14-year-old Dvora Polak, an avid musician who has been homebound for several years due to a rare condition, was excited to perform before a large virtual audience at Chai Lifeline’s Chanukah Gala. She says that she was shocked by a “wonderful surprise” when Kenny G and Andrea Bocelli, among other famous names in the music […]
Dear JITC- I’ve already been experiencing a very hard time with lockdown. Not listening to music during the three weeks seems daunting from a mental health perspective. Is there any leniency in that regard considering the state of the world? Thanks, Tsippy Dear Tsippy- I hesitate to answer this question because it strays dangerously close […]
Dear JITC- Are hobbies allowed according to halacha? Thanks, Margaux Dear Margaux- Thanks for your question. I assume your starting point is the statement of the Shulchan Aruch in Yoreh Deah (246:25) that anyone who is able to engage in Torah and neglects to do so is guilty of “despising” the Torah. This is actually […]
Throughout my childhood, I spent a good amount of time hopping around to different churches, reading up on meditation and mindfulness, and surfing the web for some kind of answer to life’s most basic question: “Why are we here?” I’d pose this question to my friends and teachers, but I didn’t feel satisfied with anyone’s response. […]
While Netflix’s “Unorthodox” highlighted, Esty Shapiro, a woman who wasn’t allowed to sing in public – due to the laws of Kol Isha (learn more about this challenging law here), there are many Orthodox Jewish women from less insular communities (and less dysfunctional situations) who love singing and performing for other women. Some have even […]
Rare Combo: Religious Jew Takes Jazz Music Scene by Storm Israeli saxophonist and jazz singer Daniel Zamir was born to secular parents in Petah Tikva, but while studying at a prestigious New York university, he found a connection to the Jewish faith and returned to Israel as a reborn Jew, becoming the first Haredi musician […]
