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Oct 27, 2014, 7:49 AM

As American as Apple Pie, Baseball, and Orthodox Judaism’s Oppression of Women

It turned my stomach. There they were, these smug fellows in their matching clothing, high-fiving each other as if they were the only people that mattered. Me, on the other hand, I was pushed aside, irrelevant, relegated to a balcony...

Jul 31, 2014, 9:02 PM

Devarim Ha’Amiti’im – Truer Words… The Torah’s One-State Solution

It started when my daughter asked me, “Why do we say Israel is a country but nobody else does?” I started to explain that because the Arabs deny our right to a country, and because of the fear they...

Jul 31, 2014, 12:17 AM

I (Won’t) Be the Judge of That

“Do not show favoritism in judgment; small and big alike shall you hear, for judgment belongs to the L-rd...” (Deut. 1:17) Moshe here exhorts Rabbinical judges to follow the guidelines laid out for them in the Torah. Though they might feel...

May 29, 2014, 5:02 AM

Should this Marriage be Saved?

Should this Marriage be Saved? There’s a column I’ve seen in a women’s magazine that is called, “Can this Marriage be Saved?” and it usually has several therapists commenting on a specific circumstance or point that has been reached in...

Apr 28, 2014, 4:15 AM

Never Again? Yeah Right!

I mean no offense to anyone (hint, that means I'm going to offend people now) but the phrase "Never Again" in relation to the Holocaust is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard. Recently, Jews in the eastern...

Apr 6, 2014, 9:48 PM

Birthday Wishes from Beyond the Grave

For my last birthday, I received an Amazon gift card. It was signed, "Love, Mom and Dad." That's not unusual, until you realize that my mother passed away last year. Before she did, however, she put some things into place,...

Mar 14, 2014, 5:17 PM

Possibly the most important Purim Torah you will hear this year

The holiday of Purim is about camaraderie and unity among Jews. Just as they were united at the time of Haman's decree, (though unfortunately NOT all united at the time of Hitler) we strive to join with our brethren...

Mar 13, 2014, 4:57 AM

What’s the deal, Dan? Fights erupt over Hareidi racism

Thousands of Jews around the world read a series of e-mails that didn't involve them. The correspondence was a back-and-forth conversation between a man and his travel agent. The fellow was booking a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing and...

Feb 24, 2014, 2:11 AM

Orthodox Jew won’t call fire department due to Sabbath!

This past weekend, in a religious enclave in upstate New York, a man trying to dim the light so his child could sleep placed a pillow on top of a lamp. Big mistake! The pillow started to smolder, and caused...

Feb 21, 2014, 6:28 AM

Vayakhel: Watch your mouth and ego

“Moshe commanded and they proclaimed in the camp, saying, “Man and woman shall not do more work… and the nation stopped from bringing.” (Exodus 36:6) The commentaries note that the phrases here do not mesh. People were bringing donations, or...

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About Me

Growing up a rabbi's son, Jonathan Gewirtz moved around and met people from all walks of life. A columnist and speechwriter, he draws on his experiences for his writing. As the scion of a Rabbinic family, he is passionate about the power of words and the greatness inherent in each of us.