Ethical Orthodoxy: A Manifesto
When people ask me to describe my religious worldview, I respond that I believe in “Ethical Orthodoxy.” Although no labels are perfect, “Orthodoxy” describes the commitment to both standard practice and belief within traditional Judaism. A term like “Shomer Torah Umitzvos” would work similarly, but “Orthodox” is the best the English language can do (with some help from Greek).

Prof. David Weiss-Halivni, leading European-born Talmudist and rabbi, passed away today at the age of 94. Born in 1927, he grew up in Sighet, Romania and was known at a young age as an Illuy, a Talmudic genius, receiving ordination at age 15. He was sent to Auschwitz at 16 and survived the horrors of the Holocaust, making his way to America at 18,

I just had the most amazing experience giving Shiur Kelali at Yeshivat Drisha on the topic of Rodef and Ba BaMachteret. This culminates their last few months learning the eighth Perek of Sanhedrin. (Now on to Zabl"a!) The level of learning, as exemplified by the back and forth with Talmidot, is at an extremely high level. It was a true Zechut to share Torah with this unparalleled institution and to see it up close.

What's the relationship between ritual sacrifice and atonement?
The Hebrew Bible, and especially the opening chapters of Leviticus, present the two as deeply connected.
How does it all work? So first of all, we should note that there are two distinct approaches throughout the Hebrew Bible on sacrifice and atonement.
Leviticus chapters 4 and 5 present the primary way of an individual attaining atonement as coming through sacrifices (Hattat and Asham offerings).

Where do you start reading the Megillah from - the beginning? Where Mordechai is first introduced? Or where Haman is first introduced? It’s a Machlokes (mMeg 2:3):

מהיכן קורא אדם את המגילה ויוצא בה ידי חובתו?
רבי מאיר אומר: כולה.
רבי יהודה אומר: מ"איש יהודי".
רבי יוסי אומר: מ"אחר הדברים האלה".

This isn’t just a technical debate, but a presentation of three different ways of reading the Megillah:

This is a really big deal, and truly is unprecedented.🧵

https://twitter.com/Chusidel/status/1478426015126990851

If you'd told me 10 years ago–even 10 days ago–that a major Charedi mag would feature on its cover a Dati Leumi Rabbi (!) who convicted in the court of public opinion a leading Charedi figure (!) after a Gadol said not to engage in such 'Lashon Hara'(!), I'd never believe you.

Do you sit Shiva for someone who willingly and publicly flouted COVID restrictions and then died?

This question was raised by Rabbi Pinchas Shapira of Beit Shemesh in a rabbinic letter he sent following the passing of Rabbi Chaim Meir Wosner on Sunday (pictured). He notes that Rav Wosner was a leading sage and one should generally not only mourn him but say the blessing of Baruch Dayyan ha-Emes in full (Bishem Umalchus).

It's been a busy few days for the COVID vaccine, w/ FDA approval & the first authorized Covid-19 vaccinations given in the US just yesterday and a rollout for hundreds of millions more being, while Israel is looking at beginning that process in a week.
nytimes.com/live/2020/12/1… What's the story w/ COVID vaccinations in the Orthodox community, which has had pockets of opposition to standard immunization in recent years?
There has also been a flurry of rabbinic proclamations regarding the COVID vaccines over the past few days.
vox.com/science-and-he…

Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky published the following letter about the COVID vaccine:
"I never Paskened about the new COVID vaccine, and I do not say anything at all, neither in favor nor opposed. Everyone should ask their own doctor." This is a very important message, as it responds to the false Pashkevil that has been going around in recent days, both posted in many places in Haredi New York, and on WhatsApp, where it has been widely shared in both the US and Israel.

Rav Gedalia Dov Schwartz left this world yesterday, just the latest among many great rabbis to pass away, in this difficult news cycle. Born in 1925, he studied at YU for college and Semicha, he then began his lengthy rabbinic career.
After serving as the rabbi of several Shuls across the Northeast, most prominently at the Young Israel of Boro Park, he spent the past 33 years in Chicago,

With COVID very much on the news again, both in NY and nationally, I'm reflecting on how thankful I am for the religious and institutional leadership manifested by my immediate religious communities. From RCBC modeling how to fight COVID communally, to OU-RCA & their Poskim giving principled yet adaptable guidelines for varied communities, to SAR demonstrating how to open school safely & so many following their lead, these rabbis & leaders go from strength to strength.

It's very sad that RBG has passed away. She accomplished a huge amount, broke barriers, persevered against all odds, was a proud Jew, I can go on. Baruch Dayyan ha-Emes.
Also, I feel the need to correct the following things: 1. Many sources in traditional Judaism do speak of Heaven and Hell. The normative traditional Jewish view is to believe in them. It is therefore certainly not offensive to invoke heaven in saying "RBG is on her way to Heaven" or something like that.

Looking back on this pandemical summer, amid all the challenges of the crisis, one silver lining has been the newfound possibilities of spreading Torah in today’s reality. There is both a newfound supply of Torah taught through virtual means that can transcend geographical distances (and sometimes other boundaries too, conscious and subconscious). At the same time, there is a greater demand for and interest in people hearing Torah virtually.

Rav Zalman Nechemiah Goldberg has passed away.

The product of a bygone era, he bridged (or bestrode?) the Haredi-Dati Leumi divide in Israel, respected on all sides. An Av Beis Din and Rosh Kollel for Dayyanus, member of the great rabbinic court, Rosh Yeshiva at both Machon Lev and Sadigora. He delivered regular Shiurim at a bevy of institutions, and was the grantor of private Semicha to so many (showing a democratic streak).

Saddened to hear about the passing of Rav Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz today.

The many tributes to his career will understandably focus on his works as a translator and author, but it is important that we not lose sight of the central place in his life as an educator. Early in his career, he was Israel's youngest principal, at the age of 24, and he later set up educational institutions in the former Soviet Union, spreading Torah all over the world as an emissary of the Rebbe in keeping with the Chabad tradition he affiliated with.

We should all be feeling deep empathy for the people of Beirut right now – the death toll over 70 and rising, recorded injuries over 4000. Maybe most jarring of all are the videos and images being broadcast through international media – the overwhelming blast, the fireball and mushroom cloud, the devastation in the streets, the shattered windows.

Over Shabbos I read through @NYJewishWeek's last print issue, which had a nice nostalgic feeling but also triggered a rude awakening. The contraction & uncertain future of yet another Jewish newspaper raises the prospect that all news sources will be funded by partisan groups. With increasing partisanship & deepening cultural divide in the US & the Jewish comm in particular, this is a real concern. It's impt for specific subgroups to have more focused publications & outlets (cf. @The_Lehrhaus), but it's critical to have 'neutral ground' as well.

One story about Rav Yehuda Amital I was reminded of from the Yeshivat Har Etzion's video commemorating ten years to his passing.
@inthegush In 1994, R. Yaakov Medan (today a Rosh Yeshiva at YHE, then a teacher there) undertook a hunger strike in J-lem, protesting against the return of land to the PA thru Oslo. R. Amital, who had founded Meimad, the religious LW party promoting the peace process, came to his lecture.

Looking forward to sharing some of Rav Amital's teachings this Sunday morning, commemorating his 10th Yahrtzeit, along with scores of other Talmidim. Here's the official program, and a listing of the many Talmidim giving Shiurim:
campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?m=11074…

I'm concerned: Florida has very high and increasing numbers of COVID cases in recent weeks. Frum communities, in multiple major cities, have had cases as well. Isn't this precisely the scenario which spurred New York to close down right after Purim? Meaning, even before there was a general shutdown, the guidance was for Shuls with any positive cases should close in order to not spread the virus. This would seem to apply here.

There’s something deeply incongruous about a reality where things are opening up and apparently much improving locally, while nationally this country just experienced the week with the most new cases of COVID and with hospitals are exceeding capacity. Despite the disturbing new realities, there does not seem to be the sense of alarm that existed when we had rates like this in March and April.
Part of this is geographic – the crisis in the Sunbelt is less felt in the Northeast.

theatlantic.com/science/archiv…