Criticism of the Israeli Chief Rabbinate is nothing new. It has often been voiced in the RRFEI newsletter and resources, as well as in Hiddush's materials. It covers a myriad of issues, which in recent years include its delegitimization of Modern Orthodox attempts at addressing the Rabbinate's failures in the areas of conversion and kashrut certification. Developments in the … [Read more...] about The Chief Rabbinate vs. The State of Israel and the Jewish People
Chief Rabbinate
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
Israel cannot fulfill her role as the truly Jewish State with the Rabbanut in control.
A few years ago a friend from the congregation called to say that Israel had become a regular topic in her home since her daughter's birthright trip, and the experience reenvigorated her intermarried family's Judaism. I told her how delighted I was, and then asked, "You know I speak about Israel regularly from the pulpit. Why the change now?" She said, "Oh, Mark, as soon as I … [Read more...] about Israel cannot fulfill her role as the truly Jewish State with the Rabbanut in control.
Will Orthodox Israelis’ revolt against the chief rabbinate spur a domino effect?
Snippets from the article by Amanda Borschel-Dan, Times of Israel [Click for the full TOI article] ... Today, the new poster child of religious civil disobedience wears a knitted kippa. And faced with a recalcitrant Knesset ever fearful of disturbing the tenuous status quo, the movement is employing a strategic shift away from legislation and toward the use of other big guns, … [Read more...] about Will Orthodox Israelis’ revolt against the chief rabbinate spur a domino effect?