Jewish Texts
Patrilineal Jewish Descent: An Open Orthodox Approach
This week there has been much conversation online and offline on the Jewish status of people of patrilineal Jewish descent. ...
The Non-Jewish Rabbi? The Problem of Patrilineal Descent
Two articles posted earlier this week made reference to an individual who had been born to a Jewish father and ...
Parashat Re’eh: Observe That Which I Enjoin Upon You
Jews read sections of the Torah each week, and these sections, known as parshiyot, inspire endless examination year after year. ...
Researching God
Theist? Atheist? Agnostic?Don’t answer until you’ve done some rigorous research.That’s right, research: with a method, literature review, experimental design, data ...
Abortion, Birth Control, and the Complexity of Halacha (Jewish Law)
I recently came across a copy of the June 28 issue of The Jewish Press . The Jewish Press is an Orthodox ...
How can one make moral decisions?
A few weeks ago, an acquaintance of mine gleefully forwarded a link to a study that asserted that atheists and ...
Should Women Thank God For Not Making Them Men?
A recent brouhaha has emerged in the Jewish blogosphere over Rabbi Ari Hart’s recent post, “Should I Thank God For ...
The Torah of second chances
A couple of years ago, after several years of trying to get all the way through the counting of the ...
A Visit to Shushan
Purim and drama have always been passions in my family. This year they intertwined in a totally unexpected and unique ...
Mysticism: the Experiential path to finding God
I’ve just started teaching a new course at my congregation on Jewish mysticism. There are many ways to engage with ...
Orthodox Women in St. Louis Write a Megillat Esther
Orthodox women reading Megillat Esther on Purim are a common sight in many communities, but this year, a group of Orthodox women ...