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 glimpse through the eyes of the English media

A glimpse through the eyes of the English media

Uri Regev 19/02/2021 01:42

There is not a day that the media in Israel does not deal with the meeting points Between the ultra-Orthodox and the secular, as well as between religion and politics in the context of the pandemic.

What's at the heart of the current election campaign?

What's at the heart of the current election campaign?

18/02/2021 00:06

All the relevant political players understand that issues of religion and state are at the heart of the election battle and will be key elements in the negotiations that will be undertaken following the elections.

Legal fronts against religious discrimination

Legal fronts against religious discrimination

05/02/2021 00:46

Hiddush has been active on several legal fronts against religious discrimination in the IDF, including the battle against exempting yeshivas students from conscription along with the rest of their Israeli peers.

Legal Groups Protest Israel's Interior Minister

Legal Groups Protest Israel's Interior Minister

Uri Regev 21/01/2021 23:44

J-PLAN, the Jewish Pluralism Legal Action Network, a network of Jewish lawyers in North America, working in partnership with Hiddush – Freedom of Religion for Israel, and the American Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists [AAJLJ] sent a letter on January 18, 2021,to Israel’s Interior Minister, Attorney General, and other officials, to protest the Ministry of the Interior’s recent decision to suspend registration of civil marriages of Israeli citizens lawfully married under the laws of "Utah County in the State of Utah.

Update on COVID-19 and religion

Update on COVID-19 and religion

Uri Regev 07/01/2021 20:00

There is almost no news broadcast on radio or television these days on the COVID-19 pandemic that does not mention the ultra-Orthodox issue.

This is not the democracy we aspire to

This is not the democracy we aspire to

Uri Regev 07/01/2021 18:18

The thoughts of many of our readers, especially in the United States, are on yesterday's events in Washington, DC. It’s hard to believe that those events occurred, and they will make their mark on American society and politics for a long time to come.

Hiddush on the cutting edge of Marriage Freedom

Hiddush on the cutting edge of Marriage Freedom

07/01/2021 12:00

Hiddush - for Freedom of Religion and Equality has warned Minister Deri that if he does not cancel his suspension of legal marriage registrations held through video conferencing under Utah state law, Hiddush will be forced to petition the Supreme Court.

Secular Israelis prefer Arabs over Haredi Jews

Secular Israelis prefer Arabs over Haredi Jews

24/12/2020 22:45

Data from a new survey published in the media show that while only about half of secular Israelis (53%), were willing to live next door to ultra-Orthodox Israelis, 69% of them are willing to live next to Arabs!

Taking the battle into 2021

Taking the battle into 2021

Uri Regev 24/12/2020 19:39

Your support for Hiddush’s work is especially important to enable us to maximize the exposure of the battle for freedom of religion and equality of civic burden and to emphasize their implications for the future of the state and the Jewish people.

Hiddush’s effective advocacy from an ultra-Orthodox perspective

Hiddush’s effective advocacy from an ultra-Orthodox perspective

Uri Regev 24/12/2020 17:20

On Dec. 13th, 2020, the following news appeared in an ultra-Orthodox news portal, describing their perspective on Hiddush’s success in overcoming decades of Orthodox control over military burials in Israel, which historically excluded secular and non-Orthodox alternatives for families of fallen soldiers:

Legal advocacy – not for sprint runners!

Legal advocacy – not for sprint runners!

Uri Regev 10/12/2020 17:54

In the last two weeks, there have been some important developments in Hiddush’s legal arena, and they remind us that this legal battle is not intended for short distance runners. It takes a great deal of time and perseverance.

A Four-Way Circus – the Conversion Battle

A Four-Way Circus – the Conversion Battle

Uri Regev 26/11/2020 22:55

By Monday, the State Attorney’s Office is required to update the Supreme Court as to where the government is with regard to the “Who is a Jew?” issue in the context of a number of pending cases that have been before the Supreme Court for many years.

The Israeli government's ploy to prevent marriages through consulates

The Israeli government's ploy to prevent marriages through consulates

Uri Regev 09/11/2020 23:27

Hiddush would certainly welcome the opening of another narrow window to marriage in the form of removing the barrier to recognizing consular marriages. However, the real solution is, of course, for Israel to join the rest of the world’s Western democracies, which all recognize the right of their citizens to marry as they wish.

Transitions Between Religious Groups among Israeli Jews

Transitions Between Religious Groups among Israeli Jews

09/11/2020 14:43

The rate of departure from Israel’s ultra-Orthodox sector far exceeds the rates of secular and Zionist Orthodox Israelis becoming Haredi. This emerges from a new study published by the Israeli Democracy Institute, and it sheds new light on a long-standing debate regarding the phenomenon of Jews becoming ultra-Orthodox in Israel. It is also important to understand what is happening today in the ultra-Orthodox sector in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Israel-Diaspora consultation by law?

Israel-Diaspora consultation by law?

Uri Regev 29/10/2020 00:39

In the last few days, several noble initiatives converged and have been shared widely both with world Jewry and the Knesset. They focus on formalizing a process of consultation between Israel and world Jewish leadership on issues that directly affect the diaspora.

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