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Will Jewish leadership continue looking the other way?

Will Jewish leadership continue looking the other way?

The world media, from Washington DC to Burkina Faso, French Guinea and the Arab world covered the phenomenon of the most prominent athlete in Israel today, who won a gold medal for the State of Israel and sweeping praise from the heads of state; but is not allowed by his country to marry his girlfriend because it placed the control of marriage in Israel in the hands of the Orthodox Chief Rabbinate.

Initiatives of the new government: “antisemitism”

Initiatives of the new government: “antisemitism”

The main issue on the agenda this week was a series of reforms of the kashrut system. The Minister of Religious Services, Matan Kahana, is trying to promote them, intending to increase competition in the provision of kosher supervision services, while preserving the Orthodox monopoly over kashrut certification.

Landmark Supreme Court Religion-State Rulings

Landmark Supreme Court Religion-State Rulings

This week, the Supreme Court handed down two landmark rulings on cases in the arena of religion and state, which have been pending for years. Once announced, they generated the expected outpouring of reactions.

Hiddush in the legal trenches

Hiddush in the legal trenches

Hiddush has initiated legal action in two instances of abuse by Haredi outreach operations infringing upon the rights and lives of residents of neighboring buildings.

MK Rabbi Kariv and Reform Judaism – like pigs

MK Rabbi Kariv and Reform Judaism – like pigs

The political discourse has descended to new lows this week. United Torah Judaism MK Meir Porush likened Reform Jews and Labor MK Gilad Kariv, a Reform rabbi, to pigs. He spoke in reaction to the appointment of Kariv as chairman of the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee.

Religion, State, and the New Government

Religion, State, and the New Government

Writing about this subject raises the known question as to what we should be looking at: the half-full cup, or the half-empty cup?

What else is important RE: the Meron tragedy investigation?

What else is important RE: the Meron tragedy investigation?

The political and rabbinical ultra-Orthodox leadership are still preventing the appointment of a state investigation commission. Their objections are anchored, to a great degree, in an offhand rejection of the legitimacy of the civil judicial system in general and of the Supreme Justices in particular, as we have repeatedly outlined here.

Hiddush in the legal trenches

Hiddush in the legal trenches

Last week, Hiddush filed a petition in the Supreme Court on behalf of itself; the Israel Women’s Network; NA’AMAT; the Rackman Center; and Women Lawyers for Social Justice to ensure adequate gender representation for women on Religious Councils and senior oversight appointments.

What are haredi parties doing in a national-Zionist coalition?

What are haredi parties doing in a national-Zionist coalition?

A government priding itself as being national, democratic, Zionist, relies on haredi cynical anti-Zionist parties aiming to extract state funds, enforce religious coercion and erode democracy.

Israel Independence Day according to Haredi media

Israel Independence Day according to Haredi media

Two front page pictures, that of the front page of Yaded Ne’eman and of Yediot Aharonot, on Israel’s Memorial Day for the Fallen Soldiers, which is also the eve of Yom Ha’atzmaut, tell the whole story. A government that prides itself as being Zionistic, relies on ultra-Orthodox politicians that are cynical and anti-Zionistic, aiming to extort State funds, enforce religious coercion and undermine Zionism.

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