Benyamin Zahav, at The Blogs

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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...

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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.