For more than a century Jews have debated how to guide the Jewish character of a sovereign Jewish State. Until recently, few thought seriously in terms of national halakhic standards. The Founders envisioned a Jewish ethic, not ritual Jewish practice. In Anita Shapira's 2014 book, Ben-Gurion: Father of Modern Israel, she writes: Just before the state was established, he … [Read more...] about Judaism can marry modernity to traditional life
Israel – pushed towards theocracy
Contrasting visions for the State of Israel on matters of religion and state Minister Rabbi Litzman: "Netanyahu either loves the Reform Jews of the Diaspora, or the Haredim of Israel; it's either-or. There are no two ways about it... The Supreme Court is destroying everything good related to religion & state, and... the only way to stand against it is by passing … [Read more...] about Israel – pushed towards theocracy
Rising flames of resistance to the Western Wall agreement
Since last week’s RRFEI bulletin [link], the flames of religious detraction against the Kotel agreement have been rising. This has been covered widely in the Anglo Jewish and international media; below, RRFEI provides you with the original Hebrew pronouncements of: the Chief Rabbinate, the Ashkenazi Council of [Great] Torah Sages [link], the Sephardic Council of [Wise] Torah … [Read more...] about Rising flames of resistance to the Western Wall agreement
Public opinion poll: only 63% of Israelis would abide by civil court rulings over religious edicts
"In a situation when Jewish religious edicts were in conflict with civil court rulings, which would you follow?" Two weeks ago, the RRFEI bulletin [link] included an analysis of the Supreme Court landmark ruling on access for non-Orthodox converts to public mikva'ot, demonstrating that there is a lot more to this than first met the media's eyes. We … [Read more...] about Public opinion poll: only 63% of Israelis would abide by civil court rulings over religious edicts
Pashkvil published in ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods: “The cry of the great rabbis of our time is that the Western Wall is to be desecrated and trampled upon.”
Last week, more than 500 posters were put up in Israel in the neighborhood of Meah Shearim and other ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods that include the following quotes: "We are shamed. Disgrace has covered our faces. Strangers have come into My Temple, Beit Adonai. The cry of the great rabbis of our time is that the Western Wall is to be desecrated and trampled upon." - header of … [Read more...] about Pashkvil published in ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods: “The cry of the great rabbis of our time is that the Western Wall is to be desecrated and trampled upon.”