Council of Young Israel (NCYI) constitution adopted by its members on Jan. 29.
Rabbi Sharon Brous blesses inauguration
Rabbi Sharon Brous of IKAR offered blessings on Jan. 22 at the Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., which traditionally is held the day following the official inauguration.
Poll: Center-left bloc could tie Netanyahu-led bloc at 46 seats
Israel could see a left-wing coalition to match the right-wing bloc’s 46 projected seats, according to the last poll before Jan. 22 elections.
Broad Jewish support for Obama’s gun proposals
President Obama's new gun control proposals drew broad Jewish communal support.
Israeli parliament set for record influx of Orthodox lawmakers
With Israel's election days away, Orthodox Jews swayed in prayer at a meeting of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party, delaying his entrance while politicians waited politely.
Orthodox woman to head ‘transdenominational’ rabbinical school
An Orthodox woman was named the president of a "transdenominational" rabbinical school in Southern California.
Will Republicans let Lew get to Treasury?
Jacob Lew helped Orthodox observance reach the highest precincts of governance. But can a man that Republicans say “can’t get to yes” be confirmed as secretary of the Treasury?
In Antwerp, a Charedi pariah forces school to go coed
With a soft smile and two young boys in tow, a mild-mannered Moshe Aryeh Friedman appeared undeserving of his reputation as the scourge of the local haredi Orthodox community as he walked his sons to school on Monday.
Wanted: Diamond polishers in Israel. Piety not a problem
Diamond manufacturing is a dwindling trade in Israel. The country has one of the world's hottest diamond exchanges, but polishers and cutters of the precious stones have been replaced by cheaper workers in newer hubs like India and China.
The Dark Side of Judaism
Reform, Conservative, Orthodox leaders join gun control call
Top figures from the Reform, Conservative and Orthodox movements joined an interfaith call for greater gun controls in the wake of last week's school massacre in Connecticut.
Women praying to be heard at the Western Wall
We approached the entrance to the Kotel Plaza a little before 7 a.m. on Rosh Hodesh Tevet. In my bag was my tallit, the beautiful purple-and-blue one that was hand woven as a gift from the students and faculty at USC more than 20 years ago, when I completed my time there as the Hillel rabbi.
Jewish groups ready to weigh in as Supreme Court considers same-sex marriage
With public acceptance of same-sex marriage growing, liberal Jewish groups are hoping the U.S. Supreme Court will strike down the Defense of Marriage Act that they have long opposed.
Leading haredi rabbi in Israel: Say no to national service
The senior rabbi of the Lithuanian haredi Orthodox, Rabbi Aharon Leib Shteinman, said yeshiva students should not agree to enlist in National Service.
Is there a place in religious life for marijuana? Ask Yoseph Needelman
After graduating from a Modern Orthodox high school in New York, 30-year-old author Yoseph Needelman moved to Jerusalem to explore the use of marijuana in Jewish tradition.
Israel gets same-sex divorce before same-sex marriage
An Israeli court has awarded the country's first divorce to a gay couple, which experts called an ironic milestone since same-sex marriages cannot be legally conducted in the Jewish state.
Letter to the Editor: It’s a demographic cliff; not a fiscal cliff
Last week, (16-22 Kislev) Mark Pearlman wrote an erudite proposal for minding the Jewish communal coffers. He asks how we can adequately fund an engaging and vibrant Jewish community. Eight causes are given for the fiscal deterioration of the community. Unfortunately he missed entirely the main and intractable cause: not enough Jewish children.
Despite mounting criticism, Western Wall remains in haredi Orthodox hands
Sitting in his office 20 feet above the Western Wall Plaza, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz is unperturbed by the simmering tensions below.
Salesman indicted in shooting of Brooklyn store owners
A New York clothing salesman was indicted on murder charges in the shooting deaths of three Brooklyn store owners, two of them Orthodox Jews.
Israel’s middle class increasingly squeezed
At Israeli weddings, gifts of china, silver and art are not welcome. Guests are expected to bring their checkbooks and contribute to a young couple’s purchase of their first home, often bought with substantial help from the newlyweds’ parents.
Frum women find a place
When “Rivky,” a Charedi, or ultra-Orthodox, woman with “a very large family” — she declined to say how large, fearful of tempting fate — opened a woman’s clothing shop in the basement of her Jerusalem home 40 years ago, advertising her business was easy.
My Single Peeps: Shmush S.
How do you grow up one of 12 kids in a house full of people, with a congregational rabbi father who hosts strangers for weekly Shabbat meals at home, and still feel ill-equipped talking to women?
Reform leader Rick Jacobs slams Israeli gov’t discrimination against non-Orthodox
Rabbi Rick Jacobs, the president of the Union for Reform Judaism, said American Jews should no longer acquiesce to Israeli state-sanctioned discrimination against women and non-Orthodox Jews.
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