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Hiddush's review of the comments regarding the Western Wall made by the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the Knesset, and the Head of the Opposition teaches us much about how Israel's political leadership prefers to deal with crises in relations to the Diaspora: it's called "Damage Control."
In this issue, we dig down into two critical issues explored in the 2016 Index: The Israeli public's increasing support for marriage freedom, and the Zionist Orthodox community's views on religion & state matters
Increased support for religious freedom and equality; increased opposition to governmental policies
A significant development in the arena of religion and state is a recent study conducted by the Jerusalem Post and the AJC, which was published last Friday. Hiddush analysis of the report is available here.
Figures released by the Central Bureau of Statistics reveal the rise in the number of unmarried couples living together. Ironically, the Orthodox Chief Rabbinate’s monopoly is undermining the institution of family in Israel!
74% of Israeli Jews would prefer to have egalitarian wedding ceremonies for themselves or their children, including an egalitarian exchange of wedding rings and an egalitarian Jewish marriage contract.
The Jerusalem Post's new editor, Yaakov Katz, wrote a powerful editorial under his own name, urging Israel's rabbinic and political leadership to stop alienating Diaspora Jewry.
As praiseworthy as Mr. Sharansky's solidarity with Rabbi Lookstein was at the demonstration and in the media, it is high time for the Jewish Agency's leader to consider that a more inclusive step is necessary.
Even mainstream, renowned American Orthodox rabbis like Rabbi Haskel Lookstein are not "frum" enough for Israel's rabbinic establishment, which enjoys total control over major areas of Jewish life in the Jewish State!
The principle of "separate but equal" was historically considered an acceptable and moral resolution to clashes between majority and minority groups. However, in the 'Brown v. Board of Education' case, it was concluded that "separate but equal" is not really equal.
80% of the Jewish Israeli public supports giving married LGBTQ couples all or most of the same rights and privileges as heterosexual married couples.
Two-thirds of the Jewish Israeli population are unaware that Jewish couples can only get legally divorced through Israel's rabbinical courts, even if they were married in civil ceremonies abroad.
Leading up to Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, which Israeli and Diaspora Jewish communities are marking today, the ultra-Orthodox Yated Ne'eman newspaper chose to highlight their theological linking between the State of Israel and worldwide growing anti-Semitism.
60% of the Jewish Israeli public supports the involvement of American Jewish organizations in advancing marriage freedom in Israel. Israelis welcome American Jewish partnership in advancing this cause, both for the sake of Israel and for the sake of world Jewry!
J. Weekly Editor Sue Fishkoff's recent column was so supportive of both our cause, and Hiddush and its director, that we wanted to highlight this special piece for you this week.