Dear JITC- I saw in Shtisel the topic of surrogacy came up. It wasn’t very favorable. Is this across Orthodoxy or just in more right-wing circles? Thanks, G.S. Dear G.S.- Thanks for your question. I’ve never seen Shtisel (and I have no intentions to) but I assume you are referring to gestational surrogacy, in which […]

American-Israeli Judith Colp Rubin has had ups and down with accepting her 21-year-old son’s decision to become a baal teshuva seven years ago. In the wake of her husband’s illness and death, her son began to find meaning, purpose and community in Judaism. While she has come to terms with his study in yeshiva, his […]

Dear Jew in the City- Judaism requires children to have certain obligations towards their parents with honoring one’s mother and father. Do parents have any obligations to their children? Thanks, RR Dear RR- Thanks very much for your question. While it seems rather straightforward, I suspect from your juxtaposition to the obligation of honoring parents […]

Zipora Gordon is not your typical Skvere Hasidic woman. Though she was born and raised as one of ten children in New Square (where she still lives today), Gordon chose an unusual career path. She is an educational consultant and a certified play supporter who teaches children to be in touch with their emotions and […]

Dear JITC- Is there a problem with trick-or-treating according to Judaism? If so, why? Thanks, Jamie Dear Jamie- Thanks for your question, though I don’t know how relevant it will be this year. Thanks to the global pandemic, I suspect there will be far less trick-or-treating this year than in the past, and I certainly […]

Religious Jewish fathers don’t get a very positive portrayal in the media. On the side of fiction, there’s Tevye, from Fiddler on the Roof, who is strict and expects his family to obey him. There’s Shulem from Shtisel, who tries to limit his son Akiva and his dreams of being an artist. And then there’s […]