Monthly Archives: May 2013

Can real religious pluralism take hold in Israel?

In the wake of the recent election, Israel may be transcending its decades-old culture war between religious and secular.

Changes to the status quo?Images from the May 16 demonstration in Jerusalem showed a black sea of anti-Zionist haredi men dressed in traditional suits and head coverings, pouring out their anger against the country’s security forces; they were protesting government policy to pursue plans to draft yeshiva students and cut their public subsidies.

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2017-08-10T17:34:09+10:00May 31st, 2013|Past News|

Israel’s Religious Services Ministry to allow non-Orthodox, state-funded community rabbis

In another move toward recognition of non-Orthodox Jewish movements, the Religious Services Ministry announced Thursday that it plans to abolish the institution of state-appointed neighborhood rabbis. Instead, financial support will be given to Reform women preparecommunities that request it for rabbis of their own choice, including non-Orthodox ones.

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2017-08-10T17:34:47+10:00May 30th, 2013|Past News|

Bennet deputy permits use of ritual baths by all Jews, then recants

Praise for Deputy Minister for Religious Affairs Eli Ben-Dahan by Reform and Conservative movements turns into condemnation after he clarifies that non-Orthodox Jews cannot use state-sponsored mikvehs for purpose of conversion.

DahanEarlier praise for Deputy Minister for Religious Affairs Eli Ben-Dahan by non-Orthodox circles in Israel has rapidly shifted to condemnation, following his partial retraction of an earlier statement that he would permit immersion in state-sponsored mikvehs (Jewish ritual baths) by Jews of all denominations.

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2017-08-10T17:35:03+10:00May 24th, 2013|Past News|
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