Eliyahu Federman

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Jul 15, 2013, 1:35 AM

3-Year-Old Bride In Bible Kids Book Is Inappropriate

Are some Biblical stories inappropriate for young children?

Not all Bible stories are fit for kids. I refuse to teach my 2-year-old daughter the story, in Genesis chapter 24-25, where the commentary Rashi describes 3-year-old Rivka marrying 40-year-old Yitzchak. The book "Kind Little Rivka," which also chronicles the story...

Jun 23, 2013, 8:53 PM

NBC Misrepresents Chabad Rabbi on Sexual Abuse

NBC recently ran an important story on Judy Brown’s heroic efforts fighting the culture of silence in her insular Hasidic community. The segment highlights her award winning book ‘Hush,’ which exposes sexual abuse in the insular Orthodox community of...

Jun 11, 2013, 4:34 PM

Why I Follow The Lubavitcher Rebbe

Today marks the 19th year anniversary of the Lubavitcher Rebbe's passing. Although the Rebbe is no longer physically alive - his teachings, wisdom, social work, educational programs, religious revival and other forms of humanitarian work are more alive than...

May 17, 2013, 7:08 AM

Non-Sexist View on Biblical Creation

Whether one takes the creation story literally or as a cosmic allegory, one traditional reading of Genesis reveals that man was not created first, and it was Adam not Eve that was responsible for the original sin. In an essay...

May 14, 2013, 1:49 AM

Unifying Jews at the Western Wall

It is painful to see ideological differences in Jewish modesty laws lead to violence and bigotry against women prayer groups at the Kotel. Intolerance is counterproductive to preserving ones views, whether those views oppose or favor women prayer groups, and...

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About Me

Eliyahu Federman's work has appeared in the NY Times, The Forward, Huffington Post, Jerusalem Post and elsewhere on issues related to sexual abuse awareness, gender equality, civil rights and police-community relations; He graduated law school from City University of New York where he served as executive editor of the law review; He received his theological training at Mayanot and the Rabbinical College of America