(This is an expanded version of an article published in The Jewish Press on December 25, 2020.) “You go to international conferences and say that we abort fetuses with Down syndrome, and people think you’re insane.” So remarked Israeli geneticist and gynecologist Dr. Adi Reches last year. In an article…

(This is an expanded version of an article published in The Jewish Press on June 5.) In April, Rabbi Moshe Taragin gave remarks on the fifth yahrzeit of his rebbe, Rav Aharon Lichtenstein, zt”l. He recounted at one point: “He was the most refined person I ever met: dignified, elegant…

(This is an expanded version of an article published in The Jewish Press on May 15, 2020.) Last month in Yerushalayim, Rav Aaron Rakeffet reflected on the pandemic and the state of the world: “Abortions. Today you have places where the baby can be eight, nine months old, and abortion…

(This is an expanded version of an article published in The Jewish Press on January 4, 2019.) On July 6, 1989, Abed al-Hadi Ganaim grabbed the steering wheel of an Egged bus and drove it off the road, murdering 16 people including an American and two Canadians. …

(This is an expanded version of an article that appeared in the August 31 edition of The Jewish Press.) The word “incitement” has legal significance in countries including Germany, Israel, and the United Kingdom. To call certain speech incitement, particularly in such countries, implies a desire for state action against…

(This is an expanded version of an article that appeared in the August 10 issue of The Jewish Press.) “Where are the Sheva Mitzvot Bnei Noach?” This was Rabbi Aaron Rakeffet’s response in 2016 (at 37:00) to support for same-sex marriage by Open Orthodox rabbis. His question came to mind…

(This is an expanded version of an article that appeared in The Jewish Press on June 8.) In the past month: Kfar Saba held its first pride parade, and Tel Aviv’s was its largest ever. Rishon Letzion appointed an LGBT community coordinator. Israel’s consul general in Sao Paulo, Brazil praised…

Toward the end of season two of Fauda, Hamas commander Walid Al Abed says in Shin Bet custody: “In a few weeks they’ll get sick of me and put me in prison, where I’ll be treated like a king. …

A Muslim soldier recently swore in to the IDF on a Quran and posted a photo of the event on Facebook. There’s nothing strange about a Muslim soldier wanting to do that, just as there would be nothing strange about a Hindu soldier wanting to swear in on the Bhagavad…