Douglas Aronin

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May 2, 2022, 7:45 AM

Israel and American Jewry: a Yom Haatzmaut Reflection

I was ten years old in 1967 -- too young to experience the angst that overwhelmed American Jews as they watched the threat to Israel's continued existence at the hands of three surrounding Arab armies, but old enough to...

Mar 23, 2022, 7:11 AM

Strength and Peace: Thoughts on Ukraine

“May the Lord grant strength to His people. May the Lord bless His people with peace.” (Psalms 29:11) This verse, the last of Psalm 29, is familiar to all Jews who attend synagogue regularly, but do we think much...

Jun 25, 2021, 2:50 AM

Religious freedom and the Supreme Court: A step closer

There was good news from the Supreme Court recently for supporters of religious freedom. In Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, the Court unanimously held that Philadelphia cannot require Catholic Social Services, as a condition of receiving a contract to...

May 26, 2021, 9:54 AM

Memories of Herbert Yudenfriend z”l

According to Halakha, when a death coincides with a major Jewish holiday, the traditional shivah period of mourning is abbreviated or superseded by the holiday. In accordance with that practice, there was no formal shivah for my father-in-law, Herbert...

Apr 2, 2021, 7:53 AM

The ethicist and the tattoo question

I shouldn't have been surprised that a self-described very cultural Jew seeking advice on how to behave Jewishly would turn to the New York Times Magazine’s ethicist column (3/7/21) for guidance. But I must admit the exchange caught my...

Feb 19, 2021, 7:53 AM

Minya Yudenfriend z”l: In memoriam

Of all the changes in routine brought on by the current pandemic, one of the most jarring is the way we do funerals. Instead of what is often a large contingent of well-wishers crowded into a funeral chapel, we...

Dec 30, 2020, 7:43 AM

Judah vs. Joseph: Paradigms of Leadership

As we prepare to finish reading Sefer Bereisheet (the Biblical Book of Genesis, first book of the Torah) it presents a good opportunity to look at a question presented by the book as a whole. If you were to...

Dec 24, 2020, 9:55 AM

Religious Freedom vs. Pandemic: Thoughts on Mixed Feelings

I view with some ambivalence the US Supreme Court’s recent decision in Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn v. Cuomo, in which the Court, by a five to four vote, issued a preliminary injunction barring enforcement of New York Gov....

Dec 9, 2020, 10:53 AM

Extremists Right and Left: A Post-election Reflection

Like many people, I watch a lot of YouTube clips. I find it a convenient way to familiarize myself with a variety of different perspectives. Unlike many people, I make it a point to watch clips that reflect points...

Nov 11, 2020, 11:30 PM

Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z”l: A Memorial Tribute

I am both a halakhically observant Jew and a steadfast Anglophile, so it should come as no surprise that I had a tremendous amount of admiration for Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, who served as Chief Rabbi of the United...

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About Me

Douglas Aronin is a retired attorney living in Forest Hills, Queens, who is continuing his lifelong involvement in the Jewish community. His writings have appeared in a wide range of print and online forums.