The Western Wall

The Western Wall

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The Women of the Wall want to destroy the Holy of Holies?! Really?!

The Women of the Wall want to destroy the Holy of Holies?! Really?!

14/07/2022 21:07

Likud MK Miri Regev's campaign clip illustrates the willingness to embrace ultra-Orthodox doctrines which conflict with the foundations of Western democracy, and which are contrary to the will of the majority of the public who seek to advance freedom of religion and conscience in Israel.

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Shas Party proposes a bill to outlaw mixed prayer at Western Wall

Shas Party proposes a bill to outlaw mixed prayer at Western Wall

01/12/2016 14:58

The Shas party declared on Monday that it would propose a bill that would make it illegal to hold pluralistic prayer services at the Western Wall plaza.

Knesset Internal Affairs Committee Chair stoops even lower!

Knesset Internal Affairs Committee Chair stoops even lower!

18/11/2016 13:51

The Jewish Federations of North America convened their General Assembly earlier this week, and impressed upon Prime Minister Netanyahu how strongly they feel about implementing the Western Wall Agreement that his Government reached with Women of the Wall, and the Reform and Conservative movements. While the Prime Minister reiterated his commitment to the agreement, but pleaded to them for patience & silence, MK David Amsalem, a senior member of Netanyahu's Likud party, in his official capacity as Chairman of the Knesset Internal Affairs Committee, attempted to sabotage the agreement because it offends his religious sentiments. In doing so he had no compunction acknowledging that this would offend American Jewry.

MK Amsalem's ugly disdain for Diaspora Jewry

MK Amsalem's ugly disdain for Diaspora Jewry

Uri Regev 08/11/2016 14:04

We who truly care about Israel's well-being and bond with world Jewry must not continue tolerating such contempt for (and humiliation of) Diaspora Jewry and the largest Jewish religious streams at the hands of the leaders of the parties that serve in his Government Coalition.

PM to Diaspora Jews: Be Patient! We say: NO!

PM to Diaspora Jews: Be Patient! We say: NO!

Uri Regev 04/11/2016 11:17

Hiddush's simple, straightforward review of the comments regarding the Western Wall made by the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the Knesset, and the Head of the Opposition during the Jewish Agency's Board of Governors meeting this week, teaches us much about how Israel's political leadership prefers to deal with crises in Israel's relations to the Diaspora: it's called "Damage Control."

A Missed Opportunity to Support Secular Life in Israel

A Missed Opportunity to Support Secular Life in Israel

06/05/2016 13:44

The rabbinate sees itself as waging a culture war, and it has been winning. Since the state’s founding rabbinic power thwarts the development of a secular conception of citizenship. Hiddush polled Israeli Jews and found that 71% support the freedom to marry and divorce independent of the Orthodox rabbinate.

Minister Azoulay heeds his rabbis rather than his government

Minister Azoulay heeds his rabbis rather than his government

06/05/2016 12:20

It has almost become a painful routine to update our readers on the all too frequent outrageous statements made by Israel's ultra-orthodox cabinet members and MKs, which go against all commonly accepted norms of rule of law and democracy.

71% Israeli Jews attach importance to marriage & divorce freedom

71% Israeli Jews attach importance to marriage & divorce freedom

12/04/2016 15:14

60% of the Jewish Israeli public supports the involvement of American Jewish organizations in advancing marriage freedom in Israel. There is no doubt that for Israelis – breaking the yoke of the fundamentalist Orthodox Rabbinate in marriage and divorce is a top priority among the religion/state battles. Israelis welcome American Jewish partnership in advancing this cause, both for the sake of Israel and for the sake of world Jewry!

Updates: the Kotel agreement & Supreme Court mikva'ot ruling

Updates: the Kotel agreement & Supreme Court mikva'ot ruling

Uri Regev 21/03/2016 14:39

In the last week, there have been a number of developments in the ultra-Orthodox political and rabbinical leadership's battle against the implementation of the Kotel agreement, as well as their battle against the Supreme Court's ruling to make Israel's public mikva'ot available for non-Orthodox conversion ceremonies.

Israel pushed towards theocracy

Israel pushed towards theocracy

Uri Regev 15/03/2016 21:36

Minister Rabbi Litzman: "Netanyahu either loves the Reform Jews of the Diaspora, or the Haredim of Israel; it's either-or. There are no two ways about it... The Supreme Court is destroying everything good related to religion & state, and... the only way to stand against it is by passing legislation."

The Kotel Agreement – Multiple Perspectives

The Kotel Agreement – Multiple Perspectives

Uri Regev 24/02/2016 15:25

The picture that emerges now is fuller and more complex. On the side of those involved in reaching the agreement, additional perspectives have been emerging. Below, we will attempt to organize the primary views and arguments that were heard following the agreement, both pro, con, and those in-between.

After Kotel compromise, dramatic changes still needed

After Kotel compromise, dramatic changes still needed

Uri Regev 03/02/2016 10:50

The progress made over the Kotel should convince communal leaders that we need to further engage in the religion-state clash, and that Israelis need support in advancing the Jewish state’s own core founding principles of religious freedom and equality for all.

Is the Kotel Deal Merely a Fig Leaf For Rabbinic Tyranny?

Is the Kotel Deal Merely a Fig Leaf For Rabbinic Tyranny?

Uri Regev 02/02/2016 09:29

The historic Kotel Agreement represents laudable progress in Israel’s stormy sea of religion, state and politics, but it is important to remember that the issue of prayer at the Kotel is only one of many in the arena of ​​religious freedom. We do not have the luxury of sitting back and relishing this.

Women of the Wall's historic decision will reshape the future of the Western Wall

Women of the Wall's historic decision will reshape the future of the Western Wall

08/10/2013 18:39

The decision to move Women of the Wall's prayer space from the women's area of the Western Wall to an egalitarian area will end this conflict and allow the Israeli government to approach the religion and state crisis in a more thorough manner.

Guide dogs at the Kotel: The latest battle for freedom of religion at the Western Wall

Guide dogs at the Kotel: The latest battle for freedom of religion at the Western Wall

15/09/2013 15:44

Despite the ban on guide dogs at the Western Wall, Rabbi Uri Regev's call for support and tolerance for the handicapped is joined by Knesset Member Karin Elharar and Orthodox Rabbi Benny Lau

The Mendelblit-Bennett plan for Western Wall perpetuates gender and religious discrimination

The Mendelblit-Bennett plan for Western Wall perpetuates gender and religious discrimination

01/09/2013 12:39

Hiddush CEO Rabbi Uri Regev swiftly responded to the Ministry of Religious Services' newly-installed prayer platform under the Western Wall plaza as a danger to Israel's own interests.

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