• Should we fast over self-inflicted wounds? – Rabbi Lau Declares Fast Day in Response to Coronavirus https://hamodia.com/2021/01/19/rabbi-lau-declares-fast-day-response-coronavirus/ • Infuriating. Enough to make me an anti-Semite, kal va-chomer others in this world – BK synagogue pulls off wedding — and it’s apparently legal https://nypost.com/2021/01/19/bk-synagogue-pulls-off-wedding-and-its-apparently-legal/ • Orthodox Jewish Docs Wrestle With COVID-19, Bad Press http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/944334 • America Doesn’t Face a Crisis of Faith, but a ...

• No refrigerators left: L.A.’s COVID-19 spike swamps Jewish mortuaries https://forward.com/news/national/462339/no-refrigerators-left-las-covid-19-spike-swamps-jewish-mortuaries/ • Z Eleff – Brown V. Board of Education: An Orthodox Cause? https://jewishaction.com/jewish-world/history/brown-v-board-education-orthodox-cause/  

• When Freedom of Religion, the Rights of Parents, and the Government’s Education Policies Come into Conflict https://mosaicmagazine.com/picks/religion-holidays/2021/01/when-freedom-of-religion-the-rights-of-parents-and-the-governments-education-policies-come-into-conflict/ • WHEN HISTORY IS HIS STORY A Review of R. Dovid Kamenetsky’s “Rabeinu Chaim Ozer: Raban Shel Kol B’nei Ha’goleh” https://seforimblog.com/2021/01/when-history-is-his-story/ • Our story, a response to Hollywood’s portrayal of the formerly Orthodox https://www.jpost.com/opinion/our-story-a-response-to-hollywoods-portrayal-of-the-formerly-orthodox-655689  

by R. Gil Student I. A Time to Recharge The latest issue of the Journal of Halacha and Contemporary Society (RJJ Journal), under new editorship, is devoted to Coronavirus questions. One article contains short, translated responsa by Rav Yisroel Reisman, Rosh Yeshiva of Torah Voda’as and rabbi of the Agudah of Madison. Among his many short responsa, one addresses the ...

• Vaccinate in houses of worship – COVID-19 vaccine: Government, the faith community is ready to partner; give us a shot https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2021/01/15/faith-community-can-host-covid-19-vaccine-sites-across-u-s/4167153001/ • E Schwartz – A Call for Moral Clarity https://yuobserver.org/2021/01/a-call-for-moral-clarity/ • Y Hazony – The Capitol Riot https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoUmz9DQOyw&feature=youtu.be&ab_channel=NationalConservatism • M Soloveichik and R Douthat – A Rabbi and a Catholic Writer Discuss America’s Spiritual Crisis https://mosaicmagazine.com/picks/history-ideas/2021/01/a-rabbi-and-a-catholic-writer-discuss-americas-spiritual-crisis/  

by R. Gil Student I. Ashkenazim and Birkas Kohanim Every day, kohanim, men of the priestly families, bless the congregation with the biblical blessings (Num. 6:24-26). At least in theory. In practice, Ashkenazic communities only observe this on holidays, except in Israel, where it is observed daily. I believe that the standard understanding of how Israeli Ashkenazic practice became different ...

• R A Lopiansky on the Capitol takeover – Gone Missing https://mishpacha.com/gone-missing/ • A congressional staffer reflects on religion and Trumpism. Non-denominational until the last paragraph or two, which are minimally Christian – God & Capitol https://juicyecumenism.com/2021/01/12/will-derrick/ • Clergy don’t get vaccination priority in California https://forward.com/news/national/461947/in-california-rabbis-ask-why-clergy-arent-in-first-or-second-group-for/ • Securing Internet Communications in 2021 – A Layman’s Guide http://nleresources.com/2021/01/securing-internet-communications-in-year-2021-a-laymans-guide/ • Conflict over Capitol mob coverage roils Jewish ...

• Orthodox Judaism and the Pandemic: How Religion Affects Response https://elemental.medium.com/orthodox-judaism-and-the-pandemic-how-religion-affects-response-31edea97fb8f • This is very important – America needs healing, not more partisan warfare https://www.jns.org/opinion/america-needs-healing-not-more-partisan-warfare/ • The ongoing transformation of Jewish media – JTA’s parent company acquires the NY Jewish Week https://www.jta.org/2021/01/11/united-states/jtas-parent-company-acquires-the-ny-jewish-week/ • The Long Journey Home of Ethiopian Jewry http://www.5tjt.com/the-long-journey-home-of-ethiopian-jewry/

• Clean Hands by Shalom Carmy https://www.firstthings.com/article/2021/01/clean-hands • IMPORTANT – READ THIS: Should We Be Leaving WhatsApp? https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/headlines-breaking-stories/1937297/important-read-this-should-we-be-leaving-whatsapp.html • Why Data Matters: A Conversation with Social Scientist Matt Williams https://jewishaction.com/jewish-world/why-data-matters-a-conversation-with-social-scientist-matt-williams/

by R. Gil Student Many people have their own private eruvin, structures that allow them to carry on Shabbos. They do this with one or more neighbors by ensuring the area is closed, whether by gates, walls or doorway-like structures — a complicated matter that requires rabbinic oversight or approval. Additionally, they keep food for two communal meals, usually matzah, ...