Monthly Archives: August 2010

In the years I’ve spent watching the OJ-blogosphere, I’ve seen many ideas bandied about to help our ailing communities. Nevertheless, I’ve rarely seen anyone try and express these ideas in a systematic and orderly fashion. This is getting more and … Continue reading →

[Before I begin I want to apologize for the delay of my next installment in the guide to non-observant Jews. It should be up next Thursday, God willing. – AIWAC] MK Rav Haim Amsalem’s book on conversion ‘Zera Israel‘ has … Continue reading →

[Intro, Part II, Part III] Biblical Criticism – A Science? Now we come to the primary problem at hand: Is not Biblical Criticism the science of our day? Were the ancients not Bible Critics according to their lights? Don’t we … Continue reading →

[Previous Sections: Intro, Part II] [Translator’s note: Translations of psukim were taken from Machon Mamre. My comments and emendations are in square brackets. I apologize for the somewhat clumsy translation of Rabbinic sources; I’m used to translating modern Hebrew. I … Continue reading →

[Previous Sections: Introduction] [Translator's note: I made some stylistic changes to make the article more readable. It's really strange that an article published in 1966 feels like it could have been written yesterday...] I think that I will not be … Continue reading →

Introduction I’m sure you’ve all heard of Nehama Leibowitz, Rabbi Yoel Bin Nun and Rabbi Mordechai Breuer. Together, these three are universally acknowledged in having made a major contribution – each in their own way – to making the study … Continue reading →

[Previous Posts: Intro, The Traditionalist] ‘Judaism as Culture’: The Concept and its Israeli Expression Culture is a very broad term. It potentially includes not only works of high literature and art, but also language and slang, folk songs and children’s … Continue reading →

My next post on the cultural Jew will be up tomorrow, God willing. In the meantime, check out the latest post on Hirhurim which discusses Ashkenazi Traditionalists. You might also enjoy the following comprehensive website on Israeli society. Unfortunately, most of … Continue reading →

[Previous posts: Intro] Before I begin, I should note that the people described in this guide are largely ideal types. They are meant to convey the different attitudes towards Judaism among non-observant Jews. Most usually combine different attitudes with regard … Continue reading →

When I say non-observant I mean Jews who have crossed the universally agreed-upon Orthodox ‘cut-off’ points (not holding to Shabbat, Kashrut, the 13 ikarim) and cease to follow minimal halachic instruction on a regular basis. I use this term because … Continue reading →