Monthly Archives: June 2011

I left the following comment at a looong debate at Hirhurim about Rav Shamshon Rafael Hirsch. Agree? Disagree? Comment below. You know, much like how RSRH is often (wrongly) credited as being the only major figure involved in beginning Austritt, … Continue reading →

“Half-Shabbos” Ever since Alan Brill’s revelation of “Half-Shabbos” (whereby O teens/young adults text during Shabbat but keep all the other stringencies), the O blogosphere and the media have been abuzz about the phenomenon. A disaster, they decry. A crisis of … Continue reading →

Pop Quiz: Why was the Poalei Agudat Israel party founded? Was it: a) Zionism b) Socialism c) Secular Studies d) The protection of shomer-shabbat Jews who were fired by shomer shabbat factory owners for keeping Shabbat. The answer is d. … Continue reading →

I don’t usually read Alan Brill’s blog, but a chance discussion over at Hirhurim led me to this post on a YCT speech. There in the comments section are pretty biting, often scathing indictments of the whole Modern Orthodox project. … Continue reading →

Today, an op-ed on Bible instruction in secular schools on ynet (in Hebrew) sparked quite a discussion in the “talkback section”. Long story short, the author, one Chaim Eckstein, argues that Bible study in secular high schools should be dropped … Continue reading →

I recently had the pleasure of listening to a fascinating lecture by Sir Ken Robinson on creativity and education courtesy of the TED lecture circuit. It got me thinking about my own rather bumpy path to discovering my own creative … Continue reading →

[Recycled from the old blog] I’ve had opportunity to mention the various Jewish learning initiatives that take place in Israel year-round. Today I’d like to talk about an even more amazing phenomenon: the transformation of Shavuot into “National Jewish learning day”. Anyone … Continue reading →

What are the differences between Religious Zionism and Modern Orthodoxy? [I plan to write a series of posts on the subject over the next two weeks, and I would like feedback from those who read this blog]