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What does the Public think? (Hint: opposite to the position of the government!)

What does the Public think? (Hint: opposite to the position of the government!)

78% are opposed to the blanket exemption of the ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students


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The State of Israel is but a Co-op Board

The State of Israel is but a Co-op Board

Reading the Ultra-Orthodox print and online media one would not have realized that Israel has just marked its most important national holiday, Yom Ha’Atzmaut (Day of Independence) and its only two official memorial days: Yom Hashoah and Yom Hazikaron.

Interview with CEO of UJA Federation New York

Interview with CEO of UJA Federation New York

An interview with Eric Goldstein, CEO of UJA Federation New York [ESG], regarding the complex relationship between American Jewry / the NY Jewish Federation and Israel, the attitude toward Haredim, pluralism, the non-Orthodox streams, religion and state, marriage and ‘Who is a Jew’. Kikar Ha’Shabat representative, Rabbi Benjamin Goldschmidt, conducted the interview [RBG].

Emergency government and national unity?

Emergency government and national unity?

On the eve of Holocaust Memorial Day, April 20, a coalition agreement “for the establishment of an emergency and national unity government” was signed between the Likud and Blue & White. We at Hiddush focus on matters of religion and state and the implications of the agreement on the challenges of freedom of religion and equality of civic burden.

What’s behind the spread of Coronavirus among Haredim?

What’s behind the spread of Coronavirus among Haredim?

Since Israel’s Coronavirus-related restrictions were announced, even until last night, it appears that Israel’s ultra-Orthodox population is inclined to ignore the guidelines of the health and police authorities, and there have been many cases of infection reported among this population.

Israeli elections: insights and lessons

Israeli elections: insights and lessons

Hiddush is non-partisan, and it does not take a stand regarding the political clash between the left- and right-wing, and we refrain from endorsing political parties or discouraging people from voting for any particular party. Our focus is solely on the pursuit of religious freedom and equality. With that in mind, some preliminary observations are important as we assess the significance and causes of the election outcome.

Rabbi Meir Mazuz: Supreme Court Justices are beasts and mosquitoes

Rabbi Meir Mazuz: Supreme Court Justices are beasts and mosquitoes

February 17, 2020: Channel 12 exposes the greatly esteemed Rabbi Meir Mazuz attacking the Israeli Supreme Court. This is the very same rabbi that PM Netanyahu courted for support before the Likud primaries!

January 2020 Israeli Voice Index data analysis

January 2020 Israeli Voice Index data analysis

Earlier this week, the Israel Democracy Institute’s important monthly survey was published: the Israeli Voice Index. Looking through the full data set and analyzing it provides additional insights, including in the field of religion and state, which support the findings of Hiddush’s regular public opinion surveys.

2019 Israel Democracy Index published by IDI

2019 Israel Democracy Index published by IDI

This week, the IDI published its annual Israel Democracy Index, with highlights available online. What follows is a selection of Hiddush’s highlights from this Index, which focus on significant observations in the area of religion & state.

Governor of Bank of Israel: ultra-Orthodox Israelis must enter labor market

Governor of Bank of Israel: ultra-Orthodox Israelis must enter labor market

A speech given by the Governor of the Bank of Israel last month reminds us of the danger to the future of the State of Israel if we do not recognize and combat evil. He estimated that the ultra-Orthodox parties’ refusal to enable the full integration of ultra-Orthodox men into the job market and include core curricular studies in their school curricula, will require raising taxes on the rest of the public by about 60%!

2019 Statistical Report on Haredi Society in Israel

2019 Statistical Report on Haredi Society in Israel

As described on the Israel Democracy Institute's website, the 2019 Statistical Report on Ultra-Orthodox Society in Israel provides both a snapshot of the ultra-Orthodox in Israel today and an analysis of trends characterizing this community in recent decades, in key areas such as demography, education, employment, and use of leisure time.

Haredi politics versus the State of Israel

Haredi politics versus the State of Israel

A glimpse into the ultra-Orthodox parties' rhetoric describing the growing public criticism of religious coercion and the ultra-Orthodox insistence on exemption from the IDF draft.

Equal status of women a central and important value in the Israeli experience

Equal status of women a central and important value in the Israeli experience

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.

A fight for the soul and future of Israel like no other since 1948

A fight for the soul and future of Israel like no other since 1948

The passing of Israel’s cherished former Supreme Court Chief Justice Shamgar (laid to rest this week) reminds us of the lingering threat to Israel’s Supreme Court and to its rule of law.

"The orthodox status quo in Israel cannot hold any longer"

We were gratified to read a recent op-ed in the popular conservative Canadian National Post written by Canada’s former Ambassador to Israeli Vivian Bercovici. She subsequently made Aliyah and now resides in Tel Aviv.

Not antisemitism, rather: democracy defending itself

Not antisemitism, rather: democracy defending itself

Reading through the ultra-Orthodox parties’ official media outlets in recent days brings up yet another crucial consideration, which justifies the demand that these parties be kept out or neutralized in the next government coalition, as the majority of the public clearly wishes.

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