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The last few days have provided us with a striking example of Israel's volatile religion/state terrain, which has consumed considerable media attention: The fight that led to the cancellation of a fundraising concert for Rabbi Avraham Elimelech Firer's NGO Ezra LeMarpeh.
We were gratified to read a recent op-ed in the popular conservative Canadian National Post written by Cananda’s former Ambassador to Israeli Vivian Bercovici. She subsequently made Aliyah and now resides in Tel Aviv.
We are proud to share THIS LINK to the 2019 Israel Religion & State Index with you. Hiddush released the Index on Rosh Hashanah eve. However, the translation of the full report into English was completed this week.
84% Adult Israeli Jews support religious freedom and equality of civic burden; 74% oppose government’s activities in religion-state
53% say they are more likely to vote for a party that commits to promote religious freedom and equality of civic burden. 66% say that it is important for them that the party they will vote for advance these values.
A large majority of voters for Israel’s civil parties, including the Likud, want freedom of marriage, and given the central role that religion/state issues are playing in the current election campaign - We may be closer than ever before to forming a coalition that will finally grant Israelis this fundamental right.
Hiddush legal advocacy ranges from cases dealing with the abuse of religious IDF draft exemptions for young women to elderly hot dog vendors who legally operate their carts in Jerusalem on Friday night.
Hiddush submitted a new petition aimed at further expanding religious freedom in Israel in general and pluralistic burial alternatives in particular.
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 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.
Last week, Prof. Ben David published a policy brief titled 'Two Wars and Demography: A Long Run View of Israel’s Recent Elections'. Its importance cannot be over-exaggerated. We can only express the hope that leaders and policymakers will take the time to study it carefully.
66% of the public prefers a Likud-Blue-&-White coalition to promote freedom of religion and equality, rather than a narrow government dependent on the ultra-Orthodox.
Hiddush provides context and more accurate understanding of what may appear to onlookers from the Diaspora as growing support for the ultra-Orthodox political parties due to the increase from 13 to 16.
Hiddush congratulates the Women of the Wall on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of their just struggle and tomorrow's gathering of hundreds of women from around the world to commemorate this special occasion at the Western Wall for Rosh Chodesh Adar.
The political explosion of the past 24 hours changes the political map of the parties that now await the voters’ decision. With the merger of the Israel Resilience party and Yesh Atid party, Prime Minister Netanyahu has an electoral fight on his hands for the first time in years.