mstreiffer

A Bad Day for Pluralism in Israel

There is a country where a woman can be arrested for holding a Torah scroll. Where the government limits, and sometimes outright prohibits, Jews’ ability to engage in basic religious rituals like conversion and marriage. That country – believe it or not – is Israel. And today was not a good day for the battleContinueContinue reading “A Bad Day for Pluralism in Israel”

Information Overload: Is Shabbat the Solution?

These days, we spend our lives connected to information, and connected electronically to the world. At any moment of the day, you can find out the answer to almost any question; and at any moment of the day, others can reach you – through email, phone, online social networking, etc. This kind of access -ContinueContinue reading “Information Overload: Is Shabbat the Solution?”

Don’t Blame “Not Me” – Why the Oil Spill is Our Fault

(A sermon on Chukkat) I love the Sunday comics. My wife laughs at me every week because as soon as the newspaper arrives, the first thing I do is open up to the comics. One comic, which is actually not among my favorites – is Family Circus. It tells about the daily life of aContinueContinue reading “Don’t Blame “Not Me” – Why the Oil Spill is Our Fault”

Woman Assaulted for Wearing Tefillin

JTA reported this incident before Shabbat: May 13, 2010 JERUSALEM (JTA) — A Jewish woman was attacked in Beersheba reportedly for having the imprints of tefillin lines visible on her arms. Noa Raz was physically assaulted Tuesday morning by an ultra-Orthodox man in Beersheba’s Central Bus Station, where she was waiting for a bus toContinueContinue reading “Woman Assaulted for Wearing Tefillin”