Jewish law

Is there a halachic basis to refuse to serve alongside a female paramedic? – opinion

A reading of the Talmud suggests that a soldier who won’t engage in life-saving activity on the merit of avoiding physical contact is but a ‘pious fool’

SEPTEMBER 6, 2026|ByDAVID GOLINKIN

Police officers stand by as ultra-Orthodox men block a road during a protest against conscription into the IDF in Bnei Brak in August.

THOUSANDS OF RUNNERS take part in the Tel Aviv Night Run, Oct. 2025.

Guarding our health is an act of Jewish responsibility - opinion

Neglecting the body is not an expression of faith. Exercise, proper rest, and healthy habits are part of the Jewish obligation to protect the life entrusted to us.

AUGUST 2, 2026|ByMICHAEL FREUND

Rep. Jared Moskowitz in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill on January 22, 2026 in Washington, DC.

Jewish US lawmakers warn antisemitic threats have surged since October 7

“We seem, Sara, to have passed a Rubicon now with these antisemitic threats,” Moskowitz said. “Now it’s every day, all the time.”

MAY 19, 2026|ByGRACE GILSON/JTA

'Spirituality can grow without diminishing anyone,' says the writer.

Parashat Tazria-Metzora: Turning lemons into lemonade

These parashot deal at length with a unique phenomenon described in the Torah – tzara’at, which are marks or changes that appear on the walls of a house, on clothing, or on the body.

APRIL 17, 2026|ByRABBI SHMUEL RABINOWITZ

Artificial insemination: Who is the mother according to Jewish law?

Most Jewish medical ethicists have taken a generally positive attitude toward assisted reproductive tech, even as they impose restrictions on its use.

NOVEMBER 26, 2022BySHLOMO BRODY

Why is covering a married woman's hair part of Jewish modesty laws?

How did the concept that a married woman’s hair is ervah become a dominant part of the halachic discourse?

NOVEMBER 5, 2022ByNECHAMA GOLDMAN BARASH

The Sages asked Kimhit how she merited this and she answered, ‘The walls of my house have never seen the hairs of my head’

Israel needs new burial solutions - what does Judaism say?

In recent years, several activists looking to solve Israel's burial crisis have suggested restoring a method commonly used during the Second Temple period: likut atzamot.

OCTOBER 22, 2022BySHLOMO M. BRODY

Joseph’s bones, for example, were initially buried in Egypt and ultimately reinterred in the Land of Israel (Illustrative).

Future of Jewish religious freedom hangs in balance in EU -opinion

Regarding Jewish religious freedom, tolerance of belief and speech is not enough.

OCTOBER 15, 2022BySHIMON COHEN

What does Jewish law say about uterine transplants?

While uterine transplants might be able to overcome legal obstacles, it remains critical to carefully consider its ethical and societal implications.

JULY 9, 2022BySHLOMO M. BRODY

Roe v. Wade, abortion and religious values - explainer

Here are six issues which are being implicitly addressed within the rancorous public debate about abortion.

JULY 9, 2022ByMOSHE TARAGIN

Abortion: What are the religious values of it? (Illustrative).

Roe v. Wade: Overturning would be unconscionable infringement on religious freedom - opinion

Taking away choices about pregnancy undermines central values of Jewish law: bringing to bear competing Torah values, and owning the complexity of one’s reality.

MAY 19, 2022ByDOV LINZER/JTA, SARA HURWITZ/JTA

Protesters attend the "Jewish Rally for Abortion Justice" at Union Square near the U.S. Capitol on May 17, 2022.

Agunah Day as the aftermath of war

While Jewish law bends over backwards to resolve this human tragedy, by wisely loosening the strictures of proof of death ordinarily demanded by Jewish law.

MARCH 9, 2022ByRACHEL LEVMORE