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From the Legal Trenches

From the Legal Trenches

1. Freedom of Marriage: In the last newsletter we reported on Hiddush’s legal breakthrough, which brought Israel closer than ever before to realizing freedom of marriage.


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Hiddush makes progress on military burial rights for IDF soldiers

Hiddush makes progress on military burial rights for IDF soldiers

Once again, Hiddush is impacting on Israeli governmental policies, advancing religious freedom and equality. This time – it’s about a very painful and sensitive issue: burial of fallen soldiers. Last week we were informed of the acceptance of our demands (although we will have to follow the implementation, as we know from past experience…).

Israel's Rabbinate coerces and discriminates in hotels

Israel's Rabbinate coerces and discriminates in hotels

Despite officially and publicly updating its kashrut regulations for hotels this year, in order to be in compliance with the law, Israel's Rabbinate continues to coerce hotels to enforce Shabbat restrictions and its illegal ban against all Christian holiday symbols.

Katniss Everdeen's image censored in Jerusalem

Katniss Everdeen's image censored in Jerusalem

Katniss Everdeen was censored out of Jerusalem and B’nei Brak 'Hunger Games' posters; only the fiery bird image was included. Hiddush immediately alerted the media of this censorship, prompting an investigation of the matter.

Hiddush reveals: proposed bill to increase yeshiva stipends

Hiddush reveals: proposed bill to increase yeshiva stipends

Hiddush causes proposed bill to increase stipends for non-working yeshiva students to be widely covered by the media. Ultra-Orthodox parties demand to include many more yeshiva students, and provide them with much more funding.

Hiddush analysis of Israel’s state budget

Hiddush analysis of Israel’s state budget

The state budget for yeshivas is expected to grow by 419 million shekels, an increase of three-quarters. This is blow to the heart of Israel’s future, and a slap in the voters' faces.

Should religious freedom stop at the gates of military cemeteries?

Should religious freedom stop at the gates of military cemeteries?

Turning to the Minister of Defense, Chief of Staff, Head of IDF Personnel, Judge Advocate, and Minister of Religious Services, Hiddush suggested that civil burial plots be designated within military cemeteries, in which full military funerals can be conducted, ungoverned by the Orthodox Rabbinate.

Supreme Court hears Hiddush petition against coercive rabbinical court

Supreme Court hears Hiddush petition against coercive rabbinical court

Justice Mazuz: “The ‘Writs of Refusal’ are intended to deny a person his rights as a man and a citizen by blocking his/her way to State institutions (i.e. - the courts) that can render him remedy in realizing his rights.”

The Coalition Agreements: Religion and State Clauses

The Coalition Agreements: Religion and State Clauses

We are pleased to present to you the analysis report prepared by Hiddush on the religion and state clauses in Israel's 2015 coalition agreements. The document deals with budgets matters; education; freedom of religion and equality of civic burden.

Support for public transporation on Shabbat at highest level ever

Support for public transporation on Shabbat at highest level ever

What gives Israel its Jewish character? Is it liberty, justice and peace, as taught by the Hebrew Prophets, or is it the lack of public transportation on Shabbat, which greatly restricts the weakest sectors of Israeli society?

Revolution in Rabbinate’s Kashrut Regulations, following Hiddush’s Battle

Revolution in Rabbinate’s Kashrut Regulations, following Hiddush’s Battle

The Chief Rabbinate updates its kashrut regulations for hotels, hostels and event halls to be in accordance with Israeli law. Finally, kashrut certification will only be granted upon the basis of whether the food is kosher or not!

Justice Joubran asserts state funded school networks subject to Propaganda Law

Justice Joubran asserts state funded school networks subject to Propaganda Law

Justice Joubran: "Common sense and reason cannot tolerate Shas’s legal interpretation, according to which a teacher could influence a student’s parents." Rabbi Regev: “This is an important precedent that will affect a host of educational networks and future elections campaigns. The mobilization of armies of teachers has been prohibited.”

Ultra-Orthodox parties' history of voters' faith manipulation

Ultra-Orthodox parties' history of voters' faith manipulation

Since 1988, the ultra-Orthodox parties have been promising rabbinic blessings, making threats and gifting "mystical" amulets to voters who commit to support them in the elections. The Knesset and the Supreme Court have set legal prohibitions against this, but the bribery and manipulation has continued.

Rabbi Blau, Stop threatening haredi women!

Rabbi Blau, Stop threatening haredi women!

Rabbi Mordechai blau publicly threatened ultra-Orthodox women with terrible consequences against their families and livelihoods, should they choose to run for office. Hiddush respond swiftly by urging the Attorney General to investigage Rabbi Blau for extortion!

Core of the Core Curriculum: Chewed up, Spit out

Core of the Core Curriculum: Chewed up, Spit out

Despite a 2013 Knesset Law, promoted by the Yesh Atid Party, which required all state funded schools to teach core curricular studies, Minister of Education Shay Piron (a senior member of the Yesh Atid Party) delayed its implementation until well past the next Israeli elections... and Hiddush publicly exposed it.

'Jewish Home' Party exerted pressure upon local pols: Appoint our people

'Jewish Home' Party exerted pressure upon local pols: Appoint our people

The Knesset Interior Committee held a meeting to investigate accusations that the Jewish Home party led by Religious Services Minister Naftali Bennett exerted undue pressure upon local politicians to grant political favors to Jewish Home Party supporters by appointing them to administrate local religious councils.

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