The JEWISH STAR
TheJewishStar.com
Sukkos • Friday, October 6, 2017 • 16 Tishrei 5778 • Luach page 21 • Torah columns pages 20–21 • Vol 16, No 37
The Newspaper of our Orthodox communities
Facebook CEO reasserting Jewish roots Arba Minim at Darchei
Second graders at Yeshiva Darchei Torah in Far Rockaway, talmidim of Rabbi Nachum Nachumson, were learning about the Arba Minim last week in preparation for the Sukkot holiday, which begins Wednesday night. MHB
What does it mean to be Modern Orthodox? By Ben Sales, JTA While the vast majority of Modern Orthodox Jews believe in G-d, send their kids to Jewish day schools, and make incomes well above the national average, they are less than unanimous in their views on whether women should be rabbis or synagogue presidents, on settlements in Judea and
Fresh wave of anti-Semitism hits campuses By Rafael Medoff, JNS Jewish college students returning after their summer break encountered a wave of swastika daubings and anti-Israel activity on campuses across the country—and there are signs the hostility may intensify. The latest incidents coincide with a new campaign See Campus anti-Semitism on page 10
Samaria and a two-state solution, and in their political affiliations — they’re about evenly split between Republicans and Democrats. These are some of the findings of a Nishma Research survey published on Thursday in which nearly 4,000 Modern Orthodox Jews participated last June. It divided the respondents into five sub-groups according to the respondents’ self-definition, from left to right: Open Orthodox (12 percent), Liberal Modern Orthodox (22), (just plain) Modern Orthodox (41), Centrist Orthodox (14) and RightCentrist Orthodox (11). The survey has a 1.7 percent margin of error. While the Jewish firm that conducted the poll did not provide an explicit definition of Modern Orthodoxy, the term tends to indicate Orthodox Jews who seek synthesize Orthodox observance with modernity, and more often than not have connections with Yeshiva University and its related institutions. Respondents were reached through synagogues “primarily” associated with the Rabbinical Council of America, the largest Modern Orthodox rabbinic organization. (Haredi Orthodox Jews, who tend to be more insular and less likely to engage in secular education or culture, were excluded from the survey.) The survey, citing a 2013 Pew Research Center study, says that among the country’s 500,000 Orthodox Jews, 220,000 identify as “Modern” in one way or another. Here are five key takeaways from the survey. See Modern Orthodox on page 2
By Ben Sales, JTA Mark Zuckerberg wrote last December on Facebook that for him, “religion is very important.” Looks like he meant it. The Facebook co-founder has been invoking Judaism a lot lately. In May, he quoted a Jewish prayer at Harvard’s commencement. Two weeks ago he posted a picture of his daughter with a family kiddush cup. And on Saturday night, he posted a public apology at the end of Yom Kippur (see story on page 4). It’s quite a transformation for a public figure who once defined himself as an atheist. Although he was a member of the Jewish fraternity AEPi before he dropped out of Harvard, Zuckerberg didn’t discuss his Judaism much before 2015. Replying to a comment last year, Zuckerberg wrote that he “went through a period where I questioned things, but now I believe religion is very At Sukkot, joy is not an option, it’s a important.” requirement. Zuckerberg’s rePeople continue to suffer from natucent string of Jewish ral disasters, repression and genocide, affirmations began and America is reeling from the unfathnearly two years ago onable act of a man who took at least following then-pres59 lives and injured several hundred idential candidate people in Las Vegas on Sunday night. Donald Trump’s call None of these tragedies can be unfor a ban on Muslims done, but our role is not to do nothing. entering the United We can comfort the bereaved and States. Being raised help them rebuild their homes and as a Jew, Zuckerberg their lives; members of our communiwrote, made him senties did more than contribute money to sitive to attacks on all the hurricane victims, many — includminorities. ing students in our day schools — gave “After the Paris of themselves, rushing to Houston to attacks and hate lend a hand and offer a shoulder. this week, I can only Amidst all of this we are commandimagine the fear Mused — particularly on Sukkot — to be lims feel that they will joyous. And when we sit in our Sukbe persecuted for the kahs on Wednesday night, that’s exactactions of others,” ly what we will be, remembering HashZuckerberg wrote, reem’s myriad blessings and believing, as ferring to that year’s our forebears did while they wandered terror attack in the in the midbar for 40 years, that HashFrench capital. em will keep his word and that we will, “As a Jew, my parin fact, enter the promised land. ents taught me that As we await the arrival of Mochiach, we must stand up we have our marching orders. And we against attacks on all should execute them with joy. communities. Even if —Ed Weintrob See Mark on page 12
Joyous chag not optional
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