Menachem Rosensaft’s opinion piece on ultra-Orthodox Judaism’s need to be more open-minded (“Ultra-Orthodox Judaism Need Not Be Closed-Minded,” Jan. 13) makes some valid points, but also a misleading one.
The author talks about his family history being “unconventional” in that his grandfather asked his daughter, the proposed bride, before agreeing to marry her off. I don’t know how much the author knows about Orthodox marriage customs, but the bride is always asked if she agrees. Forced marriages are anathema to Orthodoxy, and have been since Rachel was asked if she was willing to marry Isaac.
Manhattan
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