Editor – Joel Katz
Religion and State in Israel is not affiliated with any organization or movement.
CONVERSION
By Rabbi Gilad Kariv
We cannot wait until the last
minute, as we did with the Rotem bill. Although that proposal was ultimately
defeated, the damage to Israel’s relationship with the Jewish world has left a
scar.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Justice Minister Tzipi Livni and Religious Affairs Minister Naftali Bennett need to make it clear now that they will not allow another conversion crisis to arise.
The heads of Jewish organizations such as the Jewish Agency and the Jewish Federations of North America must impress this message upon these Israeli leaders before the next committee discussions on the Stern bill.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Justice Minister Tzipi Livni and Religious Affairs Minister Naftali Bennett need to make it clear now that they will not allow another conversion crisis to arise.
The heads of Jewish organizations such as the Jewish Agency and the Jewish Federations of North America must impress this message upon these Israeli leaders before the next committee discussions on the Stern bill.
Only if Israeli government
officials and the international Jewish leadership take a clear, unambiguous
stance on conversion will those who have been pulling the Jewish world into
conversion crises over the past 30 years understand that this time, there has
to be a different ending.
KOTEL/WESTERN WALL/WOMEN OF
THE WALL
[Elad’s] Spielman added that because the Jerusalem Archeological Park presently oversees Robinson’s Arch, leftwing groups assume that El-Ad will breach [a] government-signed agreement with Women of the Wall.
“That is so not true,” he said. “When the agreement is finalized, we will honor all previous agreements with the State of Israel, including Women of the Wall.”
Settler group getting
management of Western Wall area
RABBINATE/RABBINICAL COURTS
By Karen Brunwasser
Many have asked if this saga changed my mind about aliyah and Israel. No, but it underscores my responsibility, and that of likeminded citizens, to work for change.
Recent controversies surrounding the rejection of conversions by RCA rabbis like Avi Weiss and public disparagement of moderate rabbis like David Stav and Shlomo Riskin reveal just how extremist the institution has become.
But this extremism is priming public opinion for the rise of an alternative system that would reflect the diversity of Israeli citizenry and the Jewish people.
The time is ripe to support relevant NGOs, lobby Israeli leaders and leverage the full weight of Diaspora communal resources to break the Chief Rabbinate’s ruinous monopoly.
Many have asked if this saga changed my mind about aliyah and Israel. No, but it underscores my responsibility, and that of likeminded citizens, to work for change.
Recent controversies surrounding the rejection of conversions by RCA rabbis like Avi Weiss and public disparagement of moderate rabbis like David Stav and Shlomo Riskin reveal just how extremist the institution has become.
But this extremism is priming public opinion for the rise of an alternative system that would reflect the diversity of Israeli citizenry and the Jewish people.
The time is ripe to support relevant NGOs, lobby Israeli leaders and leverage the full weight of Diaspora communal resources to break the Chief Rabbinate’s ruinous monopoly.
RELIGIOUS PLURALISM
ALIYAH/ISRAEL-DIASPORA
RELATIONS/JEWISH AGENCY
SHABBAT
WOMEN
National-Haredi rabbis may
not appreciate female sexuality, but God does, as it contains holiness and will
function as vessel to purify the priests
HADASSAH WOMEN'S ORGANIZATION
AGUNOT/MARRIAGE
ABORTION
CONSTITUTION/JEWISH AND
DEMOCRATIC STATE
see also: http://rabbijohnrosove.wordpress.com/
SECULAR JUDAISM
CHRISTIAN ISRAELIS
EDUCATION
KASHRUT/RITUAL SLAUGHTER
RELIGION AND SOCIETY
HAREDI SOCIETY
IDF HAREDI DRAFT/HESDER
TEMPLE MOUNT
RELIGION AND THE IDF
RABBI PINTO CASE
ORGAN DONATION
BEIT SHEMESH MUNICIPAL
ELECTIONS
Editor – Joel Katz
Religion and State in Israel is not affiliated with any organization or movement.
All
rights reserved.--> CLICK HERE for February 20, 2014 edition
