Joseph C. Kaplan, at The Blogs

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Jun 18, 2026, 11:59 PM

That Best Portion of a Person’s Life

A few short weeks after my back surgery, my wife, Sharon, had toe surgery, leaving us with a total of two good feet between us. The surgeries brought us closer together in one way, since, after mine, she drove me around wherever we had to...

May 28, 2026, 8:46 PM

In Defense of Hissing – Part II

In the early 1980s, I attended two panel discussions on serious and controversial topics — one at the 92nd St. Y, moderated by Rabbi Dr. Arthur Green, and the other at Hebrew Union College, moderated by Rabbi Dr. Eugene Borowitz and sponsored by Sh’ma magazine,...

May 14, 2026, 11:15 PM

Facebook has a section called Reels, which posts short video clips on your news feed based on its inscrutable algorithm. I understand some of the choices of what’s shown on mine: clips from “Cheers,” “Seinfeld,” and the “West Wing,” lessons from the Lubavitcher and Rivnitzer...

Apr 16, 2026, 10:55 PM

If there’s one thing I’m not, it’s an early adopter. Don’t get me wrong — I’m not a Luddite either. I enjoy and appreciate technological developments, though I often begin using them later than others do. We didn’t have color television, or for that matter...

Mar 27, 2026, 8:41 AM

Bicentennial Time

In January 2016, just a bit over 10 years ago, I submitted an unsolicited, over-the-transom column to the Jewish Standard, titled “Remembering Rabbi Eugene Borowitz.” It was an appreciation that I, a lifelong member of the Modern Orthodox community, had written about my surprisingly warm...

Mar 20, 2026, 12:23 AM

A Blast from the Past

The question of whether rabbis should speak out on controversial national issues beyond the daled amot (four cubits) of our Jewish community is one that is being discussed and debated more and more frequently in many forums, including in this paper. Indeed, I have written...

Mar 12, 2026, 11:38 PM

I’ve been tough on my Modern Orthodox (MO) community in several recent columns. Although I stand by what I wrote, I also understand that communities, like people, are not one dimensional; they’re complex, nuanced, and multifaceted, with strengths and weaknesses. So despite some serious personal...

Feb 13, 2026, 12:41 AM

Still disappointed by my community

Shortly after Alex Pretti was killed by federal forces, I sent the following email, with “murder” as the subject line, to Rabbi Chaim Strauchler, the rabbi of my synagogue, Congregation Rinat Yisrael, and to my friend, Rabbi Dr. Jacob J. Schacter, University Professor of Jewish...

Feb 5, 2026, 10:45 PM

Camels and Kings

Sharon and I recently returned from our third Torah in Motion (TIM) tour — this one to Africa. No, not a safari; rather, a wonderful trip to Morocco. And like I did following an earlier TIM tour to Central Europe (“Two Weeks in Europe”), I’ve...

Jan 23, 2026, 4:21 AM

Each One is Different and Special

Those of you who are extremely careful readers of my columns may have noticed some small changes that were recently made to my biographical blurb appearing at the bottom of the page. No, I’m not referring to the Rockower award addition. Rather, the previous description...

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About Me

Joseph C. Kaplan, a regular columnist for the Jewish Standard and a Rockower Award recipient, is the author of “A Passionate Writing Life: From ‘In my Opinion’ to ‘I’ve Been Thinking.’” A retired lawyer and long-time resident of Teaneck with his wife Sharon, they’ve been blessed with four wonderful daughters and six delicious grandchildren.

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