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Sarah Segal-Katz

Jul 3, 2026, 3:08 PM

One year after the ‘Daughters of Zelophehad’ ruling: A marathon, not a sprint

The Supreme Court of Israel building
Photo: Lael Klein / Gluya Magazine

Today, the 18th of Tammuz, marks exactly one year since the ruling in the petition over women's right to sit the Chief Rabbinate's ordination exams (the "Yoreh Yoreh" track) on the same terms as men. The presiding justice, Noam...

Allen S. Maller

Jun 29, 2026, 6:33 PM

9th of Av: On Failures of Political and Religious Leaderships #2

When Jews mourn the two destructions of Jerusalem and its Holy Temple on the 9th of Av (July 22-23, 2026 this year) they begin with reading the Biblical Book of Lamentations and feel tears of sorrow, pains of grief,...

Naomi Marmon Grumet

Jun 25, 2026, 1:56 PM

The mikveh experience is holy, not a political bargaining chip

A mikveh attendant supervises a woman immersing. (Heidi Levine, via The Eden Center)

When Rabbi David Yosef urges women to humiliate other women, he contravenes Jewish law and opens the door to undermining his own authority

Sarah Segal-Katz

Jun 25, 2026, 12:49 PM

No place for shaming at the mikveh

Screenshot from the footage of Chief Rabbi David Yosef, aired on Channel 12 by reporter Eli Hirschmann

Sadly, the chief rabbi, Rabbi David Yosef, has once again spoken in a way that wounds women. Only last week he chose menacing language toward those seeking to sit for the rabbinate examinations (myself among them). He sought to...

Jun 25, 2026, 6:38 AM

From Detours to Destiny: Finding the Authentic Voice in Parashat Balak

I am very proud to have my daughter be a “guest” writer this week. Avigail, is being ordained as a rabbi this Thursday afternoon, joining her brother, a Conservative rabbi and sister, a Reform rabbi. She is seen here...

Jun 22, 2026, 12:14 PM

Angels and Astronauts: The Extraterrestrial Extinction of Jewish Law

Following the lunar landing on 20 July 1969, Rabbi Benzion Firer (1914-1988) addressed the following question: “In the last days, after man has succeeded in setting foot on the Moon, no longer do people laugh at the possibility of creating...

Jun 22, 2026, 11:33 AM

Mekudash: Restore the Court’s Voice Where It Left Off

The United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding that halted recent military operations, reopened the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping, lifted blockades, extended a ceasefire to Lebanon, and established a 60-day window for further nuclear negotiations....

Jun 9, 2026, 10:04 AM

A Giant Leap: Lunar Landing and Legal Impossibility

Hatzofe, Friday 25 July 1969 (Historical Jewish Press, https://www.nli.org.il/he/discover/newspapers/jpress)

On 20 July 1969, the Apollo 11 Lunar Module successfully landed on the Moon. Neil Armstrong, followed by Buzz Aldrin, became the first humans to walk on the lunar surface. As Armstrong stepped out of the spacecraft, he famously...

Jun 4, 2026, 8:03 PM

The Heavenly Horizon: A Spaceman’s Shabbat

Rabbi David Shloush, 2008 (Wikipedia, https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%A7%D7%95%D7%91%D7%A5:Rabi_david_shloush.jpeg, Public Domain)

On 1 April 2026 – the eve of Passover 5786 – NASA launched a crewed spacecraft on a flyby trajectory around the Moon and back to Earth. This was the first crewed flight near the Moon since Apollo 17...

Jun 3, 2026, 8:04 AM

More Than a Diploma

One of the most formative experiences of my cantorial training took place during my final year as a student at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, when I became the first cantorial intern in the history of Congregation Beit...

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