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This article reports on the appointment of Dina Najman as the first female spiritual leader of a Jewish congregation in New York City. She will perform many of the functions of a rabbi, with certain limitations that have been laid out by the male leaders of the congregation. Although the appointment is a milestone for the expanded role of women in Orthodox Judaism, there is still conflict with those who wish to remain faithful to ancient religious texts.

Focuses on the last Reform Jewish congregation left in Borough Park, home to one of New York City's largest concentrations of Orthodox Jews, including ultra-Orthodox sects known as Hasidim. Role of Rabbi Karen Bookman Kaplan and Jill Hausman, the cantor, leading a Passover Seder at Progressive Temple Beth Ahavath Shalom; Concerns of temple members; Background on Borough Park, where liberal-leaning American Jews have been replaced by fast-growing Hasidic populations.

The article features artist Sara Erenthal from New York who has left the Jewish sect due to its restrictions.

Like cats that have lost their whiskers, the Republicans seem off balance now that they have lost their talent for hypocrisy. They are still practicing the ancient political art of Tartuffery, of course, just without their former aplomb. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

For decades, the origin of the Dead Sea Scrolls has been intensely debated. The prevailing theory is that these ancient documents, which include texts from the Hebrew Bible, were written over the three centuries before 100 A.D. by a Jewish sect known as the Essenes, who were based in Qumran, a settlement at the northwest shore of the Dead Sea near the caves where the scrolls were found between 1947 and 1956. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

the nub of a debate sparked in May by sweeping labor abuse charges against the Orthodox Jewish owners of the largest kosher meatpacking plant in the nation -- was pondered Tuesday night in a panel discussion at Yeshiva University in Upper Manhattan, the academic nexus of Orthodox Judaism. It was, for the most part, a subdued and scholarly discussion about ritual law, Jewish ethics and what to do if you suspect that the kosher meat on your table has been butchered and packed by 16-year-old Guatemalan girls forced to work 20-hour days under threat of deportation, as alleged in a recent case. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article reports that the U.S. Jewish movement Reform Judaism is planning to bring a new prayer book. The new prayer book will have something for everyone -- traditionalists, progressives and atheists. The book will reflect diversity that is widening in Judaism. The changes will reflect developments in the Jewish society like cross-religion marriage.

The article reports that the decision of the Department of Education to open a new small secondary school inside the Montauk Intermediate School, which is a Hasidic Jewish neighborhood, has angered the Hasidic leaders at Borough Park in Brooklyn, New York.

Reports on an alleged talking fish at the New Square Fish Market in New Square (N.Y.). Number of members of the Skver sect of Hasidim living in New Square; Details of the story about a carp speaking in Hebrew and shouting apocalyptic warnings.

Discusses how the Essene connection to the Dead Sea Scrolls, which were discovered in the ancient settlement of Qumran, is being challenged. Debate among archaeologists over whether Qumran was a self-contained monastic settlement of Essenes, a strict Jewish sect; Arguments over archaeological evidence linking Qumran to the scrolls; Highlights of the debate; Views expressed at a November 2002 conference of Qumran archaeologists at Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.

Reports on Orthodox Jewish women who are taking more non-traditional jobs. How Jewish women were expected to teach or do social work; Discussion of the role between professional life for women and their religious practice; Description of author Yitta Halberstam Mandelbaum.

Focuses on the Chosen People Ministries, an organization composed of Jews who believe in Jesus as the Messiah. Evangelical conference co-sponsored by the organization; Opening of its center in New York City, New York; Historical background of the organization; Criticisms against the organization; Information on Mitch Glaser, president and chief executive of Chosen People Ministries.

Reports on the religious struggle among the Jews of different religious convictions in Jerusalem. Note on the growing dominance of ultra-orthodox Jews, the haredim, at City Hall; Concern of the modern and secular Jews over the explosive growth of the haredium.

Discusses the clashes between the Hasidic and Orthodox Jews of Monsey, New York. Disputes over zoning laws, enforcement of traffic safety regulations, and other violations; The growth of the Orthodox community; The Jewish history of Monsey; The Orthodox's conflicts with the law; Details of the conflict over four Orthodox and Hasidic members of the nine-member East Ramapo Central School District; Other issues. INSET: A badge, a gun and sidelocks..

Reports that ultra-Orthodox Jews demonstrated in Jerusalem on July 27, 1996 demanding that it be closed to traffic on the Jewish sabbath. Closure of Bar Ilan Street for scenes of skirmishes between police and religious and secular Jews.

Reports that on June 23, 1998, New York City, New York Schools Chancellor Rudy Crew overturned the decision by a school district official to use a Queen's elementary school to house several Hasidic Jews. Details on the sect; Information on the decision of the official; Reason for the rejection of the decision by Crew.