Ultra Orthodox Hasidic Jews observe the strict rules of the Torah, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, and its 613 commandments. But, for some, the lack of choices is too rigid, so they choose to leave, even though doing so can be very painful.
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Francis extended a hand to those who don’t belong to any religion, urging them on Wednesday to work with believers to build peace and protect the environment.
(RNS) Jews worldwide welcomed newly elected Pope Francis as a friend on Wednesday (March 13), and pointed in particular to his sympathetic and strong reaction to the 1994 bombing of a Jewish center in his native Argentina — the deadliest bombing in the country’s history.
(RNS) Steven Spielberg’s “Lincoln” will probably pick up a few Oscars on Sunday, and it shows that Americans will never tire of our 16th president. While the film centers on the fight to abolish slavery in 1865, two years earlier Lincoln used his powers to correct another injustice aimed at American Jews.
(RNS) Many people, including Jewish Americans, have a hard time believing that Jews could be struggling to put food on the table in the U.S. But kosher food banks say they know it’s true. By Lauren Markoe.
