American Orthodoxy

In honor of Flag Day, Michael Bernstein argues that national flags do not belong in our shul sanctuaries. Drawing on halakhic responsa, news reports, and photographic evidence, Bernstein locates the practice of displaying flags in shuls in its historical context and proposes that flags do not ever belong in prayer spaces.

Jonah Rocheeld reflects on the state of Modern Orthodoxy and the ways Modern Orthodoxy has removed emotionality from religious practice in pursuit of rationality.

Yisrael Kashkin explores similarities between Yekkes and Hasidim.

In this letter to the editor, Perry Dane asks further questions about Steve Lipman's essay "An Empty Place at the Jewish Table: Why Are Young Jews Dropping Out?"

Jonathcan Muskat explores the different ways Rabbi Soloveitchik communicated about Mehitzah.

Yosef Lindell reviews Rabbi Sacks's Humash translation and commentary, and compares it with other translations used in the scope of Modern Orthodoxy.

In this essay, Steve Lipman analyzes reasons Orthodox Jewish people leave Orthodoxy, and how the Orthodox community should (and should not) respond.

A review of Yehoshua November’s The Concealment of Endless Light.

Joshua Leifer’s new book illustrates the collapse of several paradigms that long sustained American Jewish life. In his review, Steven Gotlib notes that Leifer’s search for a viable, non-separatist, traditional Judaism overlooks several existing models of Jewish life and practice.

Steven Gotlib review Miri Freud-Kandel’s new book on the relevance of Louis Jacobs to contemporary Orthodox theology.