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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IDF forcing soldiers to keep kosher for Passover

IDF forcing soldiers to keep kosher for Passover

25/11/2021 23:45

Next week, Hiddush will submit a petition to the Supreme Court against the IDF, demanding that it change its regulations regarding its policy on chametz on Passover in army bases.

Assault religious freedom, assault democracy

Assault religious freedom, assault democracy

Uri Regev 25/11/2021 00:45

Half of Israel was up in arms earlier this week, when a tape from a political meeting held by Likud MK Dudi Amsalem leaked to the media. When you read the following selection of his outbursts, you will understand why the media and public reaction was so harsh.

Extremism and outright deceit

Extremism and outright deceit

11/11/2021 21:44

A picture is worth a thousand words. This photo, which was posted by the Women of the Wall, show the Chairwoman of WOW Anat Hoffman and its former director Lesley Sachs sitting on the ground and protecting the Torah scroll, which they intended on bringing into the women’s section of the Kotel so that their fellow worshippers could read from the Torah during this Rosh Chodesh service, which they have been holding, without fail, for over thirty years.

The Haredi vitriol: An ongoing saga

The Haredi vitriol: An ongoing saga

Uri Regev 14/10/2021 23:32

In the last newsletter, we wrote about “the obsession that characterizes the attitude of the ultra-Orthodox parties towards the non-Orthodox denominations in particular, and to freedom of religion and Jewish pluralism in general.”

“Reform” as a generic invective

“Reform” as a generic invective

01/10/2021 00:45

On the eve of Sukkot, the cover of the Shas party’s newspaper “HaDerekh” featured an interview with the party leader, Rabbi Aryeh Deri as the lead article. The first item, in order and in importance, they chose to highlight was the delegitimization of the "Reformers" (i.e. Reform Jews).

Hiddush fighting for female appointees on religious councils

Hiddush fighting for female appointees on religious councils

Uri Regev 30/09/2021 23:25

For many years, Hiddush has led the legal battle for women’s representation on Israel’s Religious Councils. Yesterday, we appeared before the Supreme Court in a hearing regarding the petition we filed on our behalf and on behalf of Israel’s leading women's organizations [Israel Women's Network, Naamat, Rackman Center for the Advancement of Women, and Itach - Women Lawyers for Social Justice], challenging the State’s non-compliance with the obligation to appoint women for the role of “Appointees”.

Hiddush battling for civil burial in Court

Hiddush battling for civil burial in Court

30/09/2021 22:58

Today in court there was good news and bad news. On the one hand, the Justices of the Supreme Court that heard the petition praised Hiddush’s initiative, which prompted the Ministry of Religious Services to speed up its handling of the issue. On the other hand, the court considered the petition too broad and encouraged Hiddush to file separate and concrete petitions in relation to localities.

Will Jewish leadership continue looking the other way?

Will Jewish leadership continue looking the other way?

Uri Regev 04/08/2021 18:02

The world media, from Washington DC to Burkina Faso, French Guinea and the Arab world covered the phenomenon of the most prominent athlete in Israel today, who won a gold medal for the State of Israel and sweeping praise from the heads of state; but is not allowed by his country to marry his girlfriend because it placed the control of marriage in Israel in the hands of the Orthodox Chief Rabbinate.

Contrary to Orthodox politicians - Public for marriage freedom

Contrary to Orthodox politicians - Public for marriage freedom

28/07/2021 23:02

Last week, on the Jewish calendar, we marked Tu b’Av (the 15th day of the month of Av), which can be likened to Valentine’s Day in the USA. Hiddush commissioned a special survey on marriage freedom in commemoration of the holiday, which was well covered in the Hebrew and English media.

Initiatives of the new government: “antisemitism”

Initiatives of the new government: “antisemitism”

Uri Regev 27/07/2021 21:53

The main issue on the agenda this week was a series of reforms of the kashrut system. The Minister of Religious Services, Matan Kahana, is trying to promote them, intending to increase competition in the provision of kosher supervision services, while preserving the Orthodox monopoly over kashrut certification.

The Ultra-Orthodox Reform Paranoia

The Ultra-Orthodox Reform Paranoia

15/07/2021 22:54

In recent months, the phenomenon of ultra-Orthodox attacks against Reform Judaism has escalated, especially due to the participation of Rabbi Gilad Kariv (the foremost Israeli Reform leader) in the new ruling coalition.

Landmark Supreme Court Religion-State Rulings

Landmark Supreme Court Religion-State Rulings

Uri Regev 15/07/2021 12:55

This week, the Supreme Court handed down two landmark rulings on cases in the arena of religion and state, which have been pending for years. Once announced, they generated the expected outpouring of reactions.

Hiddush in the legal trenches

Hiddush in the legal trenches

Uri Regev 14/07/2021 00:34

Hiddush has initiated legal action in two instances of abuse by Haredi outreach operations infringing upon the rights and lives of residents of neighboring buildings.

MK Rabbi Kariv and Reform Judaism – like pigs

MK Rabbi Kariv and Reform Judaism – like pigs

Uri Regev 01/07/2021 23:30

The political discourse has descended to new lows this week. United Torah Judaism MK Meir Porush likened Reform Jews and Labor MK Gilad Kariv, a Reform rabbi, to pigs. He spoke in reaction to the appointment of Kariv as chairman of the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee.

Chief Rabbi Yosef: Science, math are nonsense

Chief Rabbi Yosef: Science, math are nonsense

01/07/2021 13:04

Every week we receive reminders that the Chief Rabbinate's institution poses a danger to the State of Israel. This time it is the Chief Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef, the son of the late Chief Rabbi and Shas leader, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef.

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