Sago Boulevard

I intended to respond to Noah Feldman’s diatribe against his alma mater and Modern Orthodoxy in general. Most of what I wanted to say, though, has been said already and said well. See Chana’s terrific breakdown of Feldman’s rhetorical sleight of hand, Gil Student’s post, Rabbi Carmy’s article in Kol Hamevaser, and Gary Rosenblatt’s editorial in the Jewish Week.

Chag Sameach to all.

Newsweek lists America’s top 50 rabbis. The criteria:

[A]re the rabbis known nationally/internationally? (20 points.) Do they have a media presence? (10 points.) Are they leaders within their communities? (10 points.) Are they considered leaders in Judaism or their movements? (10 points.) Size of their constituency? (10 points.) Do they have political/social influence? (20 points.) Have they made an impact on Judaism in their career? (10 points.) Have they made a “greater” impact? (10 points.)

I don’t take the list seriously but one aspect jumped out at me. After each name, the article notes the denominational affiliation of the rabbi in parentheses. Featured were the usual four: Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist, and a fifth: Lubavitch!

I couldn’t have put it better myself.

This just hits the nail right on the head.

(via ADDerRabbi)

Please pray for the safe release of Gilad Shalit (גלעד בן אביבה), the Israeli soldier kidnapped in yesterday’s Palestinian attack. The Rabbanut has suggested this prayer to be said following tehillim (via My Obiter Dicta).

Michael H. Steinhardt - Chairman of Jewish Life Network, philanthropist, and self-identified atheist - spoke at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah in February about the growing disparity between Orthodox and non-Orthodox Jews. (via Drew). The Edah Journal has published his remarks, entitled “A Challenge to Orthodoxy: Remarks at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, February 9, 2006“.

I’ll begin by saying that most of what Steinhardt says is sensible. (more…)

From JPost:

Haviva Ner-David is an Orthodox feminist who has been a leader of some of the most prominent struggles in Jewish women’s lives. Just before Pessah, she received her PhD in Jewish studies from Bar-Ilan University. And then, on the eve of Pessah, Ner-David was ordained as a rabbi in Jerusalem.

Ner-David, who has journeyed through feminism, Judaism and social action for the betterment of the status of Jewish women, admits that she is still not completely aware of the tremendous significance of these two events.

She knows that some Orthodox Jews will not accept her ordination and will not acknowledge her religious and social status as a rabbi.

Yet this young and quiet resident of Baka and mother of five says she is neither hesitant nor frustrated: the dream she began to cherish some 12 years ago is coming true.

“I am not the same woman I was at the beginning of this 12-year journey,” she says reflectively. I have discovered a lot about myself and what it means to be a woman rabbi at the beginning of the 21st century.”

There is so much to say about this, I don’t know where to start. On one hand, there is clearly a need to publically recognize women who have achieved a certain level of learning. But there are also some halakhic obstacles that can’t be ignored. Not to the mention the non-halakhic but extremely important sociological implications. Read Hirhurim’s post on the issues and the heated debate in the comments. ADDeRabbi has two posts (here and here) on the subject as well.

To be honest, I’m a little hesistant to weigh in with my own opinion because I’m not familiar enough with the issues and I don’t know very much about Ner-David’s particular case. But the blogosphere has no place for humility! (I’m only half-kidding). Give me some time, though. The above-cited posts should keep you busy for a while.

Unfortunately, I didn’t make it to the Darfur rally on Sunday and I’m a little embarassed to admit that I only started following the situation there recently. The more I read about it, the sicker I feel. We really have no excuse not to raise our voices in protest.

This past week was a particularly appropriate time to show support for the victims of genocide as April 25th was Holocaust Memorial Day. I’m proud that Jewish groups were well-represented. Our national history demands that we not turn our backs while others are slaughtered. In his 1986 acceptance speech for the Nobel Peace Prize, Elie Wiesel said:

Sometimes we must interfere. When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensitivities become irrelevant. Wherever men and women are persecuted because of their race, religion, or political views, that place must - at that moment - become the center of the universe.

We need to pay attention to Darfur right now. We need to do what we wish others had done for the Jews of Europe.

A recent study shows that Orthodox Judaism “will become a larger and more influential force in coming decades.”

The study, which looked at the 1.5 million U.S. Jews between the ages of 18-39, found that Orthodox Jews comprise some 11 percent of all U.S. Jews, and 16 percent of 18-29 year-olds. Among even younger Jews, the percentage of Orthodox is even higher, those behind the report speculate.

Further, the survey found, Orthodox Jews marry at a younger age, have more children and are more Jewishly engaged than their non-Orthodox counterparts.

As Gil says, the study pretty much just proves the obvious.

Mortimer Zuckerman, known most famously as the editor-in-chief of US News and World Report, recently visited the Lakewood Yeshivah and had this to say (via S):

It was at the behest of a rabbi I study with that I went and visited the Lakewood Yeshiva. I had never been to a yeshiva before in my life and I sort of did this out of some degree of curiosity but more out of a sense of moral support for what had been such a central part of this rabbi’s life but I have to tell you when I got there I was absolutely knocked out by it. I will tell you that it was the single most intellectually active, energetic, fascinating environment I had ever witnessed. There was a sort of buzz and just sheer concentration and joy in the learning process and it was literally visible to somebody like myself.

I mean, I said it afterwards, it made Harvard Law School, which I happen to have attended, look like a kindergarten.

I really hope he’s right about the kindergarten part as I’m planning to start law school in the fall.