While they originally wrote their skits for a Haredi fanbase, comedians Efi Skakovsky and Meni Wakshtock have met mass appeal with secular Israelis as well. Destroying all preconceived notions of how serious Haredim can be, the duo known as the Hebrew word for Chaos, Bardak are making friends and fans throughout the Hebrew-speaking world. With […]

19-year-old Yanky Hill flew back to Jerusalem this week after spending time in Ukraine and then New York with friends. As a singer who is making his own way, despite the family footsteps of his brother Singer Ari Hill and his grandfather, actor Steven Hill, he recently released a song in Yiddish and Hebrew called […]

Israel’s Ultra-Orthodox Jews ‘Least Stressed’ by Covid-19, Says Study Ultra-Orthodox Jews in Israel have been happier and less stressed during the Covid-19 pandemic than others, including secular Jews, according to new research. A study of the Israeli Jewish population by Tel Aviv University found levels of resilience were higher in ultra-Orthodox communities than other groups, […]

Dear Jew in the City, Do Orthodox Jews Have Arranged Marriages? Does Jewish law allow this? Thank you, Alex Dear Alex – First, another question: What does “arranged marriage” mean? For that matter, what does “allowed” mean? Let’s assume “arranged marriage” doesn’t just mean a blind date. Does it mean two sets of parents agree […]

While we have previously discussed why Orthodox Jewish men wear yarmulkes (kippahs), and why many also wear hats, not all hats and yarmulkes look the same, and the differences in appearance can be puzzling to outsiders (and frankly even to Orthodox Jews in other groups!) Please use our handy visual guide to understanding Orthodox Jewish […]