The Death Throes of "Conservative Judaism"

Perhaps there are Baby-Boomers like me who remember when the Conservative movement at least put on a facade as being faithful to Jewish Law. However, it seems to me that few Boomers were willing to go along with the charade. Those that sought God became Orthodox, and those who didn't became Reform or unaffiliated.

Way back in 2014 I blogged about a gay "wedding" that took place in a Conservative Temple in New Jersey. I had left a comment on the web site that reported the deplorable event:

The job of a rabbi is to uplift them to the Divine ideals of Torah and not lower them down into the depravity of ancient Egypt:

“Lesbian relations are forbidden and it is among the “doings of Egypt” that we have been warned about as it is said, “After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do”. The sages said, “What did they do? A MAN MARRIES A MAN, and a woman marries a woman, and a woman marries two men.”

From Maimonides, Laws of Forbidden Relations 21:8

Did I really expect these clergy to uplift the congregation? If so, I was really naive! Take a look at what their clergy are doing today:

Rabbi Ariella Rosen and Rabbi Becca Walker tied the knot at the Conservative movement’s camp in Palmer, Massachusetts, last month, with yet another queer woman rabbi, Megan GoldMarche, officiating. Rosen’s father, Rabbi Jim Rosen, also played a role.

Sad.

A big thumbs down to all the "rabbis" that took part in this farce. You guys are harming yourselves and your congregations.

The Truth About Intermarriage

It's been a long time since I posted here as I have been busy with other things. So what's changed? Well, I came across a post from Rabbi Steven Pruzansky which I just had to link to. No, I do not think that my link is going to drive a lot of traffic his way. It is just my way of showing support for a Rabbi that has been consistent in promoting Torah values fearlessly.

So here is the link: The Consequences of Opposing Intermarriage

Rabbi Pruzansky, Yishar Koach!

Meat eater? Pack up for Israel! (Shmini 2021)

Temple Sacrifices Today?! (Tzav 2021)

How is Living in the Diaspora Idolatry? (Vayakhel 2021)

Then the Tabernacle, Now the Land (Ki Tisa 2021)

How Temple Laws Apply To Modern Israel (Tetzave 2021)

Is It Time To Rebuild The Temple? (Teruma 2021)

The Morality of Conquest (Mishpatim 2021)

The Secret to Long Life (Yitro 2021)

הרב ברוך רוזנבלום שליט"א זעקת החולים!!!-סיפור מצמרר מבית החולים תל השומר

Why Jewish Holidays Are Celebrated Differently In Israel & Diaspora (Bo, 2021)

The Proper Diaspora Mindset (Vayechi 2020)

Return to Israel the Moment It's Possible (Vayigash 2020)

In The Footsteps of The Maccabees

Happy Hannukah!

I've updated an old post containing the lectures of Dr. Hagai Ben-Artzi, where he explains the battles of the Maccabees in eight short videos. Go ahead and click here!

Secrets of the Return to Zion in the Story of Yosef (Vayeshev 2020)

The Importance of Purchasing Property in Israel (Vayishlakh 2020)

How Can Jews Know When to Return to Israel? (Vayeitze 2020)

The Shared Power of Circumcision & The Land (Toldot 2020)

COVID-19 and the Courtyard Minyans

Not long after the COVID-19 pandemic started it became known that the virus spreads quickly when there are a lot of people gathered in a closed space. For those of us who attend synagogue, davening became a potential "superpreading event". In Israel the government has put various limitations on public prayer, sometimes entirely forbidding worship inside buildings. These government regulations were the impetus for the creation of "courtyard minyans".

One can find at least one of these minyans on almost every street in Jerusalem. They may be taking place in the courtyard of a synagogue or an apartment building, in a parking lot, on a dead end street, or even on the median dividing a boulevard. Special canopies, tents, plastic "keter" chairs, and tables, in places where you would not expect to see them, were all signs that here is a courtyard minayn.

An interesting byproduct of these minyans was the creation of new congregations, based on geographical location more than on the religious rite or the style of the congregants. Asheknazim, Sefardim, Hasidim, National-religious Jews, each of which would usually prefer to daven in their own synagogues, were now davening together. Not that we needed any proof, but this once again showed that we really are one.

Now that the rainy season has begun, it will be interesting to see what will happen to these minyans.