Non-Orthodox Jews frequently seem concerned that Orthodox Jews are judging them about their lack of Jewishness. On JewishJournal.com, Jason Lipeles writes: "Although he had a long beard, I wasn’t nervous or thinking that maybe he was judging my lack of Jewishness." Why would they car...

Orthodox Rabbi Reuven Spolter writes: In a "Modest Proposal" styled op-ed piece in the Jerusalem Post, Rabbi David Forman finally throws down the gauntlet. After years of trying to gain recognition from the government as legitimate streams of Judaism and years of failure, it’s time f...

There’s no longer a significant difference between Reform and Conservative Judaism so why not merge these two movements as well? Attorney Anita Susan Brenner writes: This week, Rabbi Eric Yoffie, the leader of the Union for Reform Judaism, suggested that due to the post-Madoff economic crisis,...

Historic moment in N.Y. as first woman named to lead Rabbinical Assembly By Anthony Weiss http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1035178.html Sun., November 09, 2008 Cheshvan 11, 5769 The central organization for Conservative rabbis has appointed a woman as its top executive, making it the first of the...

Rabbi Eytan Kobre writes for Cross-Currents: …JTS’s Jack Wertheimer is back on the attack against the non-Orthodox, this time with What Does Reform Judaism Stand For? in this month’s Commentary. Something must be done about that man, if only by having him join the roster at Cross-C...

My computer cautions me against fooling with certain manufacturer-determined system settings. Doing so, it warns, could create serious problems. Riskier still is messing around with Judaism’s system-settings, determined by the ultimate Manufacturer. That lesson might be the one being learned the h...

A lot of people ask me for my opinion — as a convert to Judaism — on this controversy. I don’t have one. I accept reality. I’m not trying to change it (in this instance). Some Orthodox shuls count me in a minyan and some don’t. Big deal. When I’m feeling down, I f...

Publicist Lauren Levy emails me April 6: "Hi Luke, As I’m working on getting some online PR for Rabbi Sherre Hirsh’s amazing WE PLAN, GOD LAUGHS, I can’t tell you how pleased I was to read your article on it. I would be delighted to send you an advance copy for review, or set ...

So a couple of weeks ago, the publicist for Rabbi Sherre Hirsch’s first book, We Plan, God Laughs, invited me to email in questions for the rabbi. I did. Five days later, the publicist emails me to say that the rabbi will not be doing any more interviews because of family stuff. I was able to ...

Another Area Day School To Close Its Doors Solomon Schechter School of Suffolk County victim of tuition costs and perceived lack of commitment in the area . by Stewart AinStaff Writer http://www.thejewishweek.com/viewArticle/c36_a7605/News/New_York.html Faced with a steadily declining enrollment and...