A marquee advertising Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” recently declared: “Before there were the Jews, there was… The Odyssey.” The slogan has sparked backlash, and for good reason. It isn’t historically accurate. While “The Odyssey” was composed centuries later, its story is traditionally set around 1200 BCE, in the aftermath of the Trojan War. By that […]
Dear Jew in the City, Why do Orthodox Jews have to wait until certain times to pray? Sincerely, Mark Dear Mark, Thanks for your question – and I know exactly why you’re asking: because of the bill to make Daylight Savings Time permanent. As many have noted, this would make it difficult – if […]
Dear Jew in the City, How do Orthodox Jews pray? Sincerely, Kate Dear Kate, Thanks for your question. There are a lot of ways I could answer this. For example: How do we pray? In Hebrew (unless one is unable to do so). How do we pray? Standing. Many of us sway (called shuckeling). […]
Millions of Bravo viewers first met Barbie Pascual on Below Deck, where she made an unexpected confession: “I know my soul is Jewish.” At the time, she hadn’t yet formally begun converting to Orthodox Judaism. By the time Pascual returned to the franchise most recently on Below Deck Down Under, that journey had become a […]
Dear Jew in the City, Isn’t being honest and ethical part of a religious Jewish life? Sometimes I read about Orthodox Jews committing fraud. What does Judaism forbid, and why are people such hypocrites? Sincerely, Disillusioned and Disappointed Dear D & D- No doubt this question was motivated by the news in which seven “ultra-Orthodox” […]
For thousands of years, Jews have wrapped tefillin every weekday morning, paused to make a blessing before eating, and recited Shema before bed — not because we knew that these practices were good for us from a mental and physical health perspective, but simply because Hashem commanded us to do them. We don’t need neuroscience […]
