We the Rabbis and Rabbaniyot of Beit Hillel wish to address those who pray in communities or as part of the greater public: In this very difficult year, as we struggle with the effects of the Corona pandemic and our society has adopted increasingly stringent restrictions of lockdown and social distancing, we call upon every […]
Archive | Torah & Society
Beit Hillel Conference: “We Cannot Be Silent”
The Rabbanim and Rabbaniyot of Beit Hillel invite the general public to participate in the conference: “We Cannot Be Silent” Learning, Deepening the Jewish Dialogue and Raising Awareness to Assist in the Humanitarian Crisis in Syria. The conference will take place on the fast of the tenth of Tevet, Sunday January 8, 2017. 15:15 – […]
Women dancing with the Sefer Torah
In what follows, I will relate to the proper way to act when women dance with the sifrei Torah on Simchat Torah. This responsum is intended for a community which has decided that women will dance with the sefer Torah, and its purpose is to respond to two questions which are likely to arise as […]
Ta’anit Esther: International Agunah Day 5776
A centuries-old problem is taking on vicious forms as our society itself changes. Put that together with the concept of “consciousness-raising” as a trend implemented in generally unknown matters. Hence the development of International Agunah Day. This week, on Ta’anit Esther (March 23, 2016) we mark International Agunah Day as we do yearly. There is […]
Beit Hillel Los Angeles Shabbaton
Beit Hillel — Attentive Spiritual Leadership invites you to our first inaugural Shabbaton Contemporary Challenges facing Modern Orthodoxy in Israel and the Diaspora. The 4-day event, Contemporary Challenges facing Modern Orthodoxy in Israel and the Diaspora, will take place in Los Angeles, California, from May 8-11 (Parshat Emor). The Shabbaton is in cooperation with: and […]
Parshat Mishpatim: Does Halakha Permit Recourse to Israeli Civil Courts?
In recent years, the relationship between segments of the religious community and Israel’s civil courts has been fraught with tension over rulings by the Supreme Court perceived by some as antagonistic to religious values or institutions. This friction stems partly from those in the judiciary who are determined to preserve the democratic nature of the […]
The New Sabra: Dignified on the Outside, Tender Within
At the annual Beit Hillel Shabbaton, held in late December 2014, we had the privilege of the company of two sets of parents from last summer’s tragic kidnapping and subsequent murder of three youths, both families closely affiliated with Beit Hillel. Rabbanit Rachel Sprecher Fraenkel is one of the Rabbaniyot of Beit Hillel; and Ofir […]
We Need to Offer Halachically Acceptable Bar Mitzvah Celebrations for Children With Mental Disabilities
The Beit Hillel rabbinic organization has initiated a public campaign within the religious communities to encourage bar mitzvah celebrations in synagogues across the country for children with mental disabilities and developmental issues. For years, Orthodox synagogues in Israel rarely offered disabled children the opportunity to enjoy a bar mitzvah celebration. Now, Beit Hillel wants to […]
God Is Relocating!
Lately, a strange feeling has gotten hold of me. I am not yet able to fully articulate it, but something tells me that God is relocating to a different residence. He has hired a moving company and they are at this time loading all His furniture and possessions into a van and awaiting His instructions […]
Shabbat Israelit 5775/2014 – Summary Report
Soon after October’s Shabbat Israelit we published a post with some of the preliminary results and responses. We have now compiled a more detailed analyze of this amazing event – download the 16-page PDF “Review of Shabbat Israelit 5775/2014” and see the details of all of the events, activities, and responses. Want to see more […]
Friends Don’t Let Friends Get Married Without a Prenup!
We have long been active proponents for the use of halachic pre-nuptial agreements as a solution to prevent future agunah / get-refusal situations. For the sake of yourself, your children, and/or your friends, watch this video and make sure that every wedding ceremony includes a halachic pre-nuptial agreement. If we can make it happen it […]
Shabbat Israelit 5775 – The Results Are In!
This past weekend, we celebrated the Second Annual Shabbat Israelit, and the reviews are in from among those who participated: it was a massive success! The goal of Shabbat Israelit is to connect different sectors of Israeli society through the medium of Shabbat dinner: to get to know one another, to learn from one another, […]
Shabbat Israelit – Inviting Guests Who Drive on Shabbat
In anticipation of the upcoming Shabbat Israelit, we have been asked by many people – especially those living in all-religious communities – about inviting guests for Shabbat dinner, if they know that those guests will drive home after the meal. This is a question that the Beit Hillel Beit Midrash Hilchati has dealt with in […]
Shabbat Israelit – A Shabbat of Togetherness
Shabbat Israelit is Back!!! A year ago we turned the vision into reality. It all started a seemingly simple idea: to have a joint dinner on Shabbat of families from different backgrounds – religious, secular or traditional. We at Beit Hillel believe so strongly that this connection is indispensable, we decided to initiate the project […]
Mending Our Hearts on Erev Yom Kippur
Erev Yom Kippur is considered an inseparable part of Yom Kippur itself, as expressed in Vayikra (Book of Leviticus), 23:32: “It is a complete day of rest for you, and you shall afflict yourselves. On the ninth of the month in the evening, from evening to evening, you shall observe your rest day.” The Gemara […]