Officers and gentlemen? Religious Zionist flagship academy comes under scrutiny
Illiberal remarks by rabbi-teachers shine spotlight on pre-military institution, whose graduates wield considerable influence in the IDF
Religion and State
The right-wing response to the New Israel Fund
Huge donations, aiding organizations with a distinct agenda, an attempt to change the public discourse in Israel with foreign money: The Tikvah Fund, which promotes a US Republican worldview through research institutions, seminars and media outlets with a clear right-wing ideology, is being accused by Religious Zionism circles of turning a cold shoulder to the disadvantaged, underrepresenting women and deepening the rift among the Jewish people.
‘Israel already has civil marriage under the radar’
In a surprise move, religious-Zionist rabbis and movements are joining the call for the institutionalization of civil marriage in Israel, in a bid to solve the halachic problem of common-law marriage. ‘A normal state can’t afford a situation in which 10 to 20 percent of its citizens are unable to get married,’ says Tzohar Rabbi David Stav.
Religious-Zionist rabbi: LGBT culture is a ‘spreading sickness’
Rabbi Yehoshua Shapira, who heads the hesder yeshiva in Ramat Gan, causes ire after criticizing ‘LGBTstan phenomenon’ in Israel, claiming ‘We’re not homophobes and we’re not extremists’; mayor calls on defense minister to take steps against rabbi; LGBT group plans protest.
MainAll NewsInside Israel’ Respect women’s right to be different’ ‘Respect women’s right to be different’
Why do so few women win the Israel Prize?
RELIGIOUS MALE SOLDIERS REFUSE TO ATTEND COURSE ALONGSIDE WOMEN
The IDF has for the last 18 months been evaluating the possibility of integrating women into combat tank units for border defense duties, as well as opening the tank commanders course to women
NATIONAL RELIGIOUS LEADER: DON’T ENLIST IN ARMY BECAUSE OF MEN AND WOMEN MIXING
Rabbi Shlomo Aviner has warned religious men – but not women – not to enlist in the army for fear that they would serve with women.
TIME TO SET TERM LIMITS FOR MUNICIPAL RABBIS
The status of municipal rabbis has reached rock bottom.
HERZLIYA MAYOR VOWS TO PASS MINIMARKETS BYLAW IN DEFIANCE OF GOV’T
Many cities have bylaws prohibiting commercial activity on Shabbat, although they are loosely enforced, if at all.
Local authorities race to bypass looming Supermarket bill
Holon, Givatayim mayors vow to pass bylaws permitting businesses to remain open on Shabbat as coalition gears up to pass law forbidding operations of weekends; Rishon LeZion city council to vote on similar amendment, Modi’in, Ramat Gan and Herzliya to discuss it.
CONVERSION IN ISRAEL: WHERE ARE WE HEADING?
There are today two different definitions of Judaism applied within the State of Israel according to two governmental agencies, the Interior Ministry and the Chief Rabbinate.
Ferrari display at Western Wall sparks outrage
Touring company executives are given special permission to park in the plaza, angering visitors and the religious services minister
Let’s share Western Wall rather than divide it
Op-ed: It’s time to stop fighting over the Western Wall and create ways to overcome division which cater for all sects. The holy site should be run by a public council including representatives of the relevant government ministries, public delegates representing male and female worshippers, and representatives of the Diaspora Jewry.
The Kotel Unity Bill
The Western Wall has been in the headlines for months now. The prayer arrangements are bogged down in discussions and the ongoing struggle surrounding one of most important sites for the Jewish people is causing it damage. We have a proposal.
FOUR RABBIS ARRESTED FOR FRAUD IN CITY CHIEF RABBI APPLICATIONS
If the allegations turn out to be true, it will not the first time that Chief Rabbinate qualifications have been fraudulently obtained for the purposes of career advancement.
The State Does Not Plan To Expand Shabbos Bus Transportation
Responding to the High Court of Justice on the matter, the state on Tuesday, 14 Elul, indicated it does not plan to expand Shabbos bus service more than what exists today – explaining the current status quo is acceptable
RELIGIOUS SCHOOL GRADS EARN 18% LESS THAN SECULAR PEERS
New research has shown that graduates of the state religious school system earn 18% less on average than their peers from the state’s secular school system.
The research was conducted for the Ne’emanei Torah Va’Avodah (NTA) religious-Zionist lobbying group, which said that despite the discrepancies in income, some of the findings of the study indicated healthy societal trends within the sector.
RELIGIOUS SCHOOL GRADS EARN 18% LESS THAN SECULAR PEERS
NGO says higher level of employment in public sector is responsible for lower incomes
The Western Wall — the family home
I tell all my Israeli-born friends: Imagine that your close family becomes scattered all over the world, with each person moving to a different country and meeting a new culture.
Chief Rabbinate: We have no ‘blacklists’ of US rabbis
Director-General of Chief Rabbinate tells Knesset committee ‘blacklist’ of Diaspora rabbis not an official Rabbinate document.
