In shul the other day, a friend approached me about a mutual acquaintance – an intelligent and good-natured young man who had visibly left the folds of our community.
“America has believed that in differentiation, not uniformity, lies the path of progress. It acted on this belief; it has advanced human happiness, and it has prospered.” (Louis Brandeis)
With the recent scandalous resignation of Congressman Anthony Weiner, many began to question what is wrong with our politicians: why is it that these men would be willing to sacrifice everything for a few hours of enjoyment? The question, I believe, is – why do they fall prey to this type of behavior in the first place?
In recent weeks, the pages of Crownheights.info, the Algemeiner Journal and the Huffington post have hosted a series of op-eds, responses and rejoinders about Rabbi Shmuley Boteach’s new book, “Kosher J.”
There are literally hundreds of girls and boys of all ages looking to get married in Crown Heights today, so why the shidduch crisis?
The above-mentioned is a question that any parent or decent person who is entrusted with children – such as a teacher or counselor – must ask him/herself constantly.
Greeting and blessing. Regarding the recent controversy surrounding a book released by Shmuley Boteach entitled ‘Kosher J’ I am writing this letter to express my authoritative view in response to those who have sought my opinion on this matter.
In an article published in the Jerusalem Post, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach goes on a tirade attacking the entire Chabad movement as anti-intellectualist due to one Rabbi’s criticism, and a few unflattering comments on this website, about his new book, kosher J. Eliyahu Federman responds with this open letter in defense of Chabad:
Following recent events in Bet Shemesh, Israel, lubavitch.com asked staff writer Rivka Chaya Berman, a resident of Bet Shemesh, to share her experience of life in the community. When she is not busy writing for lubavitch.com, Mrs. Berman, a registered nurse, helps people heal.
Like clockwork, every year around winter time, the skin over my knuckles cracks and bleeds.
Rabbi Yitzchok Wolf responds to Rabbi Shmuley Boteach‘s response to Rabbi Wolf’s condemnation of Rabbi Boteach’s book:
You can still spot them, now and then: Friday morning, clambering aboard a Mitzvah Tank, blaring Nichoach on loop; ducking out of the Kollel late at night, sefer securely tucked under the arm; or massing outside the NCFJE international headquarters Wednesday afternoons. But in many ways, the American 770 bochur is a breed endangered, disappearing fast.
Yesterday, we published an op-ed written by Rabbi Yitzchok Wolf from Chicago, lambasting Rabbi Shmuley Boteach for his latest publication, Kosher J. While we do not wish to take sides in this controversial issue, in the spirit of fairness we gave Rabbi Shmuley a chance to respond to his critics.
What: The New Hampshire primary. When: January 10, 2012. Analysis: The Iowa caucuses turned out to have quite a dramatic finish, with a mere eight votes separating the first place Mitt Romney and second place Rick Santorum. Ron Paul finished a disappointed third, followed by Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry, John Huntsman and Michelle Bachmann. Following her last place finish, Bachmann dropped out of the race, leaving only six GOP candidates left to compete in New Hampshire.
Chicago Shliach and educator Rabbi Yitzchok Wolf blasts Rabbi Shmuely Boteach‘s new book, saying the subject and recent interviews lends itself to apikorsus.
It’s been a year since my wife and I got married and chose to settle in the nice and friendly neighborhood of Crown Heights. Since then, we’ve been blessed with a beautiful baby girl, who brings much light and joy into our new home. But, one thing has changed for the worse since this wonderful gift has come into our lives: every Shabbos, my wife and I are stuck in our apartment, as if it has become our jail cell.
Various non-mainstream Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) communities in Israel and in the U.S. are clashing with western values embraced by less religious Jews. Daily reports are breaking out of Haredi sects imposing forced gender segregation on buses, spitting on women in the streets who are deemed immodest and rioting against anyone who is perceived different.
A number of years ago, I received a frantic phone call from a Shliach who had been an old friend from our days together in Yeshiva. He stated that he was about to be evicted from his home, and that if he didn’t come up with thousands of dollars, his family would be on the street.
19
