Tarbut Goes Topless

The letter whose text is reprinted below this commentary has been sent by the Administration of the Tarbut v'Torah...
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On the Increased Urgency for a New Jewish Educational Vision to Guide the Pedagogic Model of Tarbut v’Torah (TVT)

When I was ordained in March 1981 with s'mikha from HaRav HaGaon Harav Yosef Ber Soloveitchik zt"l and Ra...
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On Nitpicking, Pilpulistic Nonsense, and Hair-Splitting in the Law

Twenty years ago, a friend arranged for me to have lunch with a prominent Jewish name-partner at a major Los Angele...
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On the 3 Morning Brakhot: “WHO DID NOT MAKE ME A . . .”

The Grammatical Tenses of Brakhot. Most brakhot are expressed in present or present-progressive tense:  “T...
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Understanding How to Daven an Amidah — How to Pray from Your Heart

In the course of several shiurim I taught “For Women Only,” we studied concepts of Tefilah (Prayer) that se...
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To Pray, To Daven, To Feel: So Where’s the Fire?

When I was a boy in yeshivah k’tanah, I davened with kavanah – although I cannot mean that I actually knew w...
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On the Obsolescence of “Orthodoxy” and the Timeliness of “Observance”

We in the Observant community – my preferred term – historically have reflected, to our shame, a reduced sensit...
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K’doshim: Separating the Holy from the Despicable

“Tell the entire assemblage of Israel: you shall be holy because I the L-rd your G-d am holy.” (Vayikra 19:...
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The Disgrace of Shul-Sponsored Poker Games, “Las Vegas Nights,” “Casino Nights,” “Casino Evenings,” and Similar Games of Chance

It long has been my halakhic position that all synagogues should not – and many synagogues may not – sponso...
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Don’t confuse Judaism with ‘Jersey Shore’

A reminder that, contrary to what the P.C. crowd asserts, wine does indeed have a legitimate place on Purim We a...
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Choosing to See the Forest: the Annual Xmas Dilemma

The Christmas season dilemma arises for so many Jews in our city that it sadly deserves attention and comment. When...
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Judaism’s View on Same-Sex Marriage : An Orthodox Perspective

Judaism believes that all people were created in the image of G-d. (Genesis 1:27)  Because G-d takes no form, we u...
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The Other Kind of Clergy Abuse: When Congregations or Individual Congregants with Social Pathologies Abuse Their Clergy

During my fifteen years in the practicing rabbinate and ten years as a practicing attorney, I have encountered...
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Give Your Rabbi a Break

Please note: This article was republished (and commented on by Rabbi Dov) from the original article published b...
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Courage Under Fire: So How Does A Jew Respond When Caught Unexpectedly In ALoshon Horo Environment?

One of the most difficult aspects of Jewish life is dealing with the grave sin of loshon horo. The Chofetz Chai...
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Forgive and Forget

In the real world, do people forgive?  Yes, of course. And no.  Of course. A spouse wrongs his wife or her...
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The Price of Freedom

To facilitate pidyon shvuyim (redeeming captive Jews from secular prisons) we are commanded to go so far as to...
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A Mindset that Drinking Is Not Cool, Vodka Vomiting Is Not Cool, Crookery Is Not Cool

When I attended yeshiva high school, everyone kvetchedabout the school: kids kvetched about the teachers, th...
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Passover’s Uniqueness Among Our Holidays

Passover is unique among our holidays in that it brings us together, as extended families and communities, to worsh...
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The Mourning Period of S’firat Ha-omer

With S’firat Ha-Omer, we now are in the midst of a period of mourning that compares with the first twelve days o...
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“The 3 Weeks” and “The 9 Days”

With the period of The Three Weeks looming next week, it seems timely to review the essence of the period. From the...
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On Bernie who Madoff with the Loot — Fifty Billion

It was said of Lev Bronstein, a revolutionary in post-Czarist Russia, who -- to dissociate himself from his Jew...
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Understanding Tisha B’av

The Meaning of Tisha B’Av. On Wednesday night –Tisha B’Av -- we mark the fall of the First Holy Temple (Churb...
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When will justice come for the Justice?

Interesting, how people journey -- almost aimlessly -- yet en route encounter their kismet “And G-d said to Ab...
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Anita Hill and Ginny Thomas: Learning to “Let Go” and to Leave Justice to the True Judge

Ginny Thomas and Anita Hill are at it. This is quite a story. Justice Thomas's wife, Ginny, calls Prof. Anita Hill...
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Two Mediocrities Who Were Not . . . in a World Where Too Many Allow Mediocrity to Destroy So Much Greatness

England has a TV show comparable to "American Idol” – you may even recognize one of the panelists . . . – cal...
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Toilet Paper and Shabbat

Actually, of course, the toilet paper thing starts with the principle of not tearing. Tearing is (although sounding...
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