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Democracy & Rights

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“Who is a Jew” is Back!

“Who is a Jew” is Back!

02/12/2022 00:10

In recent days, there have been reports in the media from the coalition negotiation rooms that the Likud has accepted the demand of the ultra-Orthodox parties to change the law in a way that will prevent those who converted in Israel outside the Chief Rabbinate from receiving recognition as Jews, even at the civil level. This is not only a change to a long-standing ruling recognizing Reform and Conservative conversions in Israel, but also a step that is directed against Modern Orthodox conversions from the past few years, which are aimed at facilitating conversions of immigrants from the former Soviet Union.

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81% support same-sex marriage or couples' registrations

81% support same-sex marriage or couples' registrations

01/08/2018 14:32

Most of the public supports the state's recognition of same-sex marriage and their right to have children.

Record support for freedom of choice in marriage!

Record support for freedom of choice in marriage!

Uri Regev 26/07/2018 09:43

70% of Israel's adult Jewish population wants the State of Israel to recognize all forms of marriage, including civil marriage and Reform and Conservative weddings. Most of the public wants legal alternatives to marriage via the Rabbinate!

The Nation-state Law: The religion-state angle

The Nation-state Law: The religion-state angle

19/07/2018 10:34

The Nation-state Law has captured the headlines for quite some time now, culminating in its adoption by the Knesset yesterday. There are a number of facets to this bill, which should be highlighted as far as matters of religion-state and Israel-Diaspora relations are concerned.

Netanyahu about-faces on gay surrogacy rights

Netanyahu about-faces on gay surrogacy rights

19/07/2018 09:56

The surrogacy bill, enacted by a vote of 59 to 52, expands eligibility for state-supported surrogacy to include single women but excludes single men and gay couples. Until now the right has only been extended to married, heterosexual couples.

Hiddush represents Masorti rabbi arrested for conducting wedding

Hiddush represents Masorti rabbi arrested for conducting wedding

Uri Regev 19/07/2018 00:08

At 5:30 AM on July 19th, two policemen knocked on the Haifa apartment of Dubi Haiyun, Rabbi of the Conservative congregation in Haifa. This followed orders given to the police by the Haifa rabbinic court, which alleged that Rabbi Haiyun was in breach of criminal law regarding a wedding he conducted.

Four questions and answers about the draft law

Four questions and answers about the draft law

Uri Regev 03/07/2018 13:29

An analysis of the much-debated haredi draft law.

Chabad's illegal outreach at Ben Gurion Airport

Chabad's illegal outreach at Ben Gurion Airport

19/06/2018 10:21

Chabad Lubavitch is a unique phenomenon in Jewish history and the Jewish community. Much can and should be said in their praise, but at the same time, it should be recognized that both theologically and operationally they are highly controversial.

IDF Draft controversy renews pressure to muzzle the Supreme Court

IDF Draft controversy renews pressure to muzzle the Supreme Court

19/06/2018 05:31

As many who follow Israel's political life know, cries of "wolf, wolf!" foretelling of the government’s imminent collapse are common. Two such crises are on the horizon now.

Hiddush criticizes the Defense Ministry's recommendations

Hiddush criticizes the Defense Ministry's recommendations

12/06/2018 13:11

These recommendations push off the recruitment of yeshiva students until the next government and turn responsibility over to the High Court of Justice. The irony is that even this will be rejected by the ultra-Orthodox parties.

The Lesson For Diaspora Jews In Israel’s Deplorable Conversion Law

The Lesson For Diaspora Jews In Israel’s Deplorable Conversion Law

05/06/2018 14:11

The best that can be said about the proposed State Conversion Bill is that it is destined to be thrown away into the waste bin that Israeli politics has designated for the recommendations of committees appointed mostly to put out political fires. The proposal is not only a slap in the face, disguised with a smile, to the non-Orthodox streams, but it also angers the ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) politicians.

Inching closer to the next

Inching closer to the next "Who is a Jew" explosion

Uri Regev 24/05/2018 13:59

This week, additional information leaked as to the nature of Moshe Nissim's recommendations regarding a new conversion bill. As our readers may remember, Moshe Nissim was appointed by PM Netanyahu to do damage control after Diaspora Jewry’s uproar last June when the government ceded to the demands of the ultra-Orthodox parties to pass a conversion bill aimed at preempting a pluralistic Supreme Court ruling in a pending case. This bill would further entrench the Orthodox monopoly over conversions performed in Israel.

Likud Minister fed up with Haredi ultimatums

Likud Minister fed up with Haredi ultimatums

23/05/2018 14:28

Our readers have come to expect Hiddush underscoring the unacceptability of ultra-Orthodox political shenanigans, extortion and coercion. However, this week, we heard comparable sentiments expressed by a leading Government Coalition member - Likud Minister Akunis.

Politicians attempt to castrate the Supreme Court

Politicians attempt to castrate the Supreme Court

06/05/2018 11:31

The Israeli public trusts the Supreme Court, not Israel's politicians, according to a survey recently commissioned by Hiddush, in light of politicians' recent attempt to castrate the High Court of Justice, in order to prevent the Court from mandating that the State of Israel enlist yeshiva students and to allow the Government Coalition to enact additional discriminatory laws according to the ultra-Orthodox parties' demands without fear of these being ruled illegal by the High Court of Justice.

Hiddush on the battlefront

Hiddush on the battlefront

03/05/2018 23:18

This week we started action on behalf of a former Haredi man who is serving in the IDF and faces discrimination, as well as on behalf of a school and a PTA who have confronted a zealous religious fundamentalist who is trying to tempt their students to "experience Judaism" his way.

Justice Silberman Abella speaks out against delegitimizing Israel's Court

Justice Silberman Abella speaks out against delegitimizing Israel's Court

Uri Regev 28/04/2018 22:43

Justice Rosalie Silberman Abella, the senior judge on the Supreme Court of Canada, delivered a lecture at a symposium with Justice Aharon Barak (former president of the Supreme Court of Israel) regarding the ongoing attempt among members of Israel's Coalition Government to delegitimize the reputation of the judiciary.

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