Democracy & Rights

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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A Haredi Supreme Court Judge - What does that really mean?

A Haredi Supreme Court Judge - What does that really mean?

Uri Regev 07/03/2017 16:41

There is therefore need for further thinking as to the prerequisites for serving in the state’s judicial institutions in general, and the Supreme Court in particular.

80% of Israel's religious councils have only one woman

80% of Israel's religious councils have only one woman

07/03/2017 14:09

Only 70 women currently serve nationwide (on 58 of Israel's religious councils). They represent 17% of the total 407 religious council members throughout Israel.

Supreme Court nominations threaten religious freedom

Supreme Court nominations threaten religious freedom

Uri Regev 27/02/2017 10:43

Last week, months of nomination deliberations for four positions that will soon become vacant on Israel's Supreme Court came to an end. Israel's Minister of Justice, Ayelet Shaked, the token secular representative of the Zionist Orthodox Jewish Home party, chaired the nominations committee.

Chief Rabbi Yosef attacks Israel's civil courts

Chief Rabbi Yosef attacks Israel's civil courts

Uri Regev 22/02/2017 00:25

Last week at a national rabbinic conference, Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef declared that rabbis should warn the Israeli public that in the event of legal disputes, they should take their cases to the rabbinical courts, rather than to Israel's civil courts.

Stepping up Hiddush's legal advocacy

Stepping up Hiddush's legal advocacy

10/02/2017 00:29

With key governmental ministries controlled by the ultra-Orthodox and Zionist Orthodox parties, and with these elements in the Coalition dictating their wills to the Government even beyond the sphere of their ministerial portfolios, there is a growing need for legal advocacy work to challenge inequity and illegal practices (some new and some lingering). Hiddush has been stepping up its legal advocacy work in response to this need; the following are just a few examples:

Politicians and Shabbat – this is not the way!

Politicians and Shabbat – this is not the way!

Uri Regev 30/01/2017 12:14

Shabbat appears in the Ten Commandments twice; once anchored in Divine Creation and once in the context of social justice, concern for society’s weak.

Landmark Supreme Court cases emblematic of Israel's religion-state divide

Landmark Supreme Court cases emblematic of Israel's religion-state divide

Uri Regev 12/01/2017 22:31

This week has been very busy on the legal front of religious freedom & equality in Israel. In many ways, it has been symptomatic of the intensity and diversity of the many issues confronting Israel along the religion-state divide.

62% of Israelis support women's Torah reading at Western Wall

62% of Israelis support women's Torah reading at Western Wall

11/01/2017 11:30

Following the Supreme Court’s issuance of a Show Cause Order to the Government regarding the prohibition against women’s Torah readings at the Western Wall: Among secular Israelis 86% expressed their support, as did 61% of the traditional Jewish community.

The growing challenge to religious freedom and equality

The growing challenge to religious freedom and equality

Uri Regev 19/12/2016 11:45

The ultra-Orthodox parties, joined by a number of key members of other Coalition parties, to put an end to the prospects of greater opportunities for Women's and egalitarian worship practices at the Western Wall plaza.

Bill would anchor Orthodox practice in law at the Western Wall

Bill would anchor Orthodox practice in law at the Western Wall

15/12/2016 10:26

Lawmakers from Shas and United Torah Judaism, as well as Likud’s Oren Hazan, David Amsalem and Miki Zohar and Jewish Home’s Betzalel Smotrich, Moti Yogev, and Nissan Slomianksy, have endorsed the proposed legislation, officially lodged on Sunday, that would anchor Orthodox practice in law throughout the entire Western Wall vicinity.

2016 Israel Religion and State Index - by party voters

2016 Israel Religion and State Index - by party voters

08/12/2016 21:02

In Israel's Jewish community there is very broad opposition to the Government's actions in realm of religion & state and consistent support for all aspects of religious freedom and equality. This is the main conclusion of the Israel Religion & State Index.

The ‘Muezzin Bill’ – a masquerade

The ‘Muezzin Bill’ – a masquerade

Uri Regev 22/11/2016 11:51

It's the Litzmans and Deris of the religious Jewish leadership that have never hesitated to deny these very freedoms to fellow Jews and non-Jews whenever they have had the political ability to do so.

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.

Sukkot 2016: Batya Kahana Dror, Esq.

Sukkot 2016: Batya Kahana Dror, Esq.

21/10/2016 15:57

Batya Kahana Dror, Esq. writes, "Getting married via the Rabbinate is not fitting for all couples. Sometimes this clashes with their worldviews, and sometimes it creates bureaucratic difficulties in simply obtaining the Rabbinate's permission to marry at all. Divorcing through the Rabbinate is also more difficult."

Sukkot 2016: Rabbi Meir Azari

Sukkot 2016: Rabbi Meir Azari

21/10/2016 15:50

Rabbi Meir Azari writes, "The recent years have seen a blossoming of Reform communities, Conservative, secular and the like, situated between what an Israeli would refer to as Orthodox and secular. Many are seeking a Jewish voice for good and equality."

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