About the blog

Regev Responds

President of Hiddush, Rabbi Uri Regev, gives his views on the topics that are most affecting Israel's campaign to establish religious fairness and equality.

Tools

Users: Login

Text size: A | A | A

Search:

Search Tips

North American lawyers address the new government

Uri Regev 30/11/2022 01:00

On November 30, JPLAN, a network of Jewish lawyers, judges and legal scholars from North America (the Jewish Pluralism Legal Action Network, which works to strengthen Israel’s identity as a Jewish and democratic state in a manner that fully expresses freedom of religion and equality as promised in Israel’s Declaration of Independence) addressed the leaders of the parties currently working to form the new government.

Full Story »

More Stories

Who accounts for Yisrael Beiteinu's increased share of voters?

Uri Regev 19/02/2020 00:21

For years, Hiddush has underscored the political potential of emphasizing the battle to advance religious freedom and equality in the Israeli political arena, as has been proven in practice several times in Israel’s elections history. Analysis of the implications of this issue for the recent Israeli elections is included in an article that was recently published in the Israeli daily business newspaper – the Calcalist.

Haredi leadership's responses to Hiddush Supreme Court petition

Uri Regev 07/02/2020 00:18

The Israeli ultra-Orthodox media’s reaction to Hiddush’s petition to the Israeli Supreme Court on the matter of the State’s failure to ensure that upwards of 40,000 children in Jerusalem receive educations at legal, state recognized schools was predictably full of vitriol.

Israel is headed for its 3rd election in a year!

Uri Regev 12/12/2019 18:59

We don’t have a crystal ball, and we don’t know what the future holds in store. However, when we examine what has transpired in recent months, and in spite of the fact that the election results in September were comparable to those in April, the pictures following these two rounds were substantially different. This may point to a potential breakthrough in the third round.

Pushing the wheels of justice to keep on turning

Uri Regev 28/11/2019 16:08

As the legal scene in Israel heats up, mostly characterized by uncertainty as to what's next, and when it will finally settle down, Hiddush continues to actively pursue its legal advocacy. While encouraged by indications regarding both public opinion and commitments to religious freedom and equality voiced by some by key parties, legal advocacy remains a necessary and effective avenue to advance Hiddush's mission, even as the wheels of justice turn ever so slowly.

Today's liberal spiritual-terrorists - just like the Tower of Babel

Uri Regev 07/11/2019 23:17

The weekly Torah portion erupts like a volcano, just at the right time, for today’s spiritual-terrorists are operating with exactly the same methods as the generation of the Tower of Babel. The builders of Babel had a clear agenda, and they tried to forcibly force the whole world to accept it and act according to it.

Will the municipal revolution become a national revolution?

Uri Regev 07/11/2019 21:07

This month, a historic makeover is underway in the arena of public transport on Shabbat, originating from the initiative of a number of mayors in Gush Dan, the most prominent of which is Ron Huldai, the mayor of Tel Aviv.

Hiddush on the Knesset TV channel

Uri Regev 24/10/2019 18:27

I'd like to share my insights from a panel I participated in today, broadcast on the Knesset TV channel. In the program, a panel of two reacts to the political events of the day. My co-panelist was an Orthodox economist who plays a leadership role in the Jewish Home party.

Impact of ‘religious freedom’ upon the Israeli elections

Uri Regev 11/10/2019 00:59

Avigdor Lieberman has emerged as the great victor of the elections (despite the small size of his party – 8 seats), for his party has turned out to be the determining factor in the balance of the coalition negotiation efforts.

Israeli Elections, Religion, State and American Jewry

Uri Regev 12/09/2019 11:44

Israel has never experienced a similar opportunity to end the decades-old fundamentalist Orthodox hold over its religious Jewish life.

Will there be a "Mahapach" [upheaval]?

Uri Regev 08/09/2019 15:49

Since 1977, when the Right first won the Israeli elections, and the Israeli "Mr. TV" Haim Yavin, who has led the newscast since 1968, opened the election broadcast with the words: "There's a mahapach (upheaval)!" there haven’t been many elections that had the potential of producing another “upheaval”.

Renewed Haredi assault on the Supreme Court

Uri Regev 01/08/2019 23:14

This week temporarily halted the removal-from-office procedure, which Interior Minister Deri (Leader of Shas) initiated against Mayor of Tiberias Ron Kobi. Kobi has become a symbol and lightning rod, as a crusader against religious coercion.

Israel's Religion and State conflict in the September elections

Uri Regev 18/07/2019 19:00

The unfolding election campaigning provides further validation to Hiddush's contention as to the major role that the clash of religion-&-state can potentially play if properly positioned in shaping Israel's future political trajectory. Avigdor Lieberman (whose political focus on "anti-halakha state" we've described in detail) continues to reap the gains.

Groundbreaking: IDF to allow Reform rabbis to conduct military funerals

Uri Regev 04/07/2019 17:35

The IDF and the military Rabbinate will allow Reform rabbis and rabbis of other streams to conduct military burial ceremonies, as well as allow for secular funerals in military cemeteries. This official commitment was made by the attorney representing the State before the Supreme Court at a hearing held today (July 4, 2019) in response to a petition filed by Hiddush for Freedom of Religion and Equality against the IDF.

Dramatic developments on Israel's political scene

Uri Regev 20/06/2019 18:48

Dramatic developments following the elections have validated Hiddush's pre- and post-election analysis, although it is not entirely clear yet whether the necessary lessons will be drawn by all.

Perpetual surrender to anti-Zionistic, anti-democratic religious ideology

Uri Regev 08/05/2019 00:40

It is clear that a key building block in the demands of both the Haredi parties and the Union of right-wing parties is the ensuring that the non-Orthodox movements be excluded and delegitimized