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Dec 10, 2024, 11:24 AM

‘Next Year in Jeddah!’ A New Vision for Middle East Peace

US President Donald Trump (L) is welcomed by Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud (C) upon arrival at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on May 20, 2017, followed by First Lady Melania Trump (R). (Photo by MANDEL NGAN / AFP) (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Can Matzah and Mecca Unite the Middle East? Before you merrily click your way to the next article or check the latest scores, let me preface this offering with the outlandish yet incredibly true statement that I have a plan...

Dec 4, 2024, 9:59 AM

Yeshivat HaGvul: Integrating More Charedim into the IDF

The question of integrating Charedi students into Israel’s army has lingered unresolved for over 70 years, largely due to the inability—or unwillingness—of politicians to tackle the issue head-on. It’s a divisive topic, fraught with cultural sensitivities, ideological differences, and...

Jonathan Frankel

Nov 27, 2024, 11:50 PM

Identical Twins: Yaacov and Esav

The tale of the quarreling brothers Yaacov and Esav is one of extreme differences. Esav is wild and hairy, Yaacov is simple and fair. Obviously the text implies that these twin brothers were not identical however careful reading coupled...

Vanessa Vanderbilt

Nov 25, 2024, 4:55 PM

Seeing Diverse Jewish Life Globally: Unity Needed

What’s a benefit that people converting to Judaism enjoy? In many cases, we are able to do some of our own exploring, finding our place within this wide religion due to not having any biological family being affiliated with...

Nov 20, 2024, 8:25 AM

Rambam is NOT the solution

Review: Shalom Sadik, Keriah le’techiyah shel Hafilosofia Hadatit (Hebrew). Dr. Shalom Sadik is an accomplished and well known philosopher. He teaches at Ben Gurion University and has published an impressive array of philosophical essays and tomes. Recently, however, he published...

Nov 19, 2024, 3:26 PM

Problem solved: The Haredi path to military service

A novel approach to the ultra-Orthodox army service conundrum: turn it all around and draft the yeshiva dodgers. You're welcome

Jonathan Frankel

Nov 15, 2024, 6:25 AM

Yitzchak was Sacrificed, Just Not How You Think

Avraham's willingness to bring his son, Yitzchak, as a sacrifice in the story of the akeidah is the quintessential act of faith in Judaism. It is therefore understandable that celebrating it as ideal divine service necessarily requires some perspective...

Nov 13, 2024, 12:41 PM

The Haredi world: My love-hate relationship with a life I almost lived

There’s comfort in never having to shoulder life’s big decisions alone, yet it makes me want to scream 'Think for yourself!'

Nov 6, 2024, 8:20 PM

Subcontracting Yeshivas – The Smart Way to the Charedi Draft

In this week's Torah portion, Lech Lecha, we read how Avraham Avinu took up arms when called upon to protect his kinsman. We learn from the Ramban that 'the acts of the fathers are signs for the children'. Today's charedim...

Nov 6, 2024, 11:48 AM

Why guilt-tripping the ultra-Orthodox into joining the IDF doesn’t work

There is a lot of anger in Israel these days. One issue which comes up time and again is that of our Haredi brothers and sons not serving in the IDF. The anger towards them is understandable and even justified....

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