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Is the Orthodox Halacha in the USA different than it is in Israel?

Is the Orthodox Halacha in the USA different than it is in Israel?

07/06/2023 12:03

The Halacha is the Halacha is the Halacha!

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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.

Chief Rabbinate once again seeks out Non-kosher Jews

Chief Rabbinate once again seeks out Non-kosher Jews

25/02/2018 15:19

Rabbi Uri Regev was interviewed by the Israeli Russian language news portal “Detaly” on the matter of the Chief Rabbinate’s recently uncovered initiative to enshrine in law its right to compile a list of persons whose Jewish statuses are doubtful by its standards.

The storm is rising

The storm is rising

Uri Regev 15/02/2018 21:52

It seems that matters of ethics and the moral, appropriate behavior of Israel’s political leadership (in which the ancient prophets of Israel showed great interest), don't interest the Haredi parties, nor require taking a stand from the perspective of the leaders of parties that claim to represent authentic Judaism.

Thanks to Hiddush - a serious loophole closed

Thanks to Hiddush - a serious loophole closed

13/02/2018 11:17

Just this week, on Tuesday, following Hiddush's petition, the Knesset approved regulations that would, for the first time, put a halt to the mass phenomenon of false claims of religiosity aimed at receiving exemptions from military service. Thousands of young women are exempted from IDF service every year on the basis of false affidavits claiming that their religious lifestyles prevent them from serving in the army, even though they lead secular lives.

New polling reaffirms Hiddush finding.

New polling reaffirms Hiddush finding.

08/02/2018 13:11

The January 2018 issue of the monthly Peace Index, published jointly by Tel Aviv University and the Israel Democracy Institute, touches upon key confrontation points along the spectrum of religion-state issues on the public's and political class's minds at this time.

Haredi city council lays down law on modesty, gender separation

Haredi city council lays down law on modesty, gender separation

06/02/2018 10:49

An ultra-Orthodox municipality sent out a modesty rule book that prohibits men and women from traveling together or sitting near one another at work, rules out informal greetings such as “hello” and “goodbye,” and bans joking together or discussing issues not directly related to work.

A constitutional bill to define Torah study as a form of national service

A constitutional bill to define Torah study as a form of national service

Uri Regev 01/02/2018 21:28

Today's news sheds light on a new effort by the Haredi parties to permanently avoid requiring their adherents to equally shoulder the burden of national security.

Israeli couples are voting with their feet!

Israeli couples are voting with their feet!

Uri Regev 30/01/2018 21:41

The Ministry of Religious Services has now reported a 4% drop in the number of couples marrying via the Rabbinate from 2016 to 2017. (The decline is really greater, because they ignore the increase in the Jewish population). In Tel Aviv the decline is greater than 15%!!

The Knesset's pending vote on the Convenience Store Bill

The Knesset's pending vote on the Convenience Store Bill

02/01/2018 10:46

Hiddush sent all members of the Knesset the following report in advance of the Knesset vote on operating convenience stores on Shabbat in Israel. What does the public think of the Government's acquiescence to the ultra-Orthodox parties' demands to use legislative and policy channels in order to pass a law against operating local businesses on Shabbat?

72% of the Israeli public supports permitting work on Shabbat

72% of the Israeli public supports permitting work on Shabbat

25/12/2017 13:56

72% of the public opposes the dictates of the ultra-Orthodox parties and supports permitting work on Shabbat

An End-of-Year review for Hiddush

An End-of-Year review for Hiddush

Uri Regev 21/12/2017 12:54

With the end of the year approaching, we turn to you with a request to support the work of Hiddush and generously donate to us to enable us to expand and strengthen our advocacy work to promote freedom of religion and equality for all.

Thousands continue to receive IDF exemptions for false religious claims

Thousands continue to receive IDF exemptions for false religious claims

21/12/2017 12:10

Six years after the enactment of the law to establish an administrative process for revoking thousands of women's falsely obtained exemptions for having religious beliefs that conflict with IDF service, the process of approving the regulations to prevent such women from dodging the draft has not occurred, despite the continued phony claims of religious values.

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