Becoming a rabbi was always a dream of mine. After all I had two older brothers, a brother-in-law, a mechutan (father of one’s child’s spouse) and a son, Rabbi Binyomin Yehudah, who were rabbis. So it is an honor and a privilege to finally join them in this illustrious society. So many great and erudite rabbis showed me the way, including Rabbi Shmuel Kaminetzky, Rabbi Pinchas Scheinberg, Rabbi Aron Soloveichik, Rabbi Nisson Alpert, Rabbi Amos Bunim, Rabbi Schulem Rubin, Rabbi Yehudah Bohrer and Rabbi Shlomo Hochberg, to name just a few. All imparted to me a great love of Torah and the Jewish people, and I could never thank them enough. There is much work to be done. The Jewish people face an inordinate number of problems today. The surrounding culture has deteriorated significantly and is at the lowest point I can remember. Morality and decency are constantly being tested. The family unit is under attack from all directions. It isn’t just the “opioid crisis.” Singles are having a hard time getting married. Jewish education costs have skyrocketed, hurting Jewish growth. Even more disturbing is that young Orthodox Jewish adults are leaving the fold. Divorce is up, too, and to complicate matters many agunot (“chained” women who according to Jewish law are not free to remarry) remain stuck in a twilight zone. Immigration to Israel used to be a much higher priority when I was growing up. I cannot remember a rabbi’s sermon not mentioning aliyah back then. Today, I rarely hear it. In my day, it was not unusual for a rabbi to give mussar (Jewish ethics) lessons to his congregation. Nowadays any rabbi that reprimanded his congregation would be fired. That is totally unacceptable. Holocaust education is more essential than ever. As the survivors leave us, it crucial that rabbis to step up to the plate. The central authority of the rabbinate today needs a major boost as well. There have been many positive developments, too, however. It’s not all doom and gloom. The study of Torah has increased dramatically, for instance. Daf Yomi (a daily regimen of Talmud study) has become the norm rather than the exception. There is a much greater hunger for Torah now than at any time I can remember. But are we bringing back more than we are losing? I don’t think so. As good as all the kiruv (outreach) programs in the world are, we are losing far too many souls and not bringing enough back. I believe this is a desperate situation that has to be dealt with immediately. The prevailing culture is so powerful that it is very difficult to fight against. We all must do our part. One thing I know for sure is that rabbis must lead, but unfortunately, I see way too many rabbis following their congregations rather than leading them. This is unacceptable. If we are to survive and succeed as a people the rabbis must unite and confront all the issues that I have raised. It is my hope to aid in that vital endeavor, with the Almighty’s assistance. Dr. Joseph Frager is first vice president of the National Council of Young Israel.
Israeli troops completed a two-month operation in northern Gaza.
Trump says U.S. will guide neutral ships out of Strait of Hormuz in humanitarian move, warns any interference will be met with force.
If Iran decides to fight over passage through the Strait of Hormuz, “it will mean a return to hostilities,” a security source said.
Four of the most devastated communities during the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks are in advanced stages of reconstruction.
A deadline in the law has yet to pass, but Rabbi Josh Joseph, of the Orthodox Union, told JNS that “we expect the mayor and the NYPD to work in close coordination with the community to ensure that the intent of this legislation is fully upheld.”
Online critics accused the bestselling author, who is a supporter of the BDS movement, of “normalizing” Israelis over a brief reference in her book, Taipei Story.
The president’s call for a national Shabbat “celebrates our religion and it refocuses on our job to become a light unto the nations,” Rabbi Steven Burg of Aish told JNS.
“Doris Fisher leaves behind a legacy of deep commitment to her family and our city,” San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie said.
Nearly four of five French Jews feel unsafe, according to a recent survey.
Trump says U.S. will guide neutral ships out of Strait of Hormuz in humanitarian move, warns any interference will be met with force.
The formal public hearings in the probe into the Bondi Beach massacre reveal Australian Jewry’s fear and anxiety.
The murderer, who converted to Islam in 2007, held “antisemitic, florid and ideologically disturbing” views, according to the judge.
“We’re not seeing any indication that a large part of the Jewish community supports anti-Zionism,” Jonathan Schulman, of Jewish Majority, which conducted the survey, told JNS.
Nearly four of five French Jews feel unsafe, according to a recent survey.
“Those responsible must be found and investigated before words turn into action,” the Combat Antisemitism Movement said.
The National Education Association “sends the message to the local and state affiliates that antisemitism is acceptable,” Marci Lerner Miller, of the Brandeis Center, told JNS.
His Muslim Brotherhood ideology has deep enmity towards the Judeo-Christian West. Israel is his first target, but not the last.
Israelis with contradictory views on crucial matters are never going to cease battling one another ideologically, and no constellation of musical chairs in the Knesset is going to alter that reality.
Young men and women who completed demanding military service for years, often carrying visible and invisible scars, find themselves at a disadvantage compared to peers who did not serve at all.
America’s pro-Israel lobby has been written off before. The next chapter—built on technology, defense industrial integration and shared strategic competition—should be its most consequential.
“There isn’t a moment that I don’t think of what could have been,” her mother told JNS.
Rare documents, letters and photos on display at the President’s Residence trace a century of engagement between the Chief Rabbinate and American presidents.
An exhibition in Tel Aviv supports thousands of IDF troops from abroad serving in Israel.
From Miami suites to Mexico City kitchens, a new generation of Jewish food influencers is using cuisine as a powerful form of cultural diplomacy.
Attempts to separate the movement to accomplish the genocide of half the world’s Jews in Israel from attacks on them elsewhere have zero credibility.
What was once dismissed as a fringe campus problem is no longer staying on the fringe.
Restraint against Hamas may be strategically necessary, even if operationally frustrating.
Israelis want to get rid of Hezbollah terrorists once and for all, the Iranian terrorist proxy that has prevented them from living normal lives for decades.
-
Israeli troops completed a two-month operation in northern Gaza.
Trump says U.S. will guide neutral ships out of Strait of Hormuz in humanitarian move, warns any interference will be met with force.
If Iran decides to fight over passage through the Strait of Hormuz, “it will mean a return to hostilities,” a security source said.
Four of the most devastated communities during the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks are in advanced stages of reconstruction.
-
A deadline in the law has yet to pass, but Rabbi Josh Joseph, of the Orthodox Union, told JNS that “we expect the mayor and the NYPD to work in close coordination with the community to ensure that the intent of this legislation is fully upheld.”
Online critics accused the bestselling author, who is a supporter of the BDS movement, of “normalizing” Israelis over a brief reference in her book, Taipei Story.
The president’s call for a national Shabbat “celebrates our religion and it refocuses on our job to become a light unto the nations,” Rabbi Steven Burg of Aish told JNS.
“Doris Fisher leaves behind a legacy of deep commitment to her family and our city,” San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie said.
-
Nearly four of five French Jews feel unsafe, according to a recent survey.
Trump says U.S. will guide neutral ships out of Strait of Hormuz in humanitarian move, warns any interference will be met with force.
The formal public hearings in the probe into the Bondi Beach massacre reveal Australian Jewry’s fear and anxiety.
The murderer, who converted to Islam in 2007, held “antisemitic, florid and ideologically disturbing” views, according to the judge.
-
“We’re not seeing any indication that a large part of the Jewish community supports anti-Zionism,” Jonathan Schulman, of Jewish Majority, which conducted the survey, told JNS.
Nearly four of five French Jews feel unsafe, according to a recent survey.
“Those responsible must be found and investigated before words turn into action,” the Combat Antisemitism Movement said.
The National Education Association “sends the message to the local and state affiliates that antisemitism is acceptable,” Marci Lerner Miller, of the Brandeis Center, told JNS.
-
His Muslim Brotherhood ideology has deep enmity towards the Judeo-Christian West. Israel is his first target, but not the last.
Israelis with contradictory views on crucial matters are never going to cease battling one another ideologically, and no constellation of musical chairs in the Knesset is going to alter that reality.
Young men and women who completed demanding military service for years, often carrying visible and invisible scars, find themselves at a disadvantage compared to peers who did not serve at all.
America’s pro-Israel lobby has been written off before. The next chapter—built on technology, defense industrial integration and shared strategic competition—should be its most consequential.
-
“There isn’t a moment that I don’t think of what could have been,” her mother told JNS.
Rare documents, letters and photos on display at the President’s Residence trace a century of engagement between the Chief Rabbinate and American presidents.
An exhibition in Tel Aviv supports thousands of IDF troops from abroad serving in Israel.
From Miami suites to Mexico City kitchens, a new generation of Jewish food influencers is using cuisine as a powerful form of cultural diplomacy.
-
Attempts to separate the movement to accomplish the genocide of half the world’s Jews in Israel from attacks on them elsewhere have zero credibility.
What was once dismissed as a fringe campus problem is no longer staying on the fringe.
Restraint against Hamas may be strategically necessary, even if operationally frustrating.
Israelis want to get rid of Hezbollah terrorists once and for all, the Iranian terrorist proxy that has prevented them from living normal lives for decades.
