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Reuven Spolter

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Mar 15, 2018, 11:54 AM

Why we need ‘Man Seders’ — and Woman Seders too

Publicizing the Man Seder in Thornhill, Ontario. (via Facebook)

There's nothing wrong with creating meaningful programs that cater to different constituencies' preferences

Mar 30, 2017, 9:49 AM

The limits of Rabbinic authority

It’s one of the first sections of Gemara we teach to our children in the fourth chapter of Berachot. Yet, the implications of the story are far from childish, and resonate to this very day. Following the near decimation of...

Dec 23, 2016, 10:57 AM

Parashat Vayeshav: Sharing in the Pain of the Goldin and Shaul Families

During Operation Protective Edge, in the summer of 2014, which was aimed at halting the rain of Hamas rockets and mortars on Israel’s southern population, Hamas captured the remains of two soldiers who were killed in action. Staff Sgt....

Dec 15, 2016, 11:22 AM

The Rabbinate’s new conversion criteria committee? Same-old, same-old, but now it’s official

Transparency doesn't cut it; the Rabbinate's conversion committee needs an Anglo who knows the American Orthodox scene

Sep 16, 2016, 7:05 PM

The Recipe for a Successful High Holiday Season? Take Two Mishnayot Daily

As we approach the High Holiday season, many Jews are searching for ways to “up their game” -- to progress both personally and spiritually during the coming year. This practice of taking on something new can be daunting. On one...

Sep 9, 2016, 4:36 PM

Afternoon charter schools: A suggested solution to day school tuition insanity

Marry afternoon Hebrew schools to charter schools to ease financial and church-and-state barriers to Jewish education

Nov 21, 2014, 12:17 AM

Each of us, in our own way, suffered – and continues to suffer – as the slow passage of time edges us away from the horrible murders in Har Nof. In an age of instantaneous media, the images are...

Jun 2, 2014, 2:25 PM

Back to the Basics this Shavuot

Two important blog posts have been troubling me recently: the now infamous Social Orthodoxy post, which I've blogged about already, and a recent post by Yoram Hazony about Biblical Criticism in Orthodox shuls. That post prompted me to ask a...

Apr 4, 2014, 8:00 AM

Framing the conflict

Earlier this week, before the spectacular collapse of the current round of talks and the cancellation of the fourth round of prisoner releases, the New York Times recently ran a story about Muqdad Salah, who has been trying to...

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About Me

Reuven Spolter served as the rabbi of the Young Israel of Oak Park until his aliyah in 2008. He is a lecturer and Academic Coordinator of the Elkana Campus of the Orot College of Education, and also serves as the Overseas Rabbinic Liason for Irgun Rabbanei Tzohar. He lives with his family in Yad Binyamin, Israel.