Rationalist Judaism
"Tel Avivians Don't Serve"
26 Aug
The belief that secular Tel Aviv residents refrain from serving in the IDF is a misconception often promoted by charedim, despite lacking factual basis. Nata...
26 Aug
Rationalist Judaism
Monkeys and Charedi Purity
23 Aug
Natan Slifkin addresses the contentious issue of charedi (ultra-Orthodox) exemptions from Israeli military service, revealing the societal backlash following...
23 Aug
Rationalist Judaism
The US "Gedolim" Speak Out
21 Aug
Natan Slifkin critiques the American Agudas Yisroel's take on global and Israeli Jewish issues as outlined in their proclamation. He argues that while the Am...
21 Aug
Rationalist Judaism
Penguins or Charedim?
20 Aug
Natan Slifkin highlights ongoing tensions between charedi communities and broader Israeli society, emphasizing the lack of awareness among American Jews abou...
20 Aug
Rationalist Judaism
The "Non-Charedi" Argument against IDF service
19 Aug
Natan Slifkin critiques a non-religious justification used by some in the Charedi community for avoiding IDF service, highlighting it as a reflection of a br...
19 Aug
Rationalist Judaism
Treachery from Toronto
17 Aug
Rabbi Dovid Hofstedter, a philanthropist from Toronto, is accused of undermining Israel's efforts to address its military manpower crisis by enlisting Americ...
17 Aug
Rationalist Judaism
Charedim Vs. Israel
15 Aug
Natan Slifkin discusses the tensions between the Charedi community and the State of Israel, focusing on statements from Charedi leaders who equate attempts t...
15 Aug
Rationalist Judaism
Scammed!
13 Aug
Natan Slifkin recounts a personal experience of being nearly scammed by a fraudulent charity appeal and explores how certain charitable solicitations may mis...
13 Aug
Rationalist Judaism
A Communal Response to Charedim
11 Aug
Natan Slifkin critiques the charedi community's lack of participation and acknowledgment in Israel's defense efforts, particularly during wartime. He argues ...
11 Aug
Rationalist Judaism
The Eighth War
9 Aug
In "The Eighth War," Natan Slifkin describes a new internal conflict in Israel, framed as a 'war' declared by the charedi community against the state. This f...
9 Aug
Rationalist Judaism
Should the War Continue?
7 Aug
Natan Slifkin explores the moral and strategic complexities surrounding Israel's ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza. While asserting the moral legitimacy of...
7 Aug
Rationalist Judaism
The Other "Genocide" in Israel
6 Aug
Natan Slifkin addresses the recent controversy over the euthanasia of 262 crocodiles at a farm in Israel, highlighting the complexities involved in managing ...
6 Aug
Rationalist Judaism
No, Your Rabbis Don't Know
4 Aug
Natan Slifkin critiques an article by Gedalya Guttentag in Mishpacha magazine that defends the charedi community's aversion to military service in Israel. He...
4 Aug
Rationalist Judaism
The Most Paradoxical Tisha B'Av
2 Aug
Natan Slifkin reflects on the paradoxical nature of Tisha B'Av in contemporary times, highlighting both Jewish achievements and challenges. Compared to the d...
2 Aug
Rationalist Judaism
Which Connection Are We Missing?
31 Jul
Natan Slifkin reflects on the contrast between some Jewish communities' focus on mourning historical tragedies, like the absence of Mashiach and the destruct...
31 Jul
Rationalist Judaism
Secular and Dati Apologists for Charedim
30 Jul
Natan Slifkin critiques the alliance between Israel's Likud party and charedi communities, highlighting the pragmatic but problematic reliance on charedi pol...
30 Jul
Rationalist Judaism
Charedi Idealism and Sacrifice
29 Jul
Natan Slifkin critiques the approach of respecting Charedim who avoid IDF service, arguing that spiritual dedication does not excuse neglecting national defe...
29 Jul
Rationalist Judaism
Meeting the Maleku
25 Jul
Natan Slifkin details his visit to the indigenous Maleku tribe in Costa Rica, which he connected with both personally and professionally as part of research ...
25 Jul
Rationalist Judaism
The "Three Weeks" Fraud
20 Jul
Natan Slifkin discusses the visceral controversy within the Orthodox Jewish community regarding Charedi yeshiva students' refusal to serve in the Israeli arm...
20 Jul
Rationalist Judaism
Who Wants Airport Arrests?
18 Jul
Natan Slifkin discusses the complexities surrounding the potential arrest of charedi yeshiva students in Israel for draft evasion, particularly during intern...
18 Jul
Rationalist Judaism
The Torah "Holocaust" Libel
17 Jul
Natan Slifkin critiques the controversy surrounding the Israeli charedi community's exemption from military service, particularly focusing on proposals by Yu...
17 Jul
Rationalist Judaism
The Rot Runs All The Way Through
15 Jul
Natan Slifkin's piece presents a critical view of the charedi community in Israel, highlighting their refusal to serve in the military despite the IDF's manp...
15 Jul
Rationalist Judaism
Adventures in Exotica
14 Jul
Natan Slifkin shares the intense experiences involved in preparing exotic kosher feasts for the Biblical Museum of Natural History. Each event, marked by log...
14 Jul
Rationalist Judaism
"It's The Least I Can Do"
9 Jul
Natan Slifkin critiques the widespread sharing of a story about a Hasidic Jew attending the shiva of an IDF soldier he did not personally know. While many vi...
9 Jul
Rationalist Judaism
The Lions are Out!
6 Jul
Natan Slifkin's new book, "The Lions of Zion: Biblical Natural History and the Significance of Israel," explores the deep connections between the natural wor...
6 Jul
Rationalist Judaism
Bnei Brak's Fatal Mistake
3 Jul
Natan Slifkin critiques the theological narrative promoted by some charedi Jews in the aftermath of missile attacks during recent conflict with Iran. He exam...
3 Jul
Rationalist Judaism
Are There Any Kosher Frogs?
1 Jul
Natan Slifkin explores the question of whether frogs are kosher, amidst more common discussions on current Jewish and world affairs. Engaging with the unsual...
1 Jul
Rationalist Judaism
Zohran and the Zohar
27 Jun
Natan Slifkin draws a comparison between contemporary Jewish politics and values, focusing on the response to Zohran Mamdani's impact on New York politics co...
27 Jun
Rationalist Judaism
Half a Century, Two Midlife Crises
25 Jun
Natan Slifkin reflects on his personal experiences of two "midlife crises" at age fifty. The first crisis occurred twenty-one years ago when his books were b...
25 Jun
Rationalist Judaism
An Age of Rationalist Miracles
22 Jun
Natan Slifkin's exploration of the concept of miracles considers recent events related to Iran’s nuclear capabilities in the context of Jewish thought on mir...
22 Jun
Rationalist Judaism
For Whom The Belz Toll
20 Jun
Natan Slifkin critiques the Belz chassidic community for holding a massive wedding amidst the war in Israel, ignoring government safety restrictions meant to...
20 Jun
Rationalist Judaism
The Rising Lion
18 Jun
Natan Slifkin reflects on the Biblical and historical significance of lions for the Jewish people, linking it to Israel's current operation against Iran, nam...
18 Jun
Rationalist Judaism
"Bnei Brak is Protected"
16 Jun
Recent missile attacks on Israel have prompted a tragic incident in Bnei Brak, where the failure to utilize shelters led to casualties. This reflects broader...
16 Jun
Rationalist Judaism
As War Rages
15 Jun
As Israel wages its most significant war in fifty years, the messages communicated by different Jewish communities vary significantly. Natan Slifkin contrast...
15 Jun
Rationalist Judaism
The Lions Arise
13 Jun
Operation Rising Lion marks significant military achievements for Israel, particularly regarding its preemptive strikes against Iran's nuclear capabilities, ...
13 Jun
Rationalist Judaism
Little Children
12 Jun
Natan Slifkin critiques the Israeli government's handling of military service exemptions for the charedi community, highlighting the fragile cooperation betw...
12 Jun
Rationalist Judaism
The Charedim Officially Secede
11 Jun
Natan Slifkin discusses the public stance taken by leading Charedi figures, who have issued a halachic ruling forbidding religious Jews from enlisting in the...
11 Jun
Rationalist Judaism
And Now They're Calling Us "Antisemites"
10 Jun
Natan Slifkin discusses recent tensions between the charedi community and broader Israeli society, particularly focusing on accusations of antisemitism. He h...
10 Jun
Rationalist Judaism
The "Gedolim" Slander the Rest of Israel
8 Jun
Natan Slifkin criticizes the Council of Gedolei Torah of Agudas Yisrael for their stance on the charedi community's army service exemptions in Israel. He arg...
8 Jun
Rationalist Judaism
The False Dilemma
5 Jun
In "The False Dilemma," Natan Slifkin critiques the so-called "Enlistment Law" in Israel, arguing that it is not truly about forcing charedim to enlist in th...
5 Jun
Rationalist Judaism
"Rav Chaim Can't Be Wrong!"
4 Jun
Rav Chaim Kanievsky's stance that charedi yeshiva students should not serve in the IDF is often upheld within the charedi community as an undisputed truth, l...
4 Jun
Rationalist Judaism
To Become a Jew
1 Jun
Natan Slifkin reflects on the profound nature of Jewish conversion, emphasizing that the core of becoming a Jew is not strictly about adherence to religious ...
1 Jun
Rationalist Judaism
Yeshivos: Blight or Blessing?
29 May
Natan Slifkin critically examines the role of yeshivot in modern society, particularly as Israel faces ongoing challenges. Reflecting on his yeshiva experien...
29 May
Rationalist Judaism
"You're Just A Charedi-Basher!"
27 May
Natan Slifkin addresses accusations from his detractors who label him a 'charedi-basher' for his critiques of charedi society. He defends the necessity of di...
27 May
Rationalist Judaism
CENSORED: Yom Yerushalayim
25 May
Natan Slifkin reflects on the lack of recognition for Yom Yerushalayim within charedi yeshivas, contrasting its significance with Yom HaAtzmaut. Despite ackn...
25 May
Rationalist Judaism
A Tour for Gur
22 May
Natan Slifkin details an unexpected day at The Biblical Museum of Natural History, where he led six tours for groups of Gur Chassidic children. Due to a lack...
22 May
Rationalist Judaism
Bubble Jews
18 May
Natan Slifkin explores the concept of "Bubble Jews," religious Jews from the United States who are supportive of Israel and the IDF but remain disconnected f...
18 May
Rationalist Judaism
No Prison For Charedim
14 May
Natan Slifkin critically examines the issue of charedi draft evasion in Israel, focusing on recent actions by the Military Police to arrest draft-dodgers and...
14 May
Rationalist Judaism
Ten² for Ten
13 May
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Biblical Museum of Natural History, a significant milestone for founder Natan Slifkin. The museum, which bridges ...
13 May
Rationalist Judaism
Gaza: Morality and Logic
11 May
Natan Slifkin critically examines the complex moral and strategic dynamics surrounding Israel's blockade of Gaza and the distribution of aid. He challenges c...
11 May