In my Thoughts to Ponder I have tried to touch on issues that were ignored or even denied in the religious Jewish community, often because these challenged conventional religious notions that I felt needed more attention and a different approach.
The Radical Future of the Prophetic Halacha in the State of Israel
The Nation of Israel’s return to the Land of Israel is a direct return to the ideal world of Judaism, where, under these singular conditions, Jewish Law once again can become organic and dynamic, and awaken from its, albeit essential, stagnation during the long exile.
Insights for Yom HaAtzmaut
As we celebrate 73 years of independence here in Israel, below are some essays which I hope will make the holiday more meaningful.
An Open Letter to Rav Chaim Kanievsky, shlita
I am a product of a chareidi education and greatly value the chareidi lifestyle. But since the beginning of the pandemic, the behavior of much of the chareidi community has put me in an impossible position. Violent mobs of so-called chareidim bring all of our people into danger by refusing to wear masks, violating the instructions of the government which is trying to save lives, and by physically attacking anyone who attempts to enforce the rules. The Chillul Hashem—the desecration of God’s name—is beyond description.
Needed: Rabbis with Knives between Their Teeth
Israel will not survive without Judaism, but it must be a Judaism that has liberated itself from religious and halachic stagnation caused by its mainstream rabbinical leadership. It must show its multifaceted, colorful religious and social dimensions, imbued with much encouragement, which have become the sine qua non for a modern Jewish State.