Abusing lashon hara: in defense of a journalist [Controversy]

By John Propper February 13, 2012

After a recent article in The Jewish Week on accusations of abuse by Rav Aharon Bina, head of an all-male yeshiva in Old Jerusalem, was published to much controversy, the Jewish blogosphere exploded with the aftershocks. From a blog where critics of Bina’s methods and teaching style can vent their frustrations and even their trauma,…

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The Reading List: Tzitzis Are Sexy!

By Ben Sales December 22, 2010

But it depends how you wear them. [Leftover Cholent] Ramen noodles, college students’ bread and butter, may lead to chronic illness. Tradition Soup, anyone? [MainStreet] Netanyahu caves to the anti-Zionist students. [Ha’aretz] Don’t get a Ph.D. [The Economist] With DADT over, will the ROTC return to the Ivies? [NYT]

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The (Double) Reading List: When a “Maccabeats” reference goes too far

By Ben Sales December 8, 2010

Today the concerned and compassionate editors of New Voices are offering you a double reading list to apologize for dropping the ball on these roundups yesterday and on Monday. Enjoy these ten worthwhile links from the Jewish internet: We all love Maccabeatlemania, but here’s how we shouldn’t use the craze that’s sweeping American Jewry. On…

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The Reading List: Maybe Yeshivas Have the Right Idea…

By Ben Sales December 2, 2010

Turns out gender-separated study leads to better results. Thanks, rabbis. [HuffPo] J Street U’s Jeusalem organizer says we should listen to the prophets–and pursue peace and justice. [Jewschool] Meanwhile, back in Belarus, students help restore a Jewish cemetery. [Forward] Here’s why, against all odds, you should expect Israeli-Palestinian peace, at some point. [JW] Who should…

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The Reading List: Protest mounts against Columbia/Barnard Hillel

By Ben Sales November 22, 2010

A group of Columbia/Barnard alumni have sent a petition to the schools’ Hillel, advocating open discourse and protesting the Hillel’s decision to pressure the schools’ J Street U affiliate to drop its sponsorship of Gaza UNRWA Director John Ging. [Jewschool] Yes, there is a Guinness World Record for number of dreidels spun simultaneously, and YU students are…

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The Reading List: Can a Shabbat Dinner Go By Without People Gettin’ Crunked?

By Ben Sales November 17, 2010

Observant Jewish students may not go out on Friday night, but that doesn’t mean they stay sober. [Mitzpeh] Another from UMD’s JewPaper: You can’t have a college party without beer, but is that beer kosher? [Mitzpeh] In Toronto, the rabbi of a community Jewish high school refused bribes to persuade students to study at a…

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Does Max Blumenthal know who he’s talking to?

By Ben Sales October 21, 2010

Anyone who wants to make an intelligent contribution to the discourse on the proposed Israeli loyalty oath should know that drunk 18-year old Americans are not a representative sample of Israeli or Jewish society. Jenny Merkin knows that. I’m pretty sure Brandon Springer knows that too. I’m not sure that Max Blumenthal knows that. In…

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