Democracy & Rights

Democracy & Rights

Featured Story

“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.

Full Story »


More Stories

Study finds that religious women in IDF report increased religious convictions

Study finds that religious women in IDF report increased religious convictions

02/06/2017 00:57

A new Israeli study found that young women who served in the IDF reported an increase in their level of religious convictions, more so than those who served in National Service. 89% said that their religious levels were not harmed or even improved during their IDF service.

Don’t undermine Jewish unity - the State Conversion in Israel bill

Don’t undermine Jewish unity - the State Conversion in Israel bill

Uri Regev 01/06/2017 23:01

Minister Arye Deri’s is obsessed with eradicating any state recognition of Reform and Conservative Judaism in Israel. Now he’s submitted the “State Conversion in Israel” bill, which would for the first time legislate the exclusive authority of the state-established rabbinic bodies over conversion.

75% Israelis support coed service in the IDF

75% Israelis support coed service in the IDF

30/05/2017 13:08

According to a Hiddush survey, the overwhelming majority of the Israeli Jewish public supports coed military service, including most of the voters for the Government Coalition parties.

Conversion bill to reject all conversions outside of Israel's Rabbinate

Conversion bill to reject all conversions outside of Israel's Rabbinate

Uri Regev 18/05/2017 23:35

A measure submitted earlier this month by the Interior Ministry led by Rabbi Aryeh Deri, head of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, is a blatant effort to circumvent a March 2016 Supreme Court ruling that allowed those undergoing private Orthodox conversions in Israel to become citizens under the Law of Return.

The State Comptroller's 2017 report: a searing indictment

The State Comptroller's 2017 report: a searing indictment

17/05/2017 16:34

Israel’s 39-chapter annual state Comptroller report, published on Tuesday, May 16, was nothing less than a blistering indictment of the unholy alliance of religion & state in Israel, providing multiple examples of criminality, corruption, and discrimination conducted by government officials in the arena of religion & state.

55% Jewish Israelis interested in weddings outside the Chief Rabbinate

55% Jewish Israelis interested in weddings outside the Chief Rabbinate

11/05/2017 12:10

55% of the Jewish Israeli public and 81% of the secular Jewish Israeli public are interested in alternative marriages outside the auspices of Israel's Chief Rabbinate. This is the first time that a majority of the Jewish Israeli public has expressed a personal preference for marriages outside the Chief Rabbinate.

"The Calamity of Independence"

05/05/2017 02:05

The quotes and caricature presented on this page are just samples of feature articles and editorials published in the mainstream ultra-Orthodox media this week.

73% support the Israeli Supreme Court's ruling regarding Shabbat

73% support the Israeli Supreme Court's ruling regarding Shabbat

04/05/2017 23:08

73% of the Jewish public in Israel supports the High Court of Justice's ruling, which approved the Tel Aviv municipal ordinance concerning the operation of business on Shabbat. This includes 97% of secular Israeli Jews, 72% of Tel Aviv residents, and most of the voters for the civil Government Coalition parties.

79% - Promise of freedom of religion has not fully realized in Israel

79% - Promise of freedom of religion has not fully realized in Israel

30/04/2017 16:10

79% of the Israeli Jewish public maintains that Declaration of Independence's promise of freedom of religion and conscience has not yet been fully realized in Israel. 76% support the full realization of this promise.

Pew's 2017 Global Restrictions on Religion Report

Pew's 2017 Global Restrictions on Religion Report

Uri Regev 21/04/2017 01:46

According to the Pew Research Center's recent report, Israel is among the 11 worst countries in the world for the 'Social Hostilities Index', categorized along with Syria, Nigeria, and Afghanistan as 'Very High'.

Supreme Court: Tel Aviv mini-markets may operate on Shabbat

Supreme Court: Tel Aviv mini-markets may operate on Shabbat

20/04/2017 15:30

Israel's High Court of Justice ruled on Wednesday in favor of Tel Aviv’s battle to expand facilities open to the secular public on Shabbat, saying that the municipality can permit mini-markets to operate on the Jewish day of rest.

A reflection for Pesach 2017

A reflection for Pesach 2017

Uri Regev 06/04/2017 01:28

We at Hiddush realize that we need to view the concept of freedom beyond simply delivery from slavery, and as we celebrate Passover this year, we are ever motivated to bring Israel more fully into a state of religious freedom and equality.

For first time, Orthodox NGO campaigns for civil marriage in Israel

For first time, Orthodox NGO campaigns for civil marriage in Israel

28/03/2017 00:44

Civil marriage is one of the most encumbered issues in the Jewish state, but the Modern Orthodox organization Ne’emenei Torah Va’Avodah began a campaign Sunday advocating for the introduction of such a possibility in Israel.

US Reform leadership meets with PM Netanyahu

US Reform leadership meets with PM Netanyahu

15/03/2017 03:24

The Prime Minister must either stop the incitement against non-Orthodox Judaism from within his own government or sever his political alliance with those who wage war against world Jewry and block Netanyhu's own public commitment to ensure that all Jews feel at home in Israel.

90% dissatisfied with rabbinical courts' dealings with Agunot

90% dissatisfied with rabbinical courts' dealings with Agunot

09/03/2017 15:28

90% of the adult Jewish public is dissatisfied with the Israeli Rabbinical Courts' way of dealing with Agunot and women whose husbands refuse to grant them divorces. 87% believe that the rabbinical courts should force husbands to grant their wives divorces in cases of domestic violence. Measuring which institutions the public trusts most, 59% of respondents trust the Supreme Court, but only 16% most trust the Rabbinate, 13% - the Knesset and 12% - the Government!

Take Action!

Go to Top ^