Ever since Chanukah, there has been a lot of media traffic regarding President Rivlin’s “change of heart” as to non-Orthodox Judaism. Much of it focused on the Chanukah event sponsored by the UJA Federation of NY, which brought together rabbis of different denominations to listen to President Rivlin, following “introductions” by Rabbi Rick Jacobs, head of the Reform Movement, … [Read more...] about Analysis: President Rivlin’s response to Rabbi Jacobs’ & Rabbi Wernick’s demands for religious equality in Israel
Food for thought
The role of Halakha in the modern, secular State of Israel
Over two hundred years ago our spiritual ancestors fought the battles of modernity, bringing Jewish practice into the modern world. Who knew that we would have to repeat the process two centuries later? While all of us, as rabbis, emphasize the importance of halakhah in our lives and the lives of our constituencies, we also recognize the importance, authority and power of … [Read more...] about The role of Halakha in the modern, secular State of Israel
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?