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Survey: recognition of non-Jewish family members under Law of Return

06/01/2020 14:49

62% of Israel’s adult Jewish public does not consider religious conversion through the Chief Rabbinate as a necessary condition for recognizing the Jewishness of immigrants who are the family members of Jews but whose mothers are not Jewish.

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Revolutionary conversion ruling?

Uri Regev 20/09/2018 19:57

Haredi opposition threatens Israeli democracy, the rule of law, the judciary's independence, and the partnership between Israel and world Jewry

Court requires Interior Ministry to recognize a private conversion

Uri Regev 13/09/2018 14:26

Hiddush responds to court ruling, instructing the Israeli Interior Ministry to formally recognize the Jewish identity of a woman who underwent a private Orthodox conversion

The conversion draft bill is a land mine!

Uri Regev 24/04/2018 11:36

"The minefields of Israel's religion and state arena and Israel-Diaspora relations will explode in the coming days," Rabbi Uri Regev responded to reports about the upcoming legislative initiative on conversion, based on the recommendations of former minister Moshe Nissim.

Comprehensive interview with Rabbi Shlomo Riskin in Israeli media

Uri Regev 29/08/2017 14:34

A recent detailed interview with Rabbi Shlomo Riskin appeared in the original Hebrew in Makor Rishon, with select paragraphs translated into English below.

Politicians who degrade the Diaspora shouldn't seek support in its communities

Uri Regev 29/06/2017 00:30

If you weren't on Mars this week, there is high likelihood that you are aware of the fierce storms engulfing Israel and world Jewry under the blazing summer sun. Every self-respecting Jewish organization issued a statement, and the language ranged from dismay to deplore, although most were lacking when it came to taking action.

Three battle fronts: The Kotel, Conversion, and Shabbat

Uri Regev 26/06/2017 19:47

Israel's religion and state conflict is viewed as a key component of shaping Israel's path. Recent days have provided us with a good cross section of the scope, depth, motivations, impact, and potential consequences of this ongoing saga.

Conversion bill to reject all conversions outside of Israel's Rabbinate

Uri Regev 18/05/2017 23:35

A measure submitted earlier this month by the Interior Ministry led by Rabbi Aryeh Deri, head of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, is a blatant effort to circumvent a March 2016 Supreme Court ruling that allowed those undergoing private Orthodox conversions in Israel to become citizens under the Law of Return.

Committee to determine criteria for recognizing Orthodox Diaspora rabbis

14/12/2016 19:47

The Council of the Chief Rabbinate and the rabbinical judges of the Supreme Rabbinical Court convened Wednesday and established a joint committee to draft criteria for recognizing the weddings, divorces and conversions of rabbis in the Diaspora.

Israeli religious court goes off the deep end

13/07/2016 16:37

Why would a rabbinic court in the world’s only Jewish state do something that would blatantly turn off most of the world’s Jews?

Rabbi Haskel Lookstein's degrading experience

Uri Regev 30/06/2016 14:24

If we needed any further reminder that the issue of "Who is a Jew" hits directly home in North America, the recent news regarding the refusal of the Israeli Rabbinic courts to accept Rabbi Haskel Lookstein's conversions is the most recent case in point.

Landmark conversions ruling is a victory for religious freedom in Israel

Uri Regev 10/04/2016 16:33

The Israeli Supreme Court’s recent landmark ruling on conversion represents another blow to the Israeli Chief Rabbinate’s monopoly on religious affairs; it strengthens a pluralistic approach to Judaism; and it upholds the principles of religious freedom and the rule of law.

Conversion – Time to go beyond the rhetoric

Uri Regev 13/08/2015 16:26

The leader of the Tzohar rabbinical organization, Rabbi David Stav, and his colleagues threw a shock grenade into the volatile religion/state arena this week.

Jeffrey Goldberg shows “How Israel Can Stop Alienating American Jews”

06/12/2011 10:22

Jeffrey Goldberg suggests several ideas as to “How Israel Can Stop Alienating American Jews”, including showing respect for diverse Jewish expression and ending ultra-Orthodox discrimination

Chief Rabbi Amar: “The Rabbinate is excellent…We have proven ourselves”

27/11/2011 12:56

Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar responds to recent articles criticizing the Rabbanut’s activities by saying that “the Rabbinate is excellent, and the religious court judiciary is excellent…It is getting better and better, including the way in which it relates to the public.”

Tzohar Rabbis Disingenuous In Their Campaign

Uri Regev 15/11/2011 19:36

Tzohar’s “victory for the Jewish People” is not in keeping with the pluralistic reality of the Jewish community in the United States from whom they have requested support.