Religion and State in Israel: 01/01/2014

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Religion and State in Israel - January 30, 2014

Religion and State in Israel

January 30, 2014

If you are reading in email or RSS feed, please click here to read ONLINE

Editor – Joel Katz

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

KOTEL/WESTERN WALL/WOMEN OF THE WALL

Women of the Wall Nearing Agreement With Israeli Government After Months of Negotiations

http://forward.com/

Women of the Wall chairwoman Anat Hoffman said in a letter sent to key supporters of the organization that a special government committee headed by Cabinet Secretary Avichai Mendelblit had agreed to most of the conditions, reported Haaretz, which obtained a copy of the letter.

The letter reportedly said the committee’s recommendations would be submitted to the Cabinet for approval in the coming weeks and that the egalitarian area would be ready in “a year or more,” Haaretz reported.

The site will have a mobile, temporary mechitzah for the monthly prayer services since some of the members are Orthodox and do not pray with men, according to the letter.

The committee also reportedly agreed to allow group members to jointly oversee administration of the egalitarian space, according to Haaretz.

See: Women of the Wall on verge of deal with Israeli government

http://www.haaretz.com/

REFORM MOVEMENT IN ISRAEL

Reform synagogue in Ra'anana defaced with graffiti

http://www.jpost.com/

RABBINATE AND RABBI AVI WEISS ISSUE

Op-ed: Rein in Israel’s Rabbinate

http://www.nytimes.com/

By Rabbi Avi Weiss

…Israel is a state for all the Jewish people. As such, it should allow for the option of secular as well as religious marriage.

Coercion and religion do not mix. Religious choice would benefit all. When choice is available, religion in general and Orthodoxy in particular will fare better because people will have the freedom to embrace faith willingly. An imposed religion is a disservice to the people and a disservice to religion.

Op-ed: Rabbi Weiss’s saga: The battle must continue!

http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/

Op-ed: Israel’s new war: Orthodox vs. Orthodox

http://www.haaretz.com/

'Discriminatory’ rabbinic ordination halted by Chief Rabbinate

http://www.jpost.com/

Op-ed: Open Season on the Chief Rabbinate

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/

JERUSALEM CHIEF RABBIS

Elections for Jerusalem chief rabbis could happen in coming months

http://www.jpost.com/

Jerusalem to get racist chief rabbi?

http://www.haaretz.com/

IDF/HAREDI DRAFT/RELIGIOUS WOMEN IN IDF

Radical Haredi campaign calls IDF 'national trash can'

http://www.ynetnews.com/

Bennett to Netanyahu: There should be no criminal sanctions for Haredi draft-dodgers

http://www.jpost.com/

Rabbis' orders can't stop religious girls from serving in army

http://www.ynetnews.com/

Religious girls enlisting to IDF in record numbers

http://www.timesofisrael.com/

ALIYAH/ISRAEL-DIASPORA RELATIONS

Bennett announces new measures to bring more young Jews to Israel

http://www.haaretz.com/

On Second Thought: More About the PM’s New Initiative

http://ejewishphilanthropy.com/

Shalom Hartman Institute North America Taking On Bigger Role

http://www.thejewishweek.com/

MK Lipman’s Inspiring Words to Birthrighters

http://ejewishphilanthropy.com/

Pew to issue study on Israeli Judaism

http://www.jpost.com/

Why Non-Orthodox Judaism Is Doomed

Hillel Halkin Revisits 'Zionist's Polemic' And Finds He Hasn't Changed

http://forward.com/

Israeli Bureaucrats Learning To Say ‘Bienvenue’ Amid French Immigration Wave

http://www.tabletmag.com/

Incoming NY Federation Exec Hopes To Expand Sense Of 'Kehillah'

http://www.thejewishweek.com/

Regarding Israel, he expressed concern that the 90 percent of the Jews in the U.S are not Orthodox feel alienated by a religious establishment in Jerusalem that views their practices as less than authentic.

“I am hopeful that the Chief Rabbinate will be more respectful of all streams of Judaism,” he said.

New Yiddish campaign aimed at encouraging hassidim to make aliyah

http://www.jpost.com/

Click here for VIDEO

ISRAEL AS JEWISH AND DEMOCRATIC STATE

200 Israelis to Gather to Write Foundational Declaration

http://en.idi.org.il/

VIDEO: Israel Speaks: Council of 20

Israel Speaks: Human Dignity”

http://www.jpost.com/

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Religion and State in Israel - Special edition on Shulamit Aloni

Religion and State in Israel

Special edition on Shulamit Aloni

January 26, 2014

If you are reading in email or RSS feed, please click here to read ONLINE

Editor – Joel Katz

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

Shulamit Aloni on Issues of Religion and State, Religious Pluralism

The untiring liberal

By Shimshon Arad February 19, 2009

Book Review: Israel: Democracy or Ethnocracy (In Hebrew) By Shulamit Aloni, Am Oved

http://www.jpost.com/Arts-and-Culture/Books/The-untiring-liberal

Her fundamental complaint is that by insisting on maintaining a "Jewish and democratic" state, we have introduced a built-in conflict. In practice, she claims that we have always treated the Jewish interest as the preferred obligation.

…There is also the case of the Orthodox rabbinate in Israel, whose authority often seems contrary to some basic human rights.

How do we reconcile this with the obligation to observe both the Jewish and democratic rights granted to all?

…Over the years, the Orthodox parties have gained much more power than anticipated. Aloni realizes there is no way to easily reverse the political clock.

Her counsel is clear: Block any attempt to undermine the power and prestige of the High Court of Justice - an objective shared by many other politicians.

Shulamit Aloni on Religion and State

By Shulamit Aloni Opinion October 23, 2009

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/opinion/shulamit-aloni-shas-racial-purity-policy-toward-migrant-kids-is-a-disgrace-1.5555

Here we live under religious coercion, there is no civil marriage, and the law forces us to be subject to the Orthodox rabbinate while other streams of Judaism are treated with contempt.

Now they wish to tie us to "the values and symbols" of the Judaism that emanates from the study halls of Shas and the ultra-Orthodox.

Still a democracy?

By Shulamit Aloni November 5, 2007

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/opinion/still-a-democracy-1.233243

The government of Israel, with all due respect, does not represent the Jewish people but rather the citizens of the State of Israel who elected it.

Victimized by rabbis who lack God's image

By Shulamit Aloni December 19, 2010

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/opinion/victimized-by-rabbis-who-lack-god-s-image-1.331389

Recently, we have been the victims of the disgrace and envy of various ultra-Orthodox men who have united with their old-fashioned and obsolete rabbis to shame women and keep them away from the words of the Torah.

Judaism against women

By Shulamit Aloni Opinion September 12, 2011

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4120921,00.html

Last month, Anat Hoffman of the Reform Movement proposed that I board one of the previously gender-segregated bus lines and examine the attitude to women. These are the bus routes where the High Court of Justice ruled such segregation is illegal and must be annulled.

...This segregation is disgusting. It is a shame that the Egged bus company cooperates with this for some profits. However, the problem is not Egged. After all, Egged is subsidized by the State and must serve the entire public, regardless of ethnicity, creed, religion or gender.

Does anyone remember freedom of religion?

By Shulamit Aloni July 30, 2008

http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/2.209/does-anyone-remember-freedom-of-religion-1.250826

…In other words, there is no barrier to adding a conditional get to every ketuba, which would take effect if the husband disappeared for several years or refused to divorce his wife.

…With regard to conversion as well, our ancestors were incomparably more broad-minded and open-hearted than those holy men who serve nowadays, and who pretend to put individual and public welfare at the top of their priorities.

I am warmly disposed toward Reform and Conservative Jewry

By Shulamit Aloni September 30, 2008

http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/2.209/jewish-world-i-am-warmly-disposed-toward-reform-and-conservative-jewry-1.254758

Nowadays, I feel warmly disposed toward Reform and Conservative Judaism, and when I travel overseas, I attend Reform and Conservative synagogues to hear the liturgy.

Religion and State in Israel

Special edition on Shulamit Aloni

January 26, 2014

Editor – Joel Katz

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