The Reform synagogue in Ra'anana was vandalized last night [LINK] in conjunction with the Western Wall controversy. Death threats were conveyed by placing a knife branded with a reference to Maimonides' Laws of Killing, Chapter 4:10 - "If there is the possibility, one should kill them with a sword in public view. If that is not possible, one should develop a plan so that one … [Read more...] about Israeli Reform synagogue vandalized, death threats conveyed with a knife
Religious discrimination
‘Jerusalem’s destruction – past events and current concerns’ by Rabbi Uri Regev, Head of Hiddush
Originally published in the Jerusalem Post and the Jewish Daily Forward This week we marked Tisha b’Av (the ninth of Av), a date commemorating a series of horrific events throughout Jewish history. According to rabbinic tradition, these spanned from the destruction of the first Temple in Jerusalem in 587 BCE to the 1942 liquidation of the Warsaw Ghetto. While one … [Read more...] about ‘Jerusalem’s destruction – past events and current concerns’ by Rabbi Uri Regev, Head of Hiddush
‘A worthy tribe’ by Yizhar Hess, Executive Director and CEO of the Conservative Judaism movement in Israel
Originally posted in the Jerusalem Post HERE Leading Israelis, quite properly, have been paying increased attention to recognizing the importance of Mizrahi (Sephardi) music, poetry, culture and overall contributions to Jewish life. Both the Education Ministry and Culture and Sports Ministry have created new committees and prizes to stress the significances of Mizrahi … [Read more...] about ‘A worthy tribe’ by Yizhar Hess, Executive Director and CEO of the Conservative Judaism movement in Israel
The Prime Minister must respect his agreements – By Rabbi Andrew Sacks, Executive Director, Rabbinical Assembly in Israel
When Rav Amar, the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem, pushed his way into the egalitarian section by Robinson's Arch, he also spoke out about Conservative and Reform Jews being 'Reshai’im' (evil ones). Yet the Talmud defines a Rasha as one who says 'what is mine is mine and what is yours is mine.' Apparently this is the thinking of Rav Amar with regard to the Kotel. On January 31, 2016, … [Read more...] about The Prime Minister must respect his agreements – By Rabbi Andrew Sacks, Executive Director, Rabbinical Assembly in Israel
What is Yours is Also Mine by Rabbi Pamela Frydman, RRFEI Chair
Click HERE for the RRFEI bulletin: 'Reform and Conservative Movements write the Police Inspector General' The government spent three years negotiating a Kotel compromise that includes building a dignified worship space at the Kotel (Western Wall) for mixed gender egalitarian prayer. Jerusalem’s Sephardi Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar appears to view the … [Read more...] about What is Yours is Also Mine by Rabbi Pamela Frydman, RRFEI Chair