Ever since the Jewish nation was dispersed in galut, we have found ourselves under the sovereignty of countless rulers and assorted forms of government, often despotic kings and evil sultans, wicked emperors and vicious dictators. Nevertheless, Yirmiyahu HaNavi and Rabbi Chanina remind us that the success and well-being of...
Author: Allen I. Fagin
Pray for our Government—and for the Freedom It Accords Us
Data-Driven Decision Making: A Communal Imperative
We are left with two stark choices: We can let history take its brutal course, or we can double—and double again and again—the efforts we make to bring an energized, uplifting, passionate—and informed—Yiddishkeit to hundreds of thousands of our Jewish brethren.
Do We Have the Time and Energy to Lead a Torah Life?
But how do we raise our children with the Torah values we cherish, when we can barely find sufficient quality time to spend with them, outside of Shabbat and yamim tovim?
Haaretz’ Misplaced Attack on Birthright . . . And on Orthodoxy
Our goal is to reach those whose link with their Jewish identity and with Israel has been broken or severely diminished—to cultivate and renew feelings of pride and connection, based on tradition, Jewish values and the eternal wisdom of our sages. This goal thrives on unity, not on divisive...
Affordable Jewish Education—Our Highest Priority
The education of our children has always been the bedrock of our existence. At the dawn of our birth as a people, God said about the Patriarch Abraham: “I have shown him affection because he instructs his children and his posterity to keep the way of God, to do...
Aliyah—Fulfilling the Jewish Dream
This past July, I was invited to accompany the Nefesh B’Nefesh (NBN) summer charter flight, carrying 201 new olim to Israel. It was, without question, one of my most memorable experiences. This group of new olim spanned the demographic, religious and geographic spectrum of American Jewry. The youngest oleh...
Some Personal Reflections on Communal Discourse
The Rabbinic Panel . . . emphasized—indeed, repeatedly celebrated—the enormously important and successful roles that women can and must play within our communal and synagogue structures, including as community educators and scholars.
Bayamim Hahem, Bazman Hazeh: Some Reflections on Modern Miracles
This year you can read this piece, but next year, you need to witness Yarchei Kallah yourself to experience the pulsating enthusiasm, to hear the sounds of Torah being learned by hundreds who have never before experienced its depth and relevance and to sense the transformations unfolding in front...
Fusing Timeless Torah with Tomorrow’s Innovation
This is the new OU; we are celebrating our past while building our future.
An Open Letter to Michael Steinhardt
Why do we spend millions of dollars each year on programming outside the Orthodox community? The answer can be summarized in one word: areivut.