Reader: My Husband Has Doubts about Judaism

A reader writes: Hello, I am writing you to address an issue in my home. My husband and I were raised Jewish and have two young children. My husband has been seriously struggling lately with certain parts of our faith. Doubts such as these: Is there a personal G-d or not? Why pray to G-d if he has … [Read more...]

Does Judaism Require “Submission” within Marriage?

"Submission" is a buzz word that I have heard around the net—not to God, but to one's husband. The idea is that to maintain a happy marriage, the wife should put her husband first and allow him to make all of the decisions. Most women who write about being submissive appear to be fundamentalist … [Read more...]

Yet Another Passive-Aggressive Letter to a Daughter-in-Law

This week, Gilui Daat published another letter to an uncooperative and unappreciative daughter-in-law. My own daughter wondered whether both letters were written by the same person, but the details don't match. Here's the previous letter: With a Mother-in-Law Like This, Who Needs Enemies? My … [Read more...]

Legal Age of Marriage: 18, 17, or . . . 15?

On Sunday I went to the Kolech conference on fertility and women's health. Whatever you think of Kolech, an Orthodox feminist organization, the topics were wide-ranging and thought-provoking. Gila Gamliel, a Knesset member from the Likud, raised issues that affect women in Israel. A special … [Read more...]

Interview with an Orthodox Sex Therapist: Talli Yehuda Rosenbaum

Talli Yehuda Rosenbaum is a physical therapist who also specializes in sex counseling and treatment of sexual problems. She is one of few such therapists within the religious community in Israel. She has graciously agreed to answer a few questions. Mother in Israel: When I took a group class on … [Read more...]

Rashi’s Daughters, Book I: Jocheved

My friend, who ordered Rashi's Daughters, Book I: Jocheved by Maggie Anton for our book club, asked me to read it and tell her my thoughts. Not having read any reviews I didn't know what to expect.Anton introduces us to the life of the renowned classical Biblical and Talmudic commentator Rabbi … [Read more...]

FLYing and landing

I discovered Flylady when I was pregnant with my fifth child. She took the best of SHE, imbued it with her own unique style and transferred it from a filebox to the internet.Flylady immediately got rid of SHE's biggest problem. She says that the index cards made you feel guilty, and guilt keeps you … [Read more...]

The Rada"K on Feminine Beauty

Rabbi David Kimchi, known as RaDaK for short, was a medieval biblical commentator. Most people are unfamiliar with his Torah commentary, because it is not included the classic Mikraot Gedolot volume of commentaries. Mikraot Gedolot on Navi (Prophets) does include his commentary, for which he is … [Read more...]

Author Henkin: “My Wife Is Not a JAP”

Josh Henkin, guest-blogging on Jewess about his new book Matrimony: I dated non-Jews over the years, but most of my serious relationships were with Jewish women, and the woman I married is Jewish. She fits none of the stereotypes of the Jewish woman—she’s not a Jewish American Princess, nor is she … [Read more...]