In mainstream Orthodox Jewish practice, men do not listen to females outside their immediate family sing. This restriction has recently been tested, with the Israeli army insisting all soldiers attend non-entertainment events in which women sing, although leaving individual exemptions up to commanding officers. Read More »

Kol Hamevaser The Jewish Thought Magazine of the YU Student Body is proud to present its newest issue, on “War and Peace.” The issues are now available on the internet at http://www.kolhamevaser.com and soon in shuls and college Hillels across the country. Read More »

by Steve Brizel Rav Soloveitchik ZL discusses the Aseres HaDibros: link 1 (audio), link 2 (audio), link 3 (audio), link 4 (audio), link 5 (audio), link 6 (audio) and the appointment of judges: link 7 (audio), link 8 (audio) R Ahron soloveitchik Zl Read More »

Guest post by Dr. Akiva Wolff and Rabbi Yonatan Neril Published in conjunction with Canfei Nesharim . This material was produced as part of the Jewcology project. Jewcology.com is a new web portal for the global Jewish environmental community. Thanks to the ROI community for their generous support, which made the Jewcology project possible. Read More »

Join the Far Rockaway and Five Towns community in welcoming Rav Asher Weiss Shabbos Parashas Mishpatim-Shekalim President’s Weekend, February 17-19 Friday Morning 11: 15 AM Yeshiva of Far Rockaway 802 Hicksville Road, Far Rockaway Divrei Chizuk Read More »

The following books have been received and may be reviewed or quoted in the future: The Sages volume II: From Yavneh to the Bar Kokhba Revolt by R. Read More »

By: Rabbi Ari Enkin Tu Bishvat is, of course, the New Year for trees [1] and it is said that from this day onwards the upcoming season’s fruits have begun to take root. It is customary to partake lavishly in as many different fruits as possible on Tu Bishvat. Read More »

▪ Same-Gender Science ▪ Got kosher milk? ▪ Making Day School Affordable ▪ 10-year sentence is stretched to ‘indefinite’ ▪ Religious soldiers file complaint over treatment ▪ Yiddish making a comeback at US colleges ▪ Is There a Jewish Concept of Read More »

With recent media discussion of the prohibition for men to listen to women sing, we would do well to closely examine the story of Miriam publicly singing after the splitting of the sea. We certainly cannot decide matters of Jewish law from simply a verse without taking into account the Oral Torah. Read More »

Two major kosher supervision organizations offer free iPhone/iPad apps. The cRc (Chicago Rabbinical Council) app is fairly robust, offering lists of kosher items (regardless of supervising agency) organized by topic and lists of other kosher agencies it recommends (i.e. accepts). Read More »

by Joel Rich Hat Tip to My Connection – Councilor K. The reviews are out of order because I’d really like to hear your thoughts on some of them more than others. Read More »

Mv”r R. Mayer Twersky is not a football fan (link ): Superseding Societal Conventions And He (Hashem) took him (Avraham Avinu) outside, and said, “Gaze, now, towards the heavens, and count the stars if you are able to count them” And he said to him, Read More »

Surprisingly, proponents of the Brisker conceptual model of Talmudic study do not fully carry it over to Bible commentary. Rather, they either engage in traditional homiletics ( derush ) or halakhic interpretation. The latter is essentially an overlay of Talmudic study onto the Bible. Read More »

by Joel Rich From R’ Aviner: 40 Women Separating Challah Q: Is there a Segulah for finding a match, healing, fertility, etc. if 40 women separate Challah together on a Friday? Is it permissible for some of the women to separate Challah on Thursday if there is a pressing need? A: This is a new creation, which has no source. Read More »

One of the twenty four elements necessary for successfully mastering Torah, the Sages ( Avos 6: 6) tell us, is humility. When you disagree with great scholars, you must do so with full recognition of your own limitations and with great respect for the stature of those on the other side of the argument. Read More »

By: Adina Brizel (for the continued Refuah Shleimah of Zelig ben Rachel Devora Brizel) Rav Osher Zelig Weiss on Eruvin (audio) Rav Goldwicht on the foundations of Emunah via SHirat HaYam (audio) Rabbi Wein on the power of Shirah Rabbi Frand on Bnei Read More »

Roundup of posts for January 2012 Posts Conservative Annulments An Alternative to Fighting Extremists Previous Post Evacuating a Sinking Ship Crowdsourcing Rambam the Particularist Three Easy Steps to a Kosher Jesus Weather Censorship Tales of the Read More »

Over the past few years we have witnessed a disturbing questioning of the validity of long-standing conversions to Judaism. This is a very sensitive topic because many converts — nearly every single one I’ve ever met — are extremely devoted to their adopted religion, having overcome great obstacles to adopt the faith they love and fully accept. Read More »

The following books have been received and may be reviewed or quoted in the future: Majesty and Humility: The Thought of Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik by R. Reuven Ziegler (Urim & OU Press) Jewish Prayer: The Right Way, Resolving Halachic Dilemmas by R. J. Read More »

A truly excellent video, and not just because I know some of the speakers. Read More »