Open Search form

Benyamin Zahav

Apply for a Blog

Aug 9, 2020, 12:46 AM

The Rabbi Says: ‘Tis Jewish To Be Woke

I received my official "teudah" (certificate) for rabbinical ordination yesterday. So yes, I am now officially an orthodox (okay"open-orthodox") Rabbi, despite intolerant fanatics who think THEY can decide what constitutes an orthodox Rabbi. I can now decide halachic rulings,...

Jan 23, 2019, 12:35 AM

Carnivore No More

It all started with a chicken who appeared to be dancing. I was at my friend Noor’s home, and unbeknownst to me, his elderly father (a ritual slaughterer of halal meat) was in the backyard attending to business. On...

Dec 23, 2018, 9:48 PM

The Genius of Open-Orthodoxy: “Gumby Halacha”

In the aftermath of a recent Chanukah article, some of my more fanatical conservative detractors either denigrated and mocked the progressive “open-orthodox" (OO) movement as a whole, or sought to question my open-orthodox credentials. The debate was on. Did...

Dec 5, 2018, 10:55 AM

Dancing In the Dark

Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz: An open-orthodox Rabbi with the courage to sit with Santa.

It is sad that many Orthodox Jews celebrate Chanukah as a festival of fanaticism. As a religious Jew it brings tears to my eyes. One can hear it and read about it in blogs and other forums. The delight...

Nov 1, 2018, 11:25 PM

Confronting the Other

The year was 2013. As a relatively recent oleh chadash, I was still finding my way as a progressive, open-orthodox, Jew in my new country. 2013 was special for me. I recall it as the year of a critical...

Oct 21, 2018, 7:54 AM

Once upon a time in the land of my exile, I fled from my Jewish indigenous heritage. I am ashamed to admit that I was ashamed to say it. Or to believe it. Native son? In my colonized head...

Load more

About Me

Father of two girls and one son, living in the Jerusalem outskirts. Loves to read, hike the Hill Country, and do yoga with my life partner Shira.