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Fact

76%

think haredi schools should teach core curriculum

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80%

Jewish public objects to new religious legislation

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"Significant barriers to religious freedoms"

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Uri Regev

Latest stories by Uri Regev

Is the Kotel Deal Merely a Fig Leaf For Rabbinic Tyranny?

Uri Regev 02/02/2016 09:29

The historic Kotel Agreement represents laudable progress in Israel’s stormy sea of religion, state and politics, but it is important to remember that the issue of prayer at the Kotel is only one of many in the arena of religious freedom. We do not have the luxury of sitting back and relishing this.

Religious politicians abuse their authority

Uri Regev 28/01/2016 11:16

The Education Ministry has frozen budgeted funds for non-Orthodox and secular education initiatives. The religious politicians abuse their authority, and pour millions into one-sided brainwashing efforts. It’s time for Israeli and Diaspora leaderships to declare: Judaism, pluralism, Jewish Peoplehood and democracy are too important to be left at the mercy of sectarian interests,

How to most effectively advocate for religious freedom and equality in Israel

Uri Regev 26/01/2016 15:41

What advocacy strategy should supporters of religious freedom in Israel pursue? How should we set our policy priorities? How meaningful are Prime Minister Netanyahu's promises to Diaspora Jewry?

President Rivlin's response to Rabbis Jacobs' & Wernick's demands

Uri Regev 11/01/2016 13:09

Rabbi Uri Regev unpacks an encounter between President Rivlin and U.S. rabbis of different denominations, and considers its actual substance, regarding whether we are indeed witnessing a change of heart on Rivlin’s part, and what this exchange may suggest for future strategy in this arena.

The Chief Rabbinate's anti-Christmas policy

Uri Regev 29/12/2015 13:10

The ban on placing Christmas trees in hotels is but one example of the many ways that the rabbinate disregards the law and extorts submission to its norms in breach of the law.

Affirmative action for Haredim or cronyism?

Uri Regev 23/12/2015 00:14

On Sunday, Israel’s cabinet approved an affirmative action initiative enabling more ultra-Orthodox workers to find employment in the civil service, as part of Shas’s leader, Minister Rabbi Aryeh Deri’s strategy to integrate the Haredi community into the civil service.

Chief Rabbi Lau's blatant anti-pluralism hypocrisy

Uri Regev 16/12/2015 21:37

Last week, Chief Rabbi of Israel David Lau publicly rebuked Naftali Bennett, Israel’s minister of education and Diaspora affairs. Bennett’s religious sin, per Lau, was visiting the Solomon Schechter School of Manhattan, and tweeting an enthusiastic reflection of the school and the love for Israel and Judaism that he had seen there.

Chief Rabbi Lau publicly anti-Diaspora Judaism

Uri Regev 13/12/2015 22:52

It is difficult to conceive of a greater contradiction than that between Chief Rabbi David Lau’s outrageous statement last week, lashing out at Education Minister Naftali Bennett’s visit to the Conservative Movement’s Schechter School in Manhattan, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s welcome declaration at last month’s General Assembly of the Jewish Federations of North America, where he stated that he would “ensure that all Jews – Reform, Conservative and Orthodox – feel at home in Israel.”

76% of Israeli Jews oppose new conscription law

Uri Regev 26/11/2015 11:34

Israel’s politicians have deliberately chosen to pursue legislation which is not only immoral but also unconstitutional, having been struck out twice already by the Supreme Court. The question, though, is how long it will take the Supreme Court to rule that this most recent amendment is illegal as well. Our politicians may be counting on this very fact: the wheels of justice grind slowly…

Israel's theocratic elements becoming more violent and vocal

Uri Regev 04/11/2015 23:07

The formula "Jewish and democratic" remains not only unsettled, but actually serves as a mine field. Frequent explosions occur, for religious extremists feeling constrained do not hesitate to threaten the institutions of the State to have their demands met.