There was bad news for the Ultra-Orthodox this week: A huge charity concert in Madison Square Garden was cancelled when 33 rabbis condemned Lipa Schmeltzer, the Chassidic singer scheduled to perform, and declared that public musical performances were a no-no. Schmeltzer has vowed to never sing another song composed by a non-Jew, and the charity, which benefits "Simchat Tzion, an organization that covers the cost of catering weddings for poor Israeli orphans," is out more than $100,000. Nobody wins, nicely done.
- More than a few tongues are wagging over the previous story, but not at the Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls on Long Island, which is pushing one hour of gossip-free time every day.
- Anyone want to declare a daily, freak-out-free hour for the Jewish people? A U.S. Jewish security network is warning us all of an increased risk of threats and attacks, though it’s not clear what that means or what we’re supposed to do about it.
- In more uplifting, inspired news, a Jewish woman with a simple idea—give solar cookers to women in Darfur so they don’t have to go out looking for wood and risk being raped by militiamen—was awarded a $100,000 prize from the Bronfmans.
- While we're on the subject of bright ideas: A holistic wellness facility for religious women opening in Jerusalem targets women who are the primary caregivers for their families, and don’t often seek medical attention for themselves.
- Also in Jerusalem, Conservative rabbinical students are still fighting about gay ordination, which is like, so last year.