Posts Tagged: Rabbi Jeremy Rosen
Religio-Fascism and the Israeli Right-Wing
I have often expressed my frustration with politics -- in particular, Israeli politics. I dislike dogma and extremism on both sides. This week, I am...
Rabbis Who Ban
People have every right to decide what they will read or listen to and what they will not. They also have the right to try...
The Absurdity of Paper Prayers at the Western Wall
In 1974, when Henry Kissinger was pressuring Golda Meir to make concessions in the interest of peace in the Middle East, Golda took him to...
Israel Should Work With China, Despite Its Government and Human Rights Abuses
For as long as I can recall, I have been an idealist. I have always tried my best to support the underdog, the oppressed, and...
Herman Wouk: A Proud Champion of Judaism
Herman Wouk, who died recently at the age of 103, was one of the most successful American novelists. Surprisingly, he was also a practicing Orthodox...
Why Asking Questions Is Good
The Haggadah that we read on Pesach was a response to the tragic loss of the Temple and Jewish political autonomy some 2,000 years ago....
State and Religion in Israel on Pesach
The return of a right-wing government in Israel, heavily reliant on religious parties, is a matter of some concern because of the increasing encroachment of...
Adapting Jewish Law Isn’t a Trick; It Helps Us Preserve Tradition
The Bible emerged in -- and out of -- a world that was predominantly agricultural; a world where seasons and produce determined how societies flourished...
The Yabloner Rebbe
Usually I generate my own material. This time, I am taking it from Pini Dunner, another British rabbi now living in the US. His hobby...
Jewish Political Theory
It is often said that neither the Bible nor Judaism has a theory of politics or, indeed, of political systems. This is untrue. For 2,000 years,...
Forget Saying ‘Sorry’ — Just Be Honest
You are walking down a crowded New York street minding your own business, careful to avoid bumping into anyone else. Then someone smashes into you....
When Jewish Law Is Taken Too Far
"Halacha" is often translated as "Jewish law." But that is inadequate and misleading. Nowadays, we usually use the word law to mean jurisprudence. Halacha, however,...
In 2019, Oaths Are Meaningless
Anyone who has attended a Kol Nidrei service will know that there are seven terms in Hebrew and Aramaic for vows and oaths. They must have...
How Fake News Harms Jews and Jewish Observance
We live in a world where, more than ever before, our ideas and values have come under scrutiny and assault. What makes our times more...
