March 9, 2009 (Section 1) (continues in Section 2)
Editor – Joel Katz
Religion and State in Israel is not affiliated with any organization or movement.
Lieberman: Civil Marriage May Take Time
www.israelnationalnews.com March 9, 2009
He said that his party may have to settle with a solution which would only provide civil marriage for non-Jewish couples.
Shas: Chacham Ovadia Agrees to Civil Marriage Bill Compromise
By Yechiel Spira www.theyeshivaworld.com March 8, 2009
Rav Ovadia met with Shas faction leaders and announced his willingness to accept the compromise which Shas hopes will suffice to reach a deal permitting Shas and Yisrael Beitenu to enter into the same coalition government.
Rabbinate to discuss civil marriage for first time
By Kobi Nahshoni www.ynetnews.com March 4, 2009
This will be the first time that the Rabbinate will discuss halachic solutions for non-religious marriage.
Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger promised that in any case, the council will not support mixed marriages, and said:
"They (the Yisrael Beiteinu party) want a Jew and a non-Jew to be allowed to marry, and this will certainly not be permitted by anyone.
It's inconceivable to have mixed marriages approved by a rabbi in Israel. We will do everything in order to keep the spirit of Israel holy.
"If God forbid we will do something against the Halacha or without the consent of the great sages of Israel – we will be dividing the nation," he added.
Rabbi Lau: Jews plagued by mixed marriages
By Kobi Nahshoni www.ynetnews.com March 4, 2009
On Monday, at the opening of the convention, Tel Aviv Rabbi Yisrael Lau harshly criticized Avigdor Lieberman's civil marriage drive and said that mix marriages were "the terrible catastrophe that is plaguing the people of Israel in the world today."
He warned that "in addition to this, there are those who are trying to open the gates for this phenomenon in Israel as well. We don't need this import."
Rabbi Lau suggested that anyone wishing to wed in a civil marriage will do so abroad.
"You want to introduce pluralism, liberalism, reforms? There are enough countries who claim to exercise this. There are 192 democratic states, but only one Jewish state," he concluded.
Rabbis to meet faction heads on civil marriage
By Kobi Nahshoni www.ynetnews.com March 7, 2009
Chief Rabbis of Israel Yona Metzger and Shlomo Amar have decided to meet with the various faction heads in the Knesset next week, including those of the secular parties, in an attempt to broker an acceptable compromise on the highly charged subject.
The only halachic solution currently considered acceptable by the religious establishment is the one suggested by Rabbi Amar, namely to allow only non-Jews living in Israel to wed in a civil ceremony.
Former Chief Sephardi Rabbi Eliyahu Bakshi Doron, however, holds the minority view saying civil marriages in Israel should simply be allowed.
Rabbi Bakshi Doron surprised the ultra-Orthodox community several years back, when he published as essay condoning civil marriages.
By Michelle Chabin www.thejewishweek.com March 4, 2009
Months after their civil marriage in Prague and just two weeks before a planned second marriage (performed by a Reform rabbi) in Israel that will have no legal standing with the state, the Shrifels are still angry they had to leave Israel in order to have their marriage recognized by the government.
“…We both feel 100 percent Jewish in our hearts, but we were treated like second-class citizens.”
If one of the two so-called “civil marriage” bills now being considered by the newly formed Israeli government is approved by the Knesset, Israelis who cannot — or who do not want to — be married by the Rabbinate, in an Islamic court or a Christian church, for example, could have other alternatives.
While civil marriage laws have been proposed in the past, fervently Orthodox religious parties — fearful of weakening the religious establishment’s sole discretion over Jewish life-cycle events — have always quashed them. The parties have made the defeat of such laws a precondition for joining a coalition government.
Religious parties up their demands in coalition talks
By Zvi Zrahiya and Yair Ettinger www.haaretz.com March 8, 2009
Benjamin Netanyahu's government will increase funding for religious seminary students by 30 to 50 percent, senior officials from ultra-Orthodox parties told Haaretz yesterday, following negotiations on the formation of a coalition with Likud
The increase in funding would apply to married yeshiva students aged 18 and over, and single adult students of higher education yeshivas, the politicians said, adding they would not join the coalition if their demands are not met. Senior officials in Shas said the ultra-Orthodox parties are united in this demand.
The additional cost to the budget is estimated at the vicinity of NIS 130 million. One Shas official said the budget hike that the religious parties are demanding "in not below NIS 1 billion." The entire budget for ultra-Orthodox yeshivas in 2008 was NIS 680 million.
Lieberman meets with Religious parties
By Gil Hoffman www.jpost.com March 3, 2009
Lieberman met with the heads of the four haredi and religious-Zionist parties on Monday and discussed matters of religion and state with them. United Torah Judaism head Ya'acov Litzman told Lieberman that two rabbinical judges would check what flexibility the party could show on the matter to allow a coalition to be built.
"The appointment of the rabbinical judges is a big achievement," Lieberman said after the meeting. "I never felt such an effort being made by the haredim before to reach a common ground."
By Greer Fay Cashman www.jpost.com March 5, 2009
Marriage does not have to be a prison is the compelling social message on a series of tote bags sold by Israeli fashion house Comme il Faut known for its promotion of human rights and social justice as International Women's Day comes around the corner next week.
The promotion is in cooperation with ICAR, the International Coalition for Agunah Rights, which brings together Jewish organizations working to draw attention to the problem of agunot and mesuravot get and to promote solutions that are compatible with Halacha.
The bags, which are made out of recycled materials by people who are mentally and physically challenged and are working under the aegis of Meshakem, are being sold for NIS 10 each.
The proceeds of the sale will be used to continue ICAR's work in freeing women who are anchored in marriages which exist in name only, but which prevent the victims from marrying anyone else and bringing children into the world.
Aside from carrying the message, the bags are also environmentally friendly, like those sold in most supermarkets to replace the nylon bags.
The difference is that instead of advertising a particular supermarket chain, the ICAR bags will create awareness of the injustice perpetrated against Jewish women who want to opt out of a marriage.
The Prenuptial Agreement to Avoid Get Refusal
http://www.icar.org.il/en/March 9, 2009
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One enters into a marriage in love and harmony, expecting that the joint future will also be based on these principals.
A prenuptial agreement to avoid get refusal is not a financial agreement! It is a declaration that the couple intends to conduct their marriage on an equal basis and to ensure that if, g-d forbid, they separate, this too will take place in an honorable, fair and equal manner.
We believe that it is better to sign this type of document out of love, reciprocity and belief that it will not be necessary, than to search for solutions at the time of separation, that is often painful and very sad.
By Netty C. Gross www.jpost.com March 3, 2009
A decade after its establishment 'no one is laughing at Kolech or at Orthodox feminists anymore'
"When the revolution comes, we want to be ready," says Dr. Chana Kehat, a 49-year-old mother of six, teacher of Jewish bible studies and resident of Neve Daniel in the Etzion bloc in the West Bank.
Today, [founding member Prof. Tova Cohen] says, the organization "aims to improve the status of women within Orthodoxy and in general, while adhering to the strictures of Jewish law."
In this way, Kolech - which means "your voice" in Hebrew, and is a deliberate reference to the various religious rulings that a woman's voice should not be heard in public - differs both from movements which use a liberal interpretation of halakha to create gender-equal ritual and from traditional Orthodox women's organizations, such as Emunah, the women's auxiliary of the National Religious Party, which have long eschewed the feminist label.
Online comic breaking chains: 'Get' this empowering tale of a young Jewish woman
March 4, 2009
This past June, following a protracted struggle spanning several years for her emancipation, 28 year old Ariella Dadon managed to receive a get (a Jewish divorce) from her violent, abusive husband.
"Unmasked: The Ariella Dadon Story" is the poignant story of Ariella, a courageous woman who continues her struggle for the assisting of agunot and mesoravot get (women denied a Jewish divorce).
The cartoon is inspired by the genre of political cartoons, such as: "Waltz with Bashir," "Maus" and "Persepolis".
By utilizing this medium, the creators of this cartoon, Inbal Freund-Novick and Chari Pere, wish to bring to light Ariella's story to an audience that had previously not been exposed the issue of such women who are in need of assistance.
"Ariella described her story to us in a lucid and inspiring manner, which led to the birth of the cartoon presented before you – a cartoon that calls for increased public awareness of the subject of mesoravot get," says Freund-Novick.
"The comic discusses the finding of viable solutions for this problem, the signing of premarital agreements for the prevention of get refusal and the encouraging of women in this situation to seek help from professional organizations".
The cartoon, which is being distributed in preparation for the International Day for Agunot that occurs on the fast of Esther, incorporates motifs from the holiday of Purim and encourages people "to remove their masks" and discuss the issue of mesoravot get in Israel. "I enjoyed every moment working on this project", says Pere.
"I hope that our comic sparks a greater cause and a greater awareness of Ariella's story."
IDF Rabbinate Corp Appoints First-Ever Female Officer
www.nif.org March 3, 2009
Captain Ofra Guttman has been appointed as the first-ever female officer in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Rabbinate Corps.
The appointment follows pressure from NIF grantee Kolech – Religious Women’s Forum and other Orthodox Feminist groups.
Captain Guttman said, “This new position has been created because very few of the tens of thousands of women serving in the IDF seek counsel from the Rabbinate Corps in comparison to their male counterparts.
There are many subjects for which it is very difficult for young women to talk to a rabbi and which it is much easier for them to speak about with another woman.”
Kolech Executive Director Chana Pasternak welcomed the appointment. "Jewish women serving in the army finally have somebody they can turn to on religious and spiritual matters," she said.
In addition to personally addressing the individual inquiries of female soldiers, Captain Guttman will arrange seminars and courses to train a cadre of young women serving in the IDF to act as advisors for Jewish and spiritual matters in the various units of the Israeli military.
Rabbi Disqualifies Army's Torah Scrolls
By Hillel Fendel www.israelnationalnews.com March 3, 2009
Rabbi Yaakov Yosef has caused a stir in the rabbinic world, ruling that a watermark on Torah scrolls in the IDF renders them unfit for use. Other rabbis disagree.
He wrote that the identifying watermark - the words “IDF property” imprinted on the scrolls - disqualifies them for use.
An official at Machon Ot, a non-profit organization that has developed a unique method to identify Torah scrolls based on the distances between letters, told Israel National News that watermarks have traditionally been accepted as a kosher means of identification.
“Writing on the back of the parchment is considered OK, as are watermarks visible on either side,” he said.
Machon Ot’s computerized technique has been used by Israel Police, Interpol, New York Police Department and others to identify stolen Torah scrolls. The cost is only 150 shekels per scroll, and is often subsidized by insurance companies.
We have 15,000 scrolls on file,” the official said, “nearly half of them from Israel. If we would double this number, we would be able to end the scourge of Torah scroll theft.”
IDF Responds to Rabbi Who Disqualified Torah Scrolls
By Hillel Fendel www.israelnationalnews.com March 5, 2009
The IDF Spokesman responded that the facts in the ruling are not correct.
“The imprint is fashioned not out of ink or color, but rather by pressure [making a raised mark],” the response stated.
The Spokesman, in conjunction with the Chief Rabbinate of the IDF, added that the new ruling “maligns the late Chief IDF Rabbis Shlomo Goren and Gad Navon, who were quite familiar with Jewish Law and formulated the solution.”
Rabbi Yosef based his ruling on precedents set by his father Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef in his work Yechaveh Daat, and by the late Rabbi Ovadiah Hadaya in his work Yaskil Avdi.
However, sources in the IDF Rabbinate say that the former citation deals with an ink imprint in between sentences, whereas the imprints in the current case do not involve ink and are placed on the margins of the parchment.
Chabad Cheers Up the Troops in Nachal Oz
http://shmais.com March 4, 2009 Source: www.col.org.il
This week, IDF soldiers at the Nachal Oz army base bordering the Gaza Strip received an injection of spirituality when Chabad volunteers and a group of supporters from the United States visited them with gifts of Chumashim, Siddurim, and other seforim for the base’s shul.
Israeli Rabbis Reject Digital TV [Purim Spoof]
www.thejewishweek.com March 4, 2009
A coalition of 33 Orthodox rabbis in Israel declared this week that the government’s plan to switch all television reception to a digital signal is forbidden and unacceptable.
“It requires converter boxes,” said group spokesman Rabbi Lazer Disk, “and we don’t recognize the converters as kosher.”
Rabbi Disk identified the two companies hired by the Israeli government to handle the conversions as the Conservative Engineering Corp. and the Television Reform Network.
“I’m sorry,” said the rabbi, “but we cannot accept digital conversions by the Conservative and Reform firms. We must draw the line somewhere. Otherwise, what will be next--a wireless eruv?”
Despite nixing the proposed signal conversion, the 33 rabbis did approve a marriage this week between two TV antennas.
“The ceremony wasn’t that great,” said Rabbi Disk, “but the reception was amazing.”
Court Orders Dismantling Chabad Mitzvah Tanks Non-Profit
By Yechiel Spira www.theyeshivaworld.com March 2, 2009
Due to debts amounting to over NIS 1 million, the Nazareth District Court has responded to a request to dismantle the organization responsible for the Chabad “Mitzvah Tanks” in Eretz Yisrael.
This week, the court ruled that in order to cover the debt, the non-profit will be dismantled. The court added that the heads of the organization admit they were not in compliance with the law, failing to submit the annual reports to the registrar of non-profits and other papers.
Prosecution seeks maximum sentence for 'Modesty Squad' offender
By Aviad Glickman www.ynetnews.com March 4, 2009
The Jerusalem District Prosecution has signed a plea bargain with Elhanan Buzaglo, who was charged with assaulting a woman in an ultra-Orthodox neighborhood in the capital.
Buzaglo, a member of the so-called '[Modesty] Squad,' beat and threatened a woman who did not meet the squad's standards of modesty.
The prosecution claims Buzaglo was a mercenary doing the bidding of the '[Modesty] Squad', a group attempting to violently impose their ethical code on those who stray from it.
Israel Electric Co. Technicians Attacked by Chareidim in Bnei Brak
By Yechiel Spira www.theyeshivaworld.com March 6, 2009
Israel Electric Company reports technicians who came to Bnei Brak to repair a transformer on Thursday were attacked by chareidim, compelling them to leave the area, which now remains without electricity.
It appears residents feared the transformer was being replaced by a more powerful unit that would release dangerous emissions.
IEC officials state the technicians were trying to repair the unit, not replace it, adding the electricity to the area will not be restored until the transformer is replaced. No timetable was mentioned. The technicians were uninjured.
Jerusalem City Hall Allocates Funds for Shuls
By Yechiel Spira www.theyeshivaworld.com March 6, 2009
NIS 2.1 million was allocated to shuls in Yerushalayim after the funding was approved by the city council.
A total of some NIS 7 million was allocated to shuls, with the latest payment of NIS 2.1 million approved this week. The funds were earmarked for 20 shuls in various stages of construction.
Technion rabbi: Remove mezuzot from gay couples' rooms
By Eitan Glickman www.ynetnews.com March 6, 2009
The study routine at the Technion, Haifa's Institute of Technology, has been disrupted in recent days over a decision allowing homosexual and lesbian couples to live in dorms designed for married couples.
Following the decision, the Technion's rabbi demanded that demanded that the mezuzot be removed from the rooms where the gay couples are slated to reside.
Rabbis urge frugal gift baskets for Purim
By Yair Ettinger www.haaretz.com March 5, 2009
Senior Sephardic rabbis issued a religious ruling calling on observant Jews to limit spending on mishloach manot, traditional gift baskets given to friends and family during the Purim holiday next week.
Rabbi Ovadia Yosef and the Council of Torah Sages called on their followers to "refrain from wastefulness on sweets and precious items."
The rabbis have urged their followers to be frugal in light of the economic downturn. Yesterday they suggested filling the gift baskets with foods with a longer shelf life and a higher nutritional value than candy.
Nazareth Illit Trying to Draw Chareidi Residents
By L.S. Wasserman http://chareidi.shemayisrael.com March 5, 2009
Nazareth Illit officials are formulating a new plan to settle some 10,000 Chareidim in the city.
The municipality is hoping to allocate land in the city's Har Yonah Gimmel area for the construction of thousands of housing units for the Chareidi sector.
Mayor Shimon Gapso says that Chareidim constitute a high-caliber population group and the local population does not object to an increased chareidi and religious presence.
Against all odds – Jerusalem Synagogues
By Peggy Cidor www.jpost.com March 7, 2009
On one issue at least, deputy mayor David Hadari (Habayit Hayehudi) achieved some success.
As chairman of the powerful Finance Committee, he managed to approve a decision to provide NIS 2 million for the construction and restoration of synagogues in the city for 2009.
In a gesture of generosity, Hadari made it clear that the rule will apply to religious Zionist and haredi synagogues.
For those of you who are wondering if Conservative or Reform synagogues are included, the answer is no. Don't push it - there's a limit to prices to be paid, even in politics.
Hetzi Hinam lost kashrut certificate - and no one knew
By Nati Toker www.haaretz.com March 8, 2009
The Hetzi Hinam supermarket chain has been operating for two months without Kashrut certification, but customers were never notified.
A senior official in the Rishon Letzion Rabbinate said yesterday: "We put an advertisement in the local newspapers saying we had revoked our Kashrut [certification], but the chain continues to sell. We hope that we will reach an agreement with them next week and their Kashrut certificate will be returned."
Against all odds – Jerusalem Carta Parking Lot
By Peggy Cidor www.jpost.com March 7, 2009
During his term as leader of the opposition, Mayor Nir Barkat often made a point of stressing the importance of listening to the needs of the residents and making sure that the administration of the municipality took those needs into account.
One of those issues was former mayor Uri Lupolianski and his haredi coalition's opposition to having the Carta parking lot (under the Mamilla Alrov Mall) open on Shabbat.
During the time they served on the city council, the bid to open the parking lot on Shabbat was an issue raised by Meretz leader Pepe Alalu, as well as Barkat himself.
March 9, 2009 (Section 1) (continues in Section 2)
Editor – Joel Katz
Religion and State in Israel is not affiliated with any organization or movement.
