Modern Orthodox Education: Cholent, YouTube, and Girls Jumping over the Line

A few weeks ago, I covered an event sponsored by Yeshiva University in Israel for the Jerusalem Post's In Jerusalem. The report appeared on Friday, February 2, and is reprinted with permission.  Click here to see my interview with President Joel. Yeshiva University Tackles the Modern Questions By … [Read more...]

Help with Israeli Baby Names: December 2015

Here are a few queries I've received regarding baby names. You may also enjoy the update of my Nameberry post on Chanukah baby names, and this Wall Street Journal post by Aviya Kushner on the difficulties of translating Hebrew names in the Bible. Please share ideas for these readers! First … [Read more...]

“Get” Laws from around the World

According to Jewish law, a divorce must be given by the husband's free will. Occasionally the husband holds the "get", or Jewish divorce decree over his wife's head in order to obtain a better custody or property arrangement, or to punish her. This leads to situations in which a wife has obtained a … [Read more...]

How To Combat Bullying in the Jewish Community

This year I again attended the conference, Shedding Light on the Darkness of Abuse, sponsored by the Tahel Jerusalem Crisis Center for Women and Children. The conference addressed a wide range of issues relating to treatment and prevention of abuse. The conference also addressed abuse by peers, … [Read more...]

Tahel Conference to Fight Abuse in the Religious Community

Hardly a day goes by without hearing of another case of domestic violence, get refusal, or child sex abuse in the Jewish community. We are all against it, and appalled by what is happening. But is there anything we can do? Debbie Gross, director of the Tahel Crisis Center for Religious Women and … [Read more...]

Dreaming about Israeli Baby Names

Reader Rachel writes: Hi Hannah, I've really enjoyed reading your advice to people about names. As I am pregnant with boy #3, we are trying to narrow down our name options and are having some trouble. I actually had a dream in which I was asking you about names, so I figured I would contact you! … [Read more...]

Notes from the Shiva: Sholom Wacholder z”l

I am sorry to report the death of my brother, Dr. Sholom Wacholder z"l, on October 4, 2015, during the Sukkot holiday. He had been sick for two years. I attended the funeral in Maryland, and returned to finish sitting shiva at home from after Shabbat. Sholom was 9 years older, and possessed an … [Read more...]

Uncovering Gay “Conversion Therapy”

Psychologist Dr. Norman Goldwasser is a controversial figure. Some laud him for innovative treatments of trauma patients. But he has also been criticized for endorsing "conversion "or "reparative" therapy" to lessen or eliminate homosexual tendencies. This type of therapy has been thoroughly … [Read more...]

Guest Post: Secret Crush, Secret Life

The writer of this guest post would like to remain anonymous. I was in 8th grade when I first met her. To my untrained eyes, she was completely perfect. From her shining eyes and dimples to the sound of her laugh. I knew that I couldn’t approach her, but I worshipped from afar. We became friends, … [Read more...]

Rabbi Defends Not Reporting Sex Abuse

Last week, Yehuda Shohat and Ariela Sternbuch published a story in Yediot Aharonot about the advice that rabbis give regarding sexual molestation and abuse. Sternbuch called up 27 rabbis and community leaders with a story of how she or her child was sexually abused. In only a few of the cases did … [Read more...]