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Fear Mongering in the Frum Community
The Chicago Orthodox community has been up in arms for the past few days over an issue that started with a bang, but has gone out with a fizzle – and that’s exactly how many people hoped things would...
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Achieving achdus through our kids
Photo from Times of Israel It’s the day after my oldest son’s high school graduation, so I’m feeling kind of mushy. Every child goes through his or her own journey from freshman year to senior year and...
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Bait and Switch
Miley Cyrus Before and After Last week a robo call was sent to the Chicago orthodox community inviting women to participate in a telephone conference about hair covering - Why Cover? Come Discover!...
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In time to come, Israel will use you as a blessing
My children rotated around the Shabbos table one by one as my husband laid his hands upon their heads and gave them his weekly bracha. As everyone settled noisily back into their seats, he quietly...
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The club nobody wants to join
http://media-ios.a7.org/a7radio/misc/video/14/jun/f-kdies.mp4 Less than 24 hours after her son’s funeral, Rachel Fraenkel has caused a stir over her public recitation of the Kaddish prayer for her...
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From the mailbox – understanding the minds of men
I received this email and thought that it brought up some very interesting points. I gave an honest response, which might get me into trouble with some women, but I thought the exchange was worth...
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Invisible Transformations
I admit to being a fan of the Twilight Saga vampire romance series, by Stephenie Meyer. One of themes that I find fascinating in the books is that of personal transformation. The books take this theme...
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Circle of Shame
Yesterday I enjoyed one of Chicago’s most popular pastimes – picking people up from O’Hare airport. Anyone who has had the privilege of being cursed out by one of O’Hare’s “traffic management”...
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PDA – yay or nay?
PDA is an acronym for “public displays of affection.” In the past, it was uncommon for orthodox Jewish couples to be seen engaging in any sort of public displays of affection. Holding hands, hugging,...
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A wolf in sheep’s clothing
A recent ruling by Chicago’s special beis din that deals solely with sexual abuse cases has caused a furor in the orthodox Jewish community. A rabbi, whose family owns and operates four seminaries in...
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Rabbis and their female followers – how close is too close?
Recent stories in the news show a pattern of rabbis getting too familiar (some to a criminal extent) with their female congregants and students. In many instances the rabbis in question were working...
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Pantyhose Warriors
Photo from collive.com Operation Protective Edge is being fought on two fronts – we have the IDF on the battlefield and the talmidei chachamim in the beis medrash. Now we have a third battalion coming...
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Leaving on a jet plane
After yet another bout of adolescent friction with my oldest son, I joked, “That’s it! You have four weeks to move out of the house!” My youngest son looked at me, and said, “You can’t kick your child...
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Men lay down the law
With the evolution of Yoatzots – female halachic advisers to other women regarding the laws of family purity – one might think that these advisers would have the authority to poskin on niddah shailas....
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No, you can’t have your cake and eat it too
Oy veh! Did you hear about the female Mashpia who was accused of hanky panky at Jerusalem’s Yeshivas Rabbeinu Moshiach? This sad excuse for a tzanua engaged in regular yichud with bachorim entrusted to...
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Jewish Madonna – the fascinating and controversial Brenda Turtle
I’d rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I’m not – quote from Brenda Turtle’s tattoo Brenda Turtle is one of the most beloved and reviled OTD (off the derech) personalities on social media....
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Canary in the Coal Mine
A sign written in both Turkish and French posted July 2014 in a cafe in Liege, Belgium said doors were open to dogs, but not to Jews. The sign read: “Dogs are allowed in this establishment but Jews...
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Precedents for changing halachic practices concerning women
Today was supposed to be the big day that Rivky Stein received her get from Yoel Weiss. To almost nobody’s surprise who has been following the case, Mr. Weiss did not end up giving his wife her get,...
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You want to boycott Israeli products? Fine, just make sure you boycott...
Are you having upper GI pain and your physician recommends an endoscopy? You can go one of two ways – being sedated and threaded with a flexible scope down your esophagus, stomach, and duodenum with a...
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What is the real purpose for sending girls to post high school Israeli...
Some of the wording in the Meisels class action lawsuit to recoup tuition and deposit fees stood out at me: “34. The role of the seminary is particularly important for Orthodox Jewish girls because it...
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