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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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The conversion draft bill is a land mine!

The conversion draft bill is a land mine!

Uri Regev 24/04/2018 11:36

"The minefields of Israel's religion and state arena and Israel-Diaspora relations will explode in the coming days," Rabbi Uri Regev responded to reports about the upcoming legislative initiative on conversion, based on the recommendations of former minister Moshe Nissim.

What does it mean for Israel to be a Jewish state?

What does it mean for Israel to be a Jewish state?

Uri Regev 17/04/2018 11:59

Israeli Independence Day celebrations are almost upon us, and the divisions over the identity of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state are greater than ever before.

Female soldiers excluded from Israel's honor guards

Female soldiers excluded from Israel's honor guards

09/04/2018 13:33

Hiddush appealed to Defense Minister Lieberman, Chief of Staff Eizenkot and Chair of the Ministerial Committee for Ceremonies and Symbols - Culture Minister Regev, demanding that female soldiers be fully included in official state ceremonies, including the ceremonies for Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) and Yom HaZikaron (Israeli Memorial Day).

How is this Passover different?

How is this Passover different?

29/03/2018 20:45

The enslavement of the Israelites in Egypt is an important memory, but, on THIS holiday of freedom, no less important is our awareness of the ongoing battle for freedom of religion and conscience TODAY. Ironically, these are denied to people in Israel, especially to Jews!

Israel’s Chief Rabbinate is a threat to Jewish unity and democracy

Israel’s Chief Rabbinate is a threat to Jewish unity and democracy

Uri Regev 28/03/2018 17:00

Last week, Israel’s Sephardic chief rabbi, Yitzhak Yosef, explained a point of ritual by likening a black child born to white parents to a “monkey.” Immediately following the publication of his racist remarks, a storm erupted. It was widely broadcast, including by JTA, Newsweek and the Palestinian media.

Chief rabbi calls black people ‘monkeys’

Chief rabbi calls black people ‘monkeys’

Uri Regev 21/03/2018 12:59

Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef uses pejorative term 'kushi' for African Americans in weekly sermon

Chief Rabbinate refuses to recognize Orthodox marriage

Chief Rabbinate refuses to recognize Orthodox marriage

19/03/2018 13:11

Noam Oren and his wife married in a religious ceremony, but authorities refuse to recognize it due to their insistence on protecting each other from potential divorce refusal.

60% of State funds for

60% of State funds for "youth at risk" go to ultra-Orthodox

18/03/2018 14:05

Hiddush’s mission to advance religious freedom and equality includes an attempt to identify and eliminate “pork barreling” in the religion-state arena, especially when they masquerade as ‘holy.’ Hiddush is in court now to get to the bottom of the use of scarce public funds available to address the challenge of children at risk.

Masquerade Ball: Don't comply with the Haredi parties' demands

Masquerade Ball: Don't comply with the Haredi parties' demands

13/03/2018 10:49

The bill presented to the Ministerial Committee on Legislation is complex and full of words, but it can be boiled down to this: any yeshiva student who does not want to enlist will not be drafted into the IDF

Hiddush Survey for International Women's Day

Hiddush Survey for International Women's Day

07/03/2018 15:12

72% of the Israeli public believes that all political parties running for seats in the Knesset, including the ultra-Orthodox parties, should be required to include female candidates on their party candidates lists and allow women to become party members. 88% favor integrating women into the IDF [69% support the inclusion of women in every possible role, including in combat, and another 19% support their integration into all non-combat roles]. 12% oppose enlisting women into the army at all.

79% Israelis oppose laws to legalize draft dodging by yeshiva students

79% Israelis oppose laws to legalize draft dodging by yeshiva students

05/03/2018 13:06

A new survey reveals how strongly the Israeli public is opposed to the demand of the ultra-Orthodox parties to pass a new 'Basic Law: Torah study', as well as an amendment to the Defense Service Law to legalize the continued draft dodging of most yeshiva students.

Nearing the point of explosion!

Nearing the point of explosion!

Uri Regev 01/03/2018 20:36

"The storm is rising," I wrote recently. Now, I can definitely say that the situation is nearing the point of explosion! Also, this time, it is clear that the religion-state clash is an integral part of the approaching explosion.

Tzohar enters the kashrut certification market

Tzohar enters the kashrut certification market

Uri Regev 01/03/2018 20:24

An important chapter in the ongoing saga of religion and state has been written in Israel this week. In a widely covered press conference, the Zionist Orthodox Tzohar rabbinic organization announced that it is launching a kosher supervising entity that will compete with the Chief Rabbinate and offer the Israeli food industry an alternative supervision more convenient than that of the state.

Most Israelis favor revoking the rabbinical courts' monopoly

Most Israelis favor revoking the rabbinical courts' monopoly

Uri Regev 27/02/2018 14:14

69% of the Israeli public supports revoking the monopoly of the rabbinical courts on Jewish personal status matters, supports the establishment of a parallel civil system, and supports alternative, lenient rabbinic courts as a solution to alleviate the phenomenon of agunot

Another nail in the Chief Rabbinate's coffin

Another nail in the Chief Rabbinate's coffin

Uri Regev 26/02/2018 13:04

Hiddush welcomes the announcement that Tzohar rabbis will be entering the kashrut certification market with its own private certification in direct competition with the Chief Rabbinate's state empowered monopoly. This religiously coercive monopoly is unparalleled in the democratic world.

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