Monday, September 22, 2008

Religion and State in Israel - September 22, 2008 (Section 1)

Religion and State in Israel

September 22, 2008 (Section 1) (continues in Section 2)

Editor – Joel Katz

Religion and State in Israel is not affiliated with any organization or movement.


Deri to appeal moral turpitude clause

By Aviad Glickman, www.ynetnews.com September 19, 2008


photo by Tierecke ("He's Innocent")

Ynet has learned that former Shas leader, Aryeh Deri, who was found guilty on several charges of bribery in 2000, is expected to file an appeal with the Jerusalem District Court in an attempt to expunge the moral turpitude clause on his criminal record, so as to be able to enter the race for mayor of Jerusalem.

The appeal to the District Court of Jerusalem is expected to generate counter-appeals to the High Court of Justice.

Several groups, including the Movement for Quality government in Israel have announced their plans to appeal to the High Court if the Jerusalem court approves Deri's candidacy.


Give Deri a chance

By Meron Benvenisti, www.haaretz.com Opinion September 22, 2008


Jerusalem is in such desperate straits that even a magician cannot heal its ills.

But Deri might be able to make this desperation easier to live with - even with regard to ultra-Orthodox-secular relations.

This hope is based on his ethnic origin and the community he belongs to, which is devoted to him.


On a mission

By Peggy Cidor, www.jpost.com September 18, 2008


As for Nir Barkat's plans for the education system, one cannot help but note the large number of religious Zionists among his supporters and partners.

At a dialogue held at his house on the subject, Labor-Meimad MK Rabbi Michael Melchior opened the meeting, key remarks were given by Micha Goodman and Rabbi Shai Piron, both religious pedagogues, and a large part of the audience wore crocheted kippot.

…Also on the religious front, Barkat has been very active in pushing for a High Court ruling to appoint a chief rabbi for Jerusalem, making clear that his goal is to bring to the post Zionist rabbis rather than the haredi candidates who have prevailed until now.

Last week, Barkat misstepped when he announced that he had obtained the official support of former Sephardi chief rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu, a leader in the religious Zionist community.

Although the declaration was promptly denied by Eliyahu's family, many other prominent figures in the religious Zionist camp do openly support Barkat.


Egged removes political ads on 'haredization' of J'lem

By Etgar Lefkovits, www.jpost.com September 22, 2008

The Egged bus cooperative has removed political advertisements on the sides of its buses sponsored by the far-left Meretz Party against the "haredization" of Jerusalem, officials said at the weekend.

A Meretz city councilman blasted the bus company for "capitulating" to the haredi pressure.

"Egged has long become part of the haredi establishment," said Jerusalem city councilman Pepe Alalo.

"Egged buses cannot be an arena for a brawl between different sectors of the public and therefore we will not lend a hand to negative advertising," an Egged spokeswoman said in a written statement Thursday.

She added that the bus cooperative does not intend to hurt the feelings of its hundreds of thousands of haredi and religious passengers.


Hereditary 'Jerusalemness'

By Neri Livneh, www.haaretz.com September 19, 2008

Voting for Barkat is the only option available to those who would like Jerusalem to regain some of the secular character it once had, when it was still a small town populated by government bureaucrats and professors, authors and poets, and lunatics of all religions. 

But how sad is the situation in which the most distinctive quality for which a candidate can be praised is being the only secular candidate.

…But Jerusalem is much more than the wars between the religious and the secular.

These constitute only a small part of the quality of life and agenda of most people who live in the city, and who truly want what Barkat wants to achieve - plus, if possible, a mayor who does not consider a woman to be a contaminated vessel, and is able to firmly shake the hands of those female constituents whose votes he would like to have.


Court Upholds Rabbi’s Bracha

By Yechiel Spira, www.theyeshivaworld.com September 21, 2008

A court last week ruled the bracha for supporting a candidate was not a violation of the law, upholding Or Yehuda elections.

The petition to the court sought to challenge an election promise for voters who support Rav David Yosef that they would receive a bracha from his father, HaRav Ovadia Yosef Shlita.

Following his victory in the election, the petition was filed with the court.

The court ruled that the petition was not valid, stating it was only filed after the petitioner lost in the election, and it did not prove that the bracha promised was a violation of the law or that it slanted the election in the favor of one candidate.


Candidates Vie For Belzer Rebbe's Endorsement in Beit Shemesh Mayoral Race

www.hamercaz.com September 21, 2008

As municipal elections in the Yerushalayim suburb of Beit Shemesh approach, candidates for the position of mayor struggle to gain the endorsement of leading figures within the city's substantial Charedi population.

The Belzer Rebbe, R' Yissachar Dov Rokeach, is seen as key to a large voting block of Chasidim over whom he wields a great influence.

Last week, the Rebbe met with Shas party Beit Shemesh mayoral candidate Moshe Abutbul, and gave him a Bracha.

Shas party chairman Eli Yishai and former Knesset member Israel Eichler were also present at the meeting.


Shas Working Around-the-Clock Ahead of Chief Rabbinical Council Election

By Yechiel Spira, www.theyeshivaworld.com September 21, 2008


Shas officials are literally working around-the-clock ahead of this week’s election for members of the Chief Rabbinical Council of the Chief Rabbinate.

It appears according to most that the five Shas-affiliated rabbonim will indeed obtain slots on the nation’s highest rabbinical council.

Shas’ biggest effort appears to ensure the election of Cholon Chief Rabbi Avraham Yosef Shlita, a son of Rav Ovadia Yosef Shlita.

What is contributing to Shas’ concerns is Rav Elyashiv’s Shlita unwillingness to support rav Avraham’s candidacy, apparently as a result of his support for heter mechira during shmitah, a position held by his father, HaRav Ovadia Shlita, head of the Shas Council of Torah Sages.


Mazuz: No grounds to file charges against Metzger

By Aviad Glickman, www.ynetnews.com September 22, 2008


Attorney Raz Nezri, senior aide to Attorney General Menachem Mazuz, said Monday that there were no grounds to pursue a criminal case against Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi Yona Metzger, citing lack of evidence.

Nezri's statement came in response to a demand made by the Ometz Association, which champions proper public administration.

Mazuz did, however, order his office to put together a team, headed by the Prime Minister's Office legal counsel and including representatives from the Justice Ministry and the Chief Rabbinate, to probe the matter further and stipulate new and clear guidelines as to the funding of the chief rabbi's trips by private groups.

Nezri chose to end his letter to Ometz by saying that "the decision not to go ahead with a criminal case must not be misunderstood as a validation of any of the alleged acts."


The lie of 'equality for Israel's children'

By Shahar Ilan, www.haaretz.com Opinion September 17, 2008

In the proposal, which might be called Nahari Law II, or the upgraded Nahari Law, Shas demands that budgets and buildings for the ultra-Orthodox education systems be equal to those for the state education systems. 

Equal budgets for state education and the ultra-Orthodox systems is in fact crude and unjustified discrimination against the children in the state education system.

Even now the budgets are nearly equal. The prime minister must not lend a hand to Nahari Law II, which will make the situation worse. State education must be preserved, not damaged further.


Rabbi Amar calls for end to discrimination against Ethiopians

By Neta Sela, www.ynetnews.com September 18, 2008


Israel's Chief Sephardic Rabbi Shlomo Amar has issued a letter asking heads of religious schools not to discriminate children of Ethiopian descent, who wish to apply to their respective educational institutions.

In his statement, Rabbi Amar noted that Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, Shas' spiritual leader, approved his plea. The letter was also posted on Shas' website.


Religious Racism in Israeli Schools

By Elana Sztokman, www.kolech.org.il/blog September 21, 2008

The writer blogs at http://blog.elanasztokman.com/

There are moments when I find myself truly ashamed to be part of Israeli society.

I had a moment like that recently as I stood outside the Supreme Court with women from “Achoti”, an organization of Sephardic feminist women, waiting for a ruling on the religious girls’ school in Elad where racism is so entrenched that parents will do all it takes to keep antiquated Jim-Crow-like separations in place. 


Rabbis call for revival of traditional schooling

By Kobi Nahshoni, www.ynetnews.comSeptember 19, 2008

“Ethnic segregation is a tragedy, a bone of contention; the system isolating itself is an embarrassment,” Rabbi Dr. Benny Lau said Wednesday as he addressed growing amount of private religious schools and the weakening of state-religious education.

He called upon parents and educators to act responsibly towards weak students and strengthen state-religious education.

“The state-religious system created this divisive network since it did not accept the diversity of strengthening the orthodoxy and that shattered its growth.”


Ministry disqualifies exam after Haredi school bars proctor for 'immodest attire'

By Or Kashti, www.haaretz.com September 22, 2008

The Education Ministry has disqualified the matriculation exam in Jewish philosophy administered at an ultra-Orthodox girls' school in Jerusalem this past summer, after the institution refused to allow a ministry proctor into the classroom because it said she was not properly attired.

The ministry said the school did not have the authority to reject a proctor, and therefore disqualified the results of all 243 exams taken that day. 

…The school said that in conversations with the Education Ministry after the incident, it was agreed that from now on, male proctors rather than women would be sent. 


For haredi papers, Livni is faceless

By Matthew Wagner, www.jpost.com September 22, 2008

If it relies solely on its newspapers for information, the haredi public will not even know what the next prime minister looks like, Arye Frankel, a veteran haredi ad man at the Gal BSD agency, said Sunday.

"You simply will not see a picture of Tzipi Livni in the haredi newspapers," said Frankel. "And in some cases you will not even see her first name," he added.

A senior editor at Hamodia, the oldest haredi daily, controlled by the Ger Hassidic sect, said that in his paper the name Tzipi would not be mentioned.

…"Hamodia is the most conservative," said Kroizer. "But in other papers you will find 'Tzipi.' But no haredi paper will publish Livni's picture. Graphic artists will blur the faces of women that do make their way into pictures that the papers want to use.

They will also blur pictures of television sets or other items deemed improper to be seen by the wider haredi public.

"Photoshop works overtime in a haredi newspaper," he explained.


Rabbis claim Bezeq delaying kosher Internet

By Gad Perez, www.globes.co.il September 18, 2008

Bezeq has been dragging its heels in the cooperation on kosher Internet access between it and the rabbinical committee on communications, say sources close to the committee.

The two sides had agreed on the requirements and conditions for cooperation in the provision of "obscenity-free" Internet services to users in the haredi (ultra-orthodox) sector, but virtually no progress has been made in recent months, despite the media attention and the headlines announcing the launch of commercial services last year.

The sources say that Bezeq fears it could lose revenue because of the fact that haredi customers can obtain kosher Internet and VoIP-based telephony services from rival providers.


MK Gafni Thwarts Attempt to Open Food Bar at Sde Dov

By Yechiel Sever, www.chareidi.shemayisrael.com September 18, 2008

Another attempt by the board of Tel Aviv's Dov Airfield to open its food bar on Shabbos and Jewish holidays has failed.

In a letter to the operator of the food bar the airport director asked about his willingness to operate the food bar on Shabbos and holidays, saying if he receives a negative response the board would have to look into "alternative arrangements to provide service for passengers."

MK Rabbi Moshe Gafni contacted Ovadia Eli, chairman of the Israel Airports Authority, who issued unambiguous instructions not to operate the food bar on Shabbos and chagim.


Religion and State in Israel

September 22, 2008 (Section 1) (continues in Section 2)

Editor – Joel Katz

Religion and State in Israel is not affiliated with any organization or movement.

Religion and State in Israel - September 22, 2008 (Section 2)

Religion and State in Israel

September 22, 2008 (Section 2) (continued from Section 1)

Editor – Joel Katz

Religion and State in Israel is not affiliated with any organization or movement.


Conservative leader decries ban on non-Orthodox immersion

By Matthew Wagner, www.jpost.com September 22, 2008


The Orthodox establishment's ban on non-Orthodox converts and brides using state-funded  mikvaot (ritual baths) is a desecration of God's name, Rabbi Barry Schlesinger, the newly reelected president of the Masorti (Conservative) Movement's Rabbinical Assembly in Israel, said on Sunday.

"We have to put an end to the discrimination against Conservative converts and brides, "Schlesinger said.

"Tax-paying Israelis, interested in adhering to Halacha, are being prevented from using indoor mikvaot that are run and funded by the state just because they are not Orthodox Jews.

"Instead they are forced to perform their tvila [ritual immersion] in the sea or in a natural spring, where they are exposed to the elements and to less than ideal hygiene," he said.

The Reform and Conservative Movements have petitioned the District Administrative Court to order the religious councils in Beersheba and Jerusalem to allow converts free access to the mikvaot.


Jewish 'ultras' defend morals with menace

By Toni O'Loughlin, www.guardian.co.uk September 21, 2008


With the demographics skewed in their favour, government authorities are acquiescing to the growing demands of the ultra-Orthodox.

The transport ministry, which regulates and funds bus transport through private companies, has allowed operators to provide 'kosher' or 'pure' routes, where women are required to sit at the back and cannot board unless appropriately dressed.

More than a dozen women have filed complaints after being verbally or physically attacked on the buses.

'Sometimes it's an official group but often it's one or two men who start to complain and the other men follow,' said the Israel Religious Action Centre's legal director, Einat Hurvitz.

'The drivers allow them to intimidate the women.' Haredi women also participated in the bullying.

'I was wearing jeans and a long sleeved T-shirt and as I was getting on the bus someone told me I couldn't get on the bus like that,' said Iris Yoffe who was travelling from Jerusalem to her parents' home in the northern city of Haifa. 'I ignored him and paid the driver.'

But then, said Yoffe, two women blocked her way and told her to get off. 'When I refused they started yelling at me.'


A Dispute over Property Taxes: IRAC Defends HUC-JIR's Status in Israel

www.huc.edu September 8, 2008


In Israel, an institution can apply for a reduced property tax rate if it qualifies under one or more of a variety of categories.

Being a religious institution with a seminary, an educational institution with a seminary, and a general institution which serves the benefit of the public are a few of these categories.

The Israel Religious Action Center came to Hebrew Union College-JIR's defense and explained to the municipality that HUC-JIR met the criteria as both an educational and religious institution with a seminary and therefore should qualify for the tax discount, regardless of the new criteria. 

…On August 6, 2008, the court, in response to IRAC's petition, ruled in the favor of HUC-JIR: HUC-JIR is officially recognized as a religious and educational institution with a seminary in Israel. 

While this decision will certainly benefit HUC-JIR specifically by removing the unjust tax burden, it is also a victory in the larger sense for Reform Judaism in Israel.

In a country where Reform Jews struggle to have equal rights, HUC-JIR, with the help of IRAC, is officially recognized as being a religious institution with a seminary in Israel. 


US Department of State - International Religious Freedom Report 2008

www.state.gov September 2008


The report covers the period from July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008

In May 2008 the first-ever state-funded Reform and Conservative synagogues were opened in Modi’in.

This followed the High Court’s ruling in 2003 that it was permissible to use state funds for the construction of non-Orthodox synagogues.

An agreement between the Government and the municipality of Modi’in resulted in the decision to provide state (but not municipal) funds for the construction and operation of non-Orthodox synagogues.

Earlier in 2003, IRAC had petitioned the High Court on behalf of a Reform congregation in Modi'in to require that Modi'in municipality fund construction of a Reform synagogue. 


How well does Livni know the Diaspora?

By Anshel Pfeffer, www.haaretz.com September 19, 2008

As on so many other things, no one has any idea what Livni's position on the future of the Jewish people is, if she has one at all.

There does not seem to be any reason why she should object to the objectives set out by Olmert.

She will naturally want to appoint her own cabinet secretary, but that does not mean that Ovad Yehezkel, who has shown a true passion for this unfashionable issue, has to stop his work.

The best thing would be to appoint him to a new post as the prime minister’s envoy to the Jewish world. With sufficient backing, he could see the process through. 


Some things can't be privatized

By Haviv Rettig, www.jpost.com September 16, 2008

While community partnerships and social projects would exist even without a Jewish Agency, it is the last function - the network of emissaries in small communities who are instrumental in rescuing Jews in times of crisis - that even the agency's most energetic detractors acknowledge would be difficult to replicate elsewhere.

It is about training the Jewish world to think of the organization primarily as an aid to Jewish communities in need, one of the few functions that cannot be privatized.


Adelson Shrinks Giving to Birthright

By Anthony Weiss, www.forward.com September 18, 2008


The man commonly known as the world’s richest Jew is scaling back his contributions to one of the most prominent Jewish charities.

On September 9, billionaire casino mogul Sheldon Adelson announced that he was reducing his donations to Birthright Israel in 2009 and 2010, respectively, to $20 million and $10 million, after giving $70 million over the previous two years.

Unless Birthright is able to make up the difference in gifts from other sources, the reduction could mean that thousands fewer young Jews will be able to make the free trips to Israel that Birthright provides.


Eckstein denies report that group gave money to missionize Jews

By Jacob Berkman, www.jta.org September 15, 2008


Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, who has raised tens of millions of dollars for Israel from American evangelicals, is denying a report suggesting that some of the money was used by Christians to missionize Jews.

The Israeli daily Ma'ariv reported Monday that Eckstein’s organization, the Chicago-based International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, gave $10,000 in 2007 to an evangelical group in Jerusalem, King of Kings, that proselytizes Israeli Jews.

It also reported that the fellowship sent money to Community of Christ, a Protestant group in Orleans, Mass., that Ma’ariv called “a controversial Christian cult.”


Who says Jerusalem has no night life?

By Yair Ettinger, www.haaretz.com September 17, 2008


For two weeks now, since the month of Elul began, this is how the Western Wall has looked, and how it can be heard from midnight until morning. Tens of thousands of people pass by every night, divided by ethnic group and approaches.

On this coming Saturday night, they will be joined by Ashkenazi Jews, and the Western Wall rabbi, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, estimates that the number of nightly worshippers will skyrocket to some 150,000 people, including the tourists who come to observe them.

Who said there is no night life in Jerusalem?


Settler rabbi: The state stole Israel from the Jews

By Nadav Shragai www.haaretz.com September 16, 2008

Rabbi David Dudkevitch, the rabbi of the West Bank settlement of Yitzhar:

"The State of Israel is not the be-all and end-all. If it decides it does not want to be in the hereditary lands of our forefathers, then other Jews have the right to organize themselves in order to live there, even without a link to the state.

Is it practical? I doubt it. That's why I'm not signing up for it. But when there's talk about another expulsion, then on the ideological level, the 'State of Judea' is no worse than expulsion."


This blog keeps the Sabbath

By Ofri Ilani, www.haaretz.com September 19, 2008

While ultra-Orthodox rabbis condemn surfing the Internet, it is highly popular in the national-religious sector, a large number of whose leading rabbis acknowledge the medium's power.

"The Internet is here to stay," says Rabbi Yuval Cherlow, head of the hesder yeshiva (combining religious studies and army service) in Petah Tikva. 

"The Web sites of the religious community deal on an almost daily basis with issues that until recently had not been addressed.


Zionist Council: Where has religious youth disappeared to?

By Kobi Nahshoni, www.ynetnews.com September 21, 2008

The Israel Zionist Council reported recently of a drastic drop of more than 60% in the number of its religious teenage members, from a representation of 40% to only 15%.

"Our youth coordinators find it very difficult to enter religious schools," said Moshe Ben Atar.

"We are very concerned about this process of seclusion which does not contribute to the creation of the harmony required for the joint dialogue of the next generation in the Israeli society, and may deteriorate social relations in Israel."


Shomer Shmitah Farmers to Gather to Mark the End of Shmitah Year

By Yechiel Spira, www.theyeshivaworld.com September 16, 2008

Kavod Shomrei Shvi’is is the banner for Tuesday’s event expected to attract thousands of shomer shmitah farmers, who are about to mark the end of their observance of the mitzvah.

Today’s event is intended to honor the farmers from the southern and central regions, those who made their fields ‘hefker’ and agreed to comply with the stringencies and fiscal realities of keeping the mitzvah as detailed by Gedolei HaDor Shlita.


Esrogim Impounded at Ben-Gurion Airport

By Yechiel Spira www.theyeshivaworld.com September 22, 2008

Last Sunday, agriculture inspectors at Ben-Gurion International Airport confiscated a suitcase containing 70 Italian esrogim being brought into the country by a private individual, not a licensed importer.

According to officials, the person who was bringing in the esrogim illegally can expect a fine in the area of NIS 5,000.

Agriculture inspectors will be increasingly vigilant this year due to shmitah, realizing more individuals will attempt to bring esrogim from abroad to eliminate shmitah concerns.


Hasidim in New Year exodus to Ukraine

By Zohar Blumenkrantz, www.haaretz.com September 17, 2008

Some 14,000 Bratslav Hasidim are set to fly from Israel to Ukraine to make their annual Rosh Hashanah pilgrimage to the grave of their sect's founder, Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav. The first flights are scheduled for Friday. 

The "air train," as the flights are being called, will include nearly 100 flights to Kiev, getting the Hasidim to the gravesite in Uman ahead of the holiday, which begins at sundown September 29. 

The Israel Airports Authority is planning to reserve one section of its passenger terminal for use by Bratslav passengers, and Israeli security officials will be dispatched to Kiev to monitor return flights. 


15,000 Hasidim to fly to Uman ahead of Rosh Hashana

www.ynetnews.com September 21, 2008

The kosher food packages required by the Hasidim will be sent through the airport's cargo terminal and not as passenger's luggage.

Each traveler will be allowed to take a personal case of food for immediate need on the plane in coordination with the airline.


Serving in the Kfir Brigade, far from home

By Yaakov Katz, www.jpost.com September 22, 2008

Dan came to Israel to get away from French anti-Semitism. 

Ronen left Sao Paulo to experience firsthand what the IDF was fighting against in the territories and not to just watch the conflict on Brazilian television. 

Shraga had just completed a year in a yeshiva here and felt the need to contribute more to Israel before returning to Australia.

All three left their families and homes behind, moved to Israel and today are serving in the IDF's Kfir Brigade, responsible for counter-terror operations throughout the West Bank.

All three are lone soldiers, meaning that unlike most of the IDF they do not have parents in Israel or family to go home to for the weekend.


Skirting history

By Lauren Gelfond Feldinger, www.jpost.com September 21, 2008

Brig.-Gen. Yehudit Grisaro, the chief of General Staff's adviser on women's issues:

What are other areas of integration beyond combat?

…We are also working on the number of religious women, maybe to create a special unit with special conditions that will give them the opportunity to combine their religious lifestyle with the demands of military service - to pray, eat, be together with other religious women, to feel it's the right place for them and not feel different or alienated.


Waqf offends Muslim official visiting Israel

By Itamar Eichner, www.ynetnews.com September 22, 2008


A Muslim minister from Ivory Coast, on an official visit to Israel as a guest of the Foreign Ministry, was required by the Supreme Muslim Council (Waqf) of Jerusalem to recite verses from the Koran before entering the al-Aqsa Mosque in order to prove that he is Muslim.

The insulted minister left the Mount immediately.

"I am a faithful Muslim. There is no reason for me to start reciting verses here. You have insulted me," he told the officials before leaving the place.


Nightmare before Ramadan

By Yoav Stern, www.haaretz.com September 18, 2008

"Instead of it being a month of abstinence, asceticism and breaking the fast with dates, it has turned into a month of cooking, fat paunches and frying.

The month of Ramadan is the month of sycophantism, hypocrisy and lies, the month of squandering and appetite, a month of slavery for women."

These words were written around a month ago by Ala Hlehl, the editor in chief of the Balad party newspaper Fasal al-Makal.

They forced him to resign and provoked a stormy debate about freedom of expression in Arab society. 


Baha'is buy military base to open up space at Acre compound

By Jack Khoury, www.haaretz.com September 18, 2008


The Baha'i World Center recently bought an old military base blocking the view of its sacred Baji compound in Acre. It plans to create an open vista, making the compound's landscaped gardens visible from the north.

The center paid the Defense Ministry some NIS 40 million for the 90-dunam base, with structures dating back to the pre-state British Mandate era. 

The army is supposed to evacuate the base by August 2009. The Baha'is intend to clear the area, removing the obstacles to the compound's gardens, although they have not yet decided whether to expand the gardens to cover the new space.


Religion and State in Israel

September 22, 2008 (Section 2) (continued from Section 1)

Editor – Joel Katz

Religion and State in Israel is not affiliated with any organization or movement.