November 29, 2010 (Section 1) (see also Section 2)
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Editor – Joel Katz
Religion and State in Israel is not affiliated with any organization or movement.
IDF converts win ministerial backing, despite Haredi opposition
By Jonathan Lis www.haaretz.com November 28, 2010
The Ministerial Committee on Legislation approved Sunday a bill to protect the religious status of Israel Defense Forces soldiers who converted to Judaism through a military court.
At the committee meeting two weeks ago, another Yisrael Beitenu member, Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch, and Justice Minister Yaakov Neeman, launched an attack on Minister without Portfolio Meshulam Nahari, of Shas.
Ministers: IDF conversions legal
By Aviad Glickman www.ynetnews.com November 28, 2010
The [Shas] party's representative on the committee, Minister Meshulam Nahari, said that the bill constitutes a flagrant breach of the religious status quo, contrary to coalition agreements. But an appeal presented against the postponement was accepted and the proposal was once again on the government table.
Israel's conversion crisis was fabricated
By Nathan Jeffay Opinion www.thejc.com November 18, 2010
Much of the Jewish world was up in arms at the start of the summer because of the "conversion bill". People objected because it gave authority over conversions to the Chief Rabbinate.
In reality, however, the proposed change was only bureaucratic, as conversions currently operate under the authority of the Chief Rabbinate, and what we saw was largely a manufactured crisis for the political ends of various political and religious groups.
How do we know? Because just when a review of all conversions seemed imminent, conversion was thrown into chaos by none other than the Chief Rabbinate.
Exposing the ‘Partnership Covenant for Religionless’
By Irit Rosenblum Opinion www.jpost.com November 22, 2010
The author is a family law attorney, founder and executive director of New Family.
The “Partnership Covenant for the Religionless” legislation not only does not rectify the absence of separation of religion and state, it perpetuates and aggravates the problem by expanding the authority of the rabbinic establishment over marriage and family life to not only determine who is a Jew, but who is not a Jew, who belongs to another religion or who has no recognized religion at public expense.
Rabbinate Takes Action in American Jewish Divorce Case
By Maayana Miskin www.israelnationalnews.com November 25, 2010
In an unusual step, an official rabbinic court in Tel Aviv has ordered a United States citizen to remain in Israel for proceedings in a divorce case. The man, who has refused to give his wife a divorce, was detained in Israel following her request; she is also a U.S. citizen.
Most Israeli Jews unhappy with state-religion policies
By Kobi Nahshoni www.ynetnews.com November 25, 2010
Out of all the respondents, 80% said they were "discontent" (61%) or "not so content" (19%) about the current policy vis-à-vis state and religion, compared with 20% who declared themselves "pretty content" (16%) or "extremely content (4%).
The respondents were also asked whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should form a unity government excluding haredi parties in order to "repair" the situation. Fifty six percent of respondents replied affirmatively, while 45% said no; excluding haredi respondents, the division was 65% in favor and 39% opposed.
'80% of Israelis dissatisfied with state, religious policy'
www.jpost.com November 24, 2010
In light of the divide regarding religious and state policy, 61% of non-haredi citizens supported the establishment of a Likud-Kadima government without Shas and Torah Judaism.
High Court likely to let gender segregation on buses continue
By Yair Ettinger www.haaretz.com November 22, 2010
The High Court of Justice is leaning toward allowing the Egged and Dan bus companies to continue sex segregation on dozens of lines as long as there is no coercion or violence, Supreme Court Justice Elyakim Rubinstein said yesterday in what was probably the last hearing before the court issues a verdict.
The Reform movement's Israel Religious Action Center, which was one of the petitioners, said it was satisfied with yesterday's hearing and that adoption of the Transportation Ministry committee findings means the High Court endorses the position that the segregation is illegal and the ministry must intensify bus monitoring to ensure there is no coercion or violence.
'Only partial segregation' in J'lem event
By Ronen Medzini www.ynetnews.com November 25, 2010
The Jerusalem Municipality says the separation between men and women during a performance by haredi singer Yakov Shwekey will be partial.
"However, in light of the municipality's request, mixed seating and segregated seating will both be allowed during his concert. We are happy that we could meet the residents' high demand while providing an opportunity for many soldiers to enjoy the show free of charge."
Tel Aviv: No buses on Shabbat eve
By Yoav Zitun www.ynetnews.com November 25, 2010
Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai is not rushing to operate public transportation on Friday evenings, despite the high number of youths hurt in road accidents while returning from a night out in the city. The reason for the delay is the veto imposed on the decision by the City Council's haredi factions.
Jpost.com Editorial www.jpost.com November 25, 2010
Under pressure from Shas and United Torah Judaism, the government backtracked Wednesday on its support for a bill that would have helped fight the worrying trend of draft-dodging among young women.
...Sadly, the government’s myopic readiness to cater to the whims of narrow religious extremism has led it to ignore the broader national interest of encouraging universal conscription.
Bill to curb women IDF dodgers nixed under Shas pressure
By Chaim Levinson www.haaretz.com November 25, 2010
The bill had been approved in the ministerial committee for legislation; however, following opposition by Shas, the coalition decided to vote against it in the Knesset. The only coalition member who voted for it was Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai.
Hasson said yesterday that the government had "once again chosen to surrender and serve its ultra-Orthodox partners at the expense of service in the IDF."
Likud MK Miri Regev: Bill draft-dodging by religious women not a failure
By Rebecca Anna Stoil www.jpost.com November 26, 2010
“This situation cannot continue. We must make sure that everyone who can go to the army goes. We should extend the draft to haredim, and ensure that all women and minorities perform national service as well,” [Likud MK Miri] Regev concluded.
IDF uses Facebook to bust women lying their way out of the army
AP www.haaretz.com November 22, 2010
The Israel Defense Force says its monitoring of Facebook has helped catch 1,000 women lying about their religious background to avoid serving.
Israeli military service is largely compulsory, but religiously observant Jewish women can be exempted from service.
A military official said Monday that one woman who said she was a religious Jew posted a photo of herself on Facebook holding a menu from a non-kosher restaurant. Another updated her profile on the Sabbath.
By Dan Ephron www.newsweek.com November 20, 2010
A transformation is sweeping the Israeli military: deeply religious Jews are now filling leadership positions in numbers far exceeding their share of the general population. Given that religious Israelis tend to be more hawkish than most, the trend raises a real question about whether Israel can rely on the Army to implement the toughest parts of any future peace agreement with the Palestinians.
Male and female, He created them
By Reuven Hammer Opinion www.jpost.com November 26, 2010
The writer is the head of the Rabbinical Court of the Masorti Movement.
There is a struggle going on today within traditional Judaism concerning the place of women. One side wishes to separate them from men and keep them not only out of public view but out of public functions. The other side wants to bring them in and make use of their talents and their potential. The outcome will be crucial not only for women but for the future of Judaism and the Jewish people.
More Israel experience = more Jewish identity
By Cindy Mindell www.jewishledger.com November 25, 2010
Does an Israel experience really enhance American Jewish identity? Many studies have focused on the question. Consensus among Jewish professionals points to Jewish camping and time in Israel as the two most salient factors in ensuring Jewish continuity.
Now a new study conducted by Prof. Steven M. Cohen and Dr. Ezra Kopelowitz shows that participation in semester- or year-long programs in Israel is directly linked to stronger Jewish affiliation and leadership, regardless of the participant's Jewish background.
Jewish Ingratitude to Christians
By Rabbi Shmuley Boteach Opinion www.huffingtonpost.com November 22, 2010
Rabbi Shmuley Boteach heads This World: The Values Network, which seeks to heal America through universal Jewish values.
The man more responsible than anyone else for building this bridge between Christians and Jews is Rabbi Eckstein, a man whose efforts, with Christian support, feeds thousands of hungry Jewish children and Jewish elderly every day in Israel and abroad.
Israel is a nation that dwells alone, with few friends and many prejudiced enemies. Rather than Rabbis and lay leaders attacking Christians as having nefarious motives for their charity, we should offer thanks and gratitude to hard-working Americans of faith who believe, as the Bible says, that through Israel all the earth is blessed.
Council of Religious Community Leaders in Israel discuss freedom of religion
By Jonah Mandel www.jpost.com November 28, 2010
Israel’s religious leaders met on Thursday in lower Galilee to discuss freedom of religion and worship in the Holy Land, as well as to offer a joint prayer for rain.
Burying their heads in the sand?
www.jpost.com November 26, 2010
Vandalism, desecration and destruction of the graves and ancient tombs, as well as fear of attacks and violence by the Arab residents nearby, has been the norm at the Mount of Olives cemetery for years, since it came back into Israeli hands in 1967.
Despite a considerable improvement in government financing – NIS 84 million in five years – for security measures and site rehabilitation, the situation is still far from acceptable, particularly when it comes to security.
Paper sued for refusing gay ad
By Naama Cohen-Friedman www.ynetnews.com November 25, 2010
The Israeli GLBT Union filed a lawsuit against newspaper Makor Rishon Thursday for refusing to publish an advertisement urging gay and lesbian youth within the religious community to turn to the union in times of distress.
Netanyahu castigates PA for denying Jewish link to Kotel
By Barak David www.haaretz.com November 26, 2010
Waqf's wall?
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday blasted a Palestinian Authority report claiming the Western Wall was not a Jewish holy site and was, in fact, sacred to Muslims.
Jews have no right to Western Wall, PA 'study' says
By Khaled Abu Toameh www.jpost.com November 22, 2010
“Many studies published by Jewish experts have affirmed that there is no archeological evidence that the Temple Mount was built during the period of King Solomon,” the paper added.
“One can only conclude that Al-Buraq Wall is a Muslim wall and an integral part of the Aksa Mosque and Haram al-Sharif.
Amish community asks forgiveness of Jews at Kotel
By Jonah Mandel www.jpost.com November 28, 2010
Representatives of the Amish community from the United States and Switzerland paid a visit to the Western Wall on Saturday night, during which they asked the forgiveness of the Jewish people over their group's silence during the Nazi's extermination of Jews during the Holocaust.
Religious women on the big screen
By Tzofia Hirshfeld www.ynetnews.com November 22, 2010
A recent conference titled "Representations of women in the Israeli cinema", held at the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem, discussed changes in the status of women depicted on film and TV.
Director Einat Kapach surveyed the representation of religious women in Israeli cinema and the changes they have undergone.
Never-ending summer sends Rabbis, Imams, priests to pray for rain
By Yair Ettinger www.haaretz.com November 26, 2010
It has become unfortunately routine in recent years: When the weather forecasters have nothing good to say about the prospects for rain, the rabbis, imams and priests spring into action, conducting special interfaith prayers for the wet stuff.
Chief rabbis to lead prayer for rain at Western Wall
By Jonah Mandel www.jpost.com November 28, 2010
Monday will be yet another day of fasting and prayer for rain, culminating in a massive prayer at the Western Wall at 3:30 pm, led by Israel's chief rabbis.
Rabbis pray for rain on hot air balloon
By Ilana Curiel www.ynetnews.com November 26, 2010
Before dawn on Thursday, Rabbis Menashe Malka and Reuven Deri boarded a hot air balloon and ascended 1,000 feet in the air in order to pray for timely rain.
...Also on Thursday, worshippers gathered in the northern town of Hatzor HaGlilit, at the tomb of Honi HaM'agel, who became famous for his ability to successfully pray for rain during a year of draught.
The prayer was attended by chief Rabbis Yona Metzger and Shlomo Amar, council heads, rabbis and yeshiva students from the surrounding areas. The worshippers blew the shofar and recited a special prayer authored by Rabbi Metzger.
Teaching Judaism to little Jews in pajamas
By Ruth Eglash www.jpost.com November 28, 2010
How do you teach Judaism to the Jews? According the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, it’s best done in one’s pajamas, and it’s best to start with the children.
Along those lines, the multi-million dollar Massachusetts-based philanthropic foundation, partnering with the Education Ministry, recently launched a new project aimed at teaching Judaism’s core values to thousands of Jewish preschoolers throughout Israel by distributing some 360,000 Hebrew children’s books for free.
November 29, 2010 (Section 1) (see also Section 2)
Editor – Joel Katz
Religion and State in Israel is not affiliated with any organization or movement.
All rights reserved.
