Monday, October 11, 2010

Religion and State in Israel - October 11, 2010 (Section 1)

Religion and State in Israel

October 11, 2010 (Section 1) (see also Section 2)

If you are reading in email or RSS feed, please click here to read ONLINE

Editor – Joel Katz

Religion and State in Israel is not affiliated with any organization or movement.


Women of the Wall Demands Answers as to the Legality of the New Western Wall Regulation

http://womenofthewall.org.il/ October 10, 2010

Rabbi Rabinowitz responded in a letter on October 6, 2010 saying that his new regulation stands to reason, because there is no reason to bring Torahs into the Western Wall, even for a Bar Mitzvah, since there are 100 Torahs there, which provide an ample response to the needs of all worshipers at any time.

In response to Rabinowitz’s letter, Women of the Wall Chair Anat Hoffman said, "The 100 Torahs in the men's section of the Western Wall might indeed be adequate for public use, but it is clear he does not consider women as part of the public since women have no access to any of the Torahs in the men's section.”


Kotel Plaza renovations plan gets initial okay

By Melanie Lidman www.jpost.com October 5, 2010

A new plan to completely renovate the Western Wall Plaza was approved by the Jerusalem Local Planning and Building Committee on Monday, paving the way for the most drastic changes to the layout of the area since the plaza was created after the Six Day War.

“It looks like the architecture is going to now set in stone, so to speak, the perspective that women are spectators and men are worshipers,” said Anat Hoffman, director of Women of the Wall, a monthly women’s prayer group that advocates for equal treatment for women at the site.

“There are partitions that are suggested where women can observe men, but men can’t observe women,” she said.


J'lem considers tunnel entry to Western Wall Plaza

By Nir Hasson www.haaretz.com October 4, 2010

The plan - prepared by the Western Wall Foundation in conjunction with the Jerusalem municipality and Jerusalem Development Authority - includes the construction of a new underground passageway that would become the main entryway to the plaza.


Jerusalem's Old City walls to be broken for first time in 112 years

By Nir Hasson www.haaretz.com October 6, 2010

A wide-ranging plan for renovation of parts of the Old City of Jerusalem envisions a new gate being broken in the city walls for the first time in 112 years.

The new gate will be an entry to a tunnel that would be hewn through the rock under all the layers of the city, beginning between Zion Gate and Dung Gate, leading to a four-story parking garage under the current parking lot not far from the Western Wall.


Q&A: Tzipi Livni

By David Samuels www.tabletmag.com October 8, 2010

Q: Many American Jews were shocked when the Rotem bill got wide publicity here. They felt that the State of Israel asks them to support the state and consider themselves partners in a shared vision, and here the State of Israel is saying that we, our children, our marriages, our rabbis, our customs, are not really Jewish.

Tzipi Livni:

I think that it’s a combination of a problematic system of election with very weak politicians.

The problem is that a party like Likud, which is not ultra-Orthodox, gives the monopoly on the substance of the words “Jewish State” to the ultra-Orthodox. And this is something that affects not only our relationship with world Jewry but also my life in Israel.

Together we need to change this bill. Kadima voted against it, and we hope the coalition will change it as well.


Converts demand hearing on conversion nullifications

By Jonah Mandel www.jpost.com October 4, 2010

The validity of a recent rabbinic court ruling that undid the nullification of conversions and restored the Jewish status to two converts is being challenged by none other than the two women who had petitioned the High Court of Justice against the rabbinate, after two rabbis deemed their conversions via the State Conversion Authority under Rabbi Haim Druckman invalid.


A destructive regression

By Claude Kandiyoti Opinion www.haaretz.com October 8, 2010

Claude Kandiyoti is a Belgian businessman, and a contributor to the Belgian Jewish monthly Contact J.

A process of historical regression is under way in Judaism today, by which the extremists have taken control from the more moderate majority.

And so, in Israel, and not only there, a minority of self-proclaimed guardians of the Jewish people's purity is securing a monopoly over Jewish identity. And they are doing so with the complicity of the Knesset.


The silence of the rabbis

By Yizhar Hess Opinion www.jpost.com October 6, 2010

The writer is executive director and CEO of the Masorti Movement in Israel.

The silence of the chief rabbis on this issue must provide the opening for an historic alliance between the moderates of Israeli Orthodoxy and the non- Orthodox streams, both Reform and Masorti-Conservative.

The Chief Rabbinate must be privatized; it cannot be repaired or revived.


Kosher Hip-Hop - Can Rap Music be Converted to Judaism?

By Yoni Kempinksi and Ben Bresky www.israelnationalnews.com October 4, 2010

Click here for VIDEO interview with Yitz "Y-Love" Jordan

Jewish hip-hop artist Yitz "Y-Love" Jordan recently returned to Israel for a series of concerts over the Sukkot holiday. He spoke with Israel National News about his new projects, his journey to Judaism and why hip-hop can invigorate Jewish youth.

Jordan praises Israel and is considering a permanent move to the country. "Here in Jerusalem I am way bigger than in New York, with all the yeshiva kids. They want to listen to hip-hop in general, but I'm the only hip-hop that the rabbis will let them listen to," states the musician.


Ministry is not properly monitoring sex-segregated buses, charge activists

By Raphael Ahren www.haaretz.com October 8, 2010


The Transportation Ministry is not following through on its commitment to honestly assess whether gender separation in Haredi bus lines is truly voluntary, activists trying to abolish the so-called "Mehadrin" buses assert.

By making it highly inconvenient for passengers to submit anonymous complaints and insufficiently informing passengers about their rights, the ministry flouted an order by High Court of Justice, they charge. The ministry responded that it has provided several ways for people to submit complaints.


Reform Jews: Add our synagogues to religions ministry website

www.haaretz.com October 4, 2010

The Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism on Monday demanded that the Religious Services Ministry add the names of Reform synagogues to its official website, Israel Radio reported.

In a letter to Religious Services Minister Yaakov Margi, the movement wrote that the refusal to list the synagogues would be a violation of a court order and that failure do so would be considered unlawful discrimination.


Is Eilat turning religious?

By Ezra Arbeli www.ynetnews.com October 9, 2010

Eilat, Israel's southern resort city and a place practically synonymous with secularism seems to be rediscovering faith.

The city's synagogues are growing in numbers, more and more of its councilmen are religious and many hotels are observing kosher laws with newfound devotion.

Eilat's City Council numbers 17, five of whom are religious. Religion's growing power is evident mostly in the fact that two key positions in the council – deputy mayor and head of the emergency services – are held by Shas councilmen.


Livni Now Pressing Israel-Diaspora Gap Issue

By Gary Rosenblatt Opinion www.thejewishweek.com October 6, 2010

The writer is The Jewish Week Editor and Publisher

[Tzipi Livni] pointedly stayed away from political discussion during our 90-minute session, though she had made clear back home that she hoped to engage diaspora Jewryin addressing an Israeli governmental system that many believe is held hostage by political minorities, particularly from the religious right.

The implicit critique here is that the current Likud-led coalition is beholden to haredi Orthodox parties, creating tensions over conversion legislation and other areas of personal status that could further alienate liberal Jews in America and throughout the diaspora.


Demand for Taglit-Birthright trips on the rise

www.ynetnews.com October 10, 2010

Demand among young Jews in the Diaspora to participate in Taglit-Birthright Israel educational tours of Israel rose by 11% compared to last year, according to the most recent enrollment data of candidates in North America.

During its latest registration period in September, Taglit-Birthright Israel received 23,623 eligible applications for 9,576 places on its winter trips, which will take place between December this year and March 2011.


Israel studies increasingly popular in US

By Yitzhak Benhorin www.ynetnews.com October 10, 2010

"There are some 1,300 courses on the State of Israel today in US universities. That is three times as many as there were three years ago. This is a revolution," says Prof. Ilan Troen from Brandeis University.

The Schusterman Center for Israel Studies at Brandeis University, the largest in the US and apparently in the world, has a large part to play in the current revolution. It quickly became evident that there was a lack of lecturers on Israel, a problem Troen took upon himself to solve.


Presenting: Abramowitz & Silverman!

www.peoplehood.org October 7, 2010

Yediot Aharonot Simchat Torah edition

Mom’s a rabbi; Aunt Sarah’s a comedian • Dad was nominated for both the Pulitzer and Nobel Prizes; but closest to his heart is his solar energy project in the Arava • They’re the parents of five — two adopted from Ethiopia — and they live in Jerusalem • Meet the most optimistic, Zionist family of them all


Jewish leaders to focus on future of peace process at Jerusalem conference

By Natasha Mozgovaya www.haaretz.com October 10, 2010

The leaders of Jewish organizations from around the world and important Jewish figures will meet in Jerusalem for a two-day conference on October 20 in a meet being organized by the Jewish People Policy Planning Institute. It is to deliberate the impact on the Jewish people of the peace process and possible concessions to be expected.


Youth, 14, petitions High Court to take rabbinate exam

By Raanan Ben-Zur www.ynetnews.com October 10, 2010

A 14-year old from Netanya has petitioned the High Court against the Chief Rabbinate's decision to prevent him from taking the rabbinate's exam because of his age. The youth claims that Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar acted "without authority."

See also: 14-year-old takes Rabbinate exams

By Kobi Nahshoni www.ynetnews.com July 18, 2010


New design, same old problems - Museum of Tolerance in Jerusalem

By Noam Dvir www.haaretz.com October 7, 2010

The good news is that the new plans for the Mamilla site look much more reasonable than Gehry's.

First of all, they do not have pretensions of creating a another Bilbao museum (after Gehry's successful Spanish effort) in the center of Jerusalem, or competing with historic monuments nearby. The architectural language is contemporary and light, with a user-friendly vibe.

At the same time, the problematic nature of the site remains.


Hallelujah! Evangelicals hold gospel gathering in Israel

By Ron Friedman www.jpost.com October 7, 2010

A group of 1,400 Evangelical Christian from South Africa gathered in Israel this week for three evenings of worship and devotion in Jerusalem’s Old City and a week of touring the country. The Christian pilgrims, who arrived in 34 groups on a series of flights earlier this week, plan to express their love and support for the State of Israel during their countrywide visit.


God and grapes

By Chaim Levinson www.haaretz.com October 8, 2010

A small group of North Americans has been making pilgrimages to the vineyards of West Bank settlements, with the aim of helping the Chosen People fulfill the prophecies of old.


Christian pro-Israel group opens headquarters in east J'lem

Original Jpost.com article not available October 4, 2010

The International Israel Allies Caucus Foundation (IIACF), an umbrella organization for an international network of pro-Israel lobbies in governments around the world, opened its headquarters in east Jerusalem on Wednesday with a ceremony attended by 40 supporters of Christian-Israel partnerships.

The building, located across from the American consulate on Nablus Road, will act as a headquarters for both IIACF and the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus, headed by former MK Rabbi Benny Elon (National Union).


Rabbi Riskin engages Christians in dialogue about our “United Mission”

http://kavvanah.wordpress.com October 5, 2010

If we accept internal Jewish pluralism, then we should accept the pluralism between religions. Here we have a commitment to knowing about Christianity and then thinking about actual parallel ideas.


Religion and State in Israel

October 11, 2010 (Section 1) (see also Section 2)

Editor – Joel Katz

Religion and State in Israel is not affiliated with any organization or movement.

All rights reserved.

Religion and State in Israel - October 11, 2010 (Section 2)

Religion and State in Israel

October 11, 2010 (Section 2) (see also Section 1)

If you are reading in email or RSS feed, please click here to read ONLINE

Editor – Joel Katz

Religion and State in Israel is not affiliated with any organization or movement.


Treasury vs. the IDF in battle over ultra-Orthodox

By Nehemia Shtrasler Opinion www.haaretz.com October 7, 2010

The solution is to draft Haredi teens to ordinary army service just like other Israelis.

It is unthinkable that they be allowed to serve only where there is no chance of injury, or death, in battle. That would be absolutely unfair.

If that can't be done, then at least Galant's suggestion is better than Steinitz's. If we go Galant's route, the Haredim would both develop professions and serve in the army, too, which is still the great melting pot of Israeli society.


Religion and the IDF

By Aryeh Tepper www.jidaily.com October 4, 2010

Profound changes have been occurring in the officer ranks of the Israel Defense Force, and not everybody is happy about them; some, in fact, are downright alarmed.

...Are "the religious" taking over, as some have direly predicted? Participants at a recent conference at the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies were all agreed that the fears are unfounded: the Israeli army is not about to become the long arm of rabbinic law.


Hareidi IDF Unit Celebrates Next Ten Years

By Malkah Fleisher www.israelnationalnews.com October 10, 2010

This refusal to serve in the army has not only prevented many Hareidi men from being accepted or eligible for work, but is also a sore point among secular Israelis, who frequently chastise the Hareidi public for not taking equal responsibility for the welfare of the country and citizenry.

Yet with the advent of Nahal Hareidi, men who are interested in doing army service – and receiving educational and vocational training – can now take part under strict religious conditions. Religious Zionists account for 30% of the soldiers, but the remaining 70% come from Hareidi homes.


Nahal Haredi: a positive revolution In Israeli society

By Rabbi Hershel Billet Opinion http://thejewishstar.wordpress.com October 8, 2010

People should realize that Nahal Haredi plays a vital role in Israel, bridging a major social gap. Many people see the haredi sector as only “takers” who do not share their most precious possessions, their sons, with the Jewish state that supports them and protects them.

Nahal Haredi partially fills that void and demonstrates that there are haredim who fight for Israel. The graduates of the Nahal Haredi will be gainfully employed, earn a living, and contribute to the Israeli economy.


Letter to settlers: Don’t enlist because of Naveh appointment

By Yair Altman www.ynetnews.com October 7, 2010

A letter being distributed throughout the West Bank is calling on Jewish settlers not to enlist in the IDF due to the appointment of Maj.-Gen. (ret) Yair Naveh as next deputy army chief.

[T]he letter, which is signed by Rabbi Yossi Dayan, whose son Hananel refused to shake hands with former Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz a few years ago.


50 Protest Gender Discrimination in Jerusalem

By Sammy Hudes www.shalomlife.com October 4, 2010

“Women were created in the image of God as well,” said one of the organizers, Rona Orovano on a loudspeaker. Her shirt read the words, “This is what a Jerusalem feminist looks like.” Signs in the crowd read statements such as “Jerusalem is not Tehran, the silent majority is awakening.”

Despite the criticisms, Orovano maintained her strong message. “We came here to protest against the deterioration in the status of women in Jerusalem,” she said.

“Things are getting worse for women every day. There is separation on buses. Pictures of women are removed from advertisements. Women being barred from streets, and sidewalks being separated was a red line we had to protest against.”


Fanning the flames

By Tamar Rotem www.haaretz.com October 8, 2010

This year the Sikarikim threatened not to allow women and "marginal" youth to attend the celebrations at all (the High Court of Justice prohibited the separation and the police removed the barrier ). However, among the Hasidim, they yielded, preferring to cancel the street events.

"There are things against which it is still illegitimate to fight, but people have begun to lift their heads up, without a doubt," says an observer close to the moderate factions. "Another wretched Shoeva celebration like this, and we will have lost."


Battle of the Sects

By Kamoun Ben-Shimon www.jpost.com October 9, 2010

Adds Anat Hoffman, a former city councilwoman and current director of the Center for Religious Pluralism, which is allied with the Reform Movement,

“Why do these issues always focus on the attempt to police women’s bodies? Because women are a weak link in society, and so a woman’s body is an easy target for fanatics, all over the world.”

Even some of the most fervently anti-Zionist leaders now tell The Report – although on condition of anonymity – that only intervention by the reviled state can restore a modicum of calm to the haredi neighborhoods.

“The police have to get involved. They have to arrest these people, to put an end to this madness,” says Eliezer.


Going too extreme

By Peggy Cidor www.jpost.com October 8, 2010

For the first time, haredi leaders considered “moderate” have collaborated with the police, while at the same time there are increasing indications that many of the haredi residents themselves are fed up with the extremists’ laws. According to inside observers, young couples are leaving the neighborhood slowly and quietly, and not just because they cannot afford the expensive housing.

As for [Rachel] Azaria, the fact that she and her friends, many of them religious women and men, have managed to return the public space of the haredi neighborhood to Israeli society is a giant step forward. “Mea She’arim is part of Israel again – that’s what’s important,” she concludes.


Stretching the rubber band

By Rabbi Steven Pruzansky Opinion www.jewishpress.com September 28, 2010

Rabbi Steven Pruzansky is spiritual leader of Congregation Bnai Yeshurun in Teaneck, New Jersey

The trends started several years back but became exacerbated in the recent past.

There are Israeli communities these days with restaurants that have no public seating, lest it lead, I suppose, to mixed eating. It is a terrible infringement on normal family life, part of which involves families eating out together or husbands and wives taking time together.

The Mehadrin bus lines that have become popular furthered this trend, with separate seating for women in the back (bad symbolism, there).


Haredim heading to college

By Hagai Einav www.ynetnews.com October 7, 2010

Much of the criticism leveled at Israel's haredi community pertains to the issue of employment. Yet at this time, more haredim choose to shatter the stigma and not only focus on Torah studies, as they increasingly seek to join the workforce.

...However, one of the difficult problems faced by haredi students is the fact that as opposed to their secular counterparts, they did not study the "core subjects" at an early age, topped by English and math.


Thousands expected at Bnei Brak funeral for Torah scrolls

By Yair Ettinger www.haaretz.com October 7, 2010

[T]he funeral, expected to be attended by thousands, including the most important of rabbis, is not for the mortal remains of mere men, but for 11 Torah scrolls damaged in a fire in the synagogue of the Vyzhnytsia hassidim, on the first day of Sukkot.

The scrolls will be buried in special urns of clay, amid special prayers and speeches by the rabbis.


Rabbis’ debate threatens hike in kosher hotdog prices

By Jonah Mandel www.jpost.com October 8, 2010

A passionate internal debate among some of the Chief Rabbinate’s most senior members has the potential to cause a dramatic hike in the price of kosher hotdogs in Israel.

Safed Chief Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu, who is also part of the 16-member Chief Rabbinate Council, stirred up a maelstrom when, during his weekly Monday night lesson, he told students that some of the major hotdog producers in Israel were using non-kosher ingredients, including pig skin, for their products’ casings, which are sold under seemingly adequate kashrut supervision.


Israelis launch kosher boycott

By Nathan Jeffay www.thejc.com October 7, 2010

A boycott campaign is mounting against Israel's most prestigious kosher certification.

With dozens of different kashrut seals available in Israel, hechsher snobbery is rife. Not everyone accepts every supervision label and some engender more loyalty than others.

However, virtually everybody regards "Badatz Eida Hacharedit" stamp as the gold standard, and those conscious of kashrut widely strive to buy most of their products with a Badatz seal.


Eden Teva Market goes kosher

By Navit Zomer www.ynetnews.com October 6, 2010

The organic and health food supermarket chain Eden Teva Market, controlled by Alon Holdings Blue Square-Israel and Dudi Weisman is for the first time turning into a kosher supermarket under the supervision of the Chief Rabbinate on Sunday.


Ministry Supervision Over Mashgichim?

www.jerusalemkoshernews.com October 10, 2010

Click here for original Hebrew article

The Chief Rabbinate of Israel last week withdrew objections to the establishment of a new agency under the auspices of the Ministry of Religious Affairs. Such an agency would oversee the activities of the nation’s mashgichim operating under the umbrella of the local rabbinates nationwide.

[Opinion] The bill has to pass the ministerial legislative committee today, and then the Knesset, where it must pass three votes to be passed into law. Then, it must be implemented and then one must hope the tender for the manpower agencies and selection of competent mashgichim is not tainted by payoffs and foul play, as is the case in many other state-run operations.


Meitav to buy Haredi investment fund operations

By Noam Bar www.haaretz.com October 7, 2010

The Meitav investment firm will be acquiring all of the operations of Hilat Shoham, an investment company with NIS 750 million in assets under its management.

Other than Gaon, the remaining interests in Hilat Shoham are held by members of the ultra-Orthodox community.


Petition: Divulge names of neglectful mohels

By Kobi Nahshoni www.ynetnews.com October 10, 2010

The Movement for Freedom of Information has demanded that Israel's Chief Rabbinate divulge the names of mohels (ritual circumcisers) who were found to have performed botched circumcisions.

The movement claims that the Rabbinate is violating a High Court of Justice order by keeping the names secret, and petitioned the court to find the violators in contempt and subject them to the resulting fines and sentences.


Mohel who performed non-halachic circumcisions suspended

By Kobi Nahshoni www.ynetnews.com October 6, 2010

An inter-ministerial committee for issues pertaining to mohels decided to suspend the mohel suspected of performing circumcisions which do not meet halachic requirements.


Mohel suspended by Rabbinate for shoddy work

www.jpost.com October 6, 2010

Although the mohel was suspended, the Rabbinate ruled that all of the previous circumcisions performed by the mohel are considered kosher.


Authorities suspect Haifa-area mohel of unkosher circumcisions

By Yair Ettinger www.haaretz.com October 4, 2010

The issue was made public two weeks ago, when the ultra-Orthodox website Ladaat.net posted an item about a number of complaints lodged by parents against the mohel, who the site said is affiliated with the Chabad Lubavitch movement.

Weisberg said he has examined several babies and toddlers whom the mohel circumcised over the past few years, and in some cases found signs of "cosmetic flaws" in the penis.


Haaretz Cartoon by Eran Wolkowski - October 6, 2010 "Chief Scientist"

Chief scientist who questioned evolution theory fired

By Tomer Velmer www.ynetnews.com October 4, 2010

The Education Ministry's chief scientist, Dr. Gavriel Avital, was dismissed on Monday following a scandal-filled trial period of less than a year.

Sources familiar with the affair said Avital was fired over past statements he had made, in which he questioned evolution and the global warming theory.


Imposing ignorance

By Ezra Resnick Opinion http://norighttobelieve.wordpress.com October 8, 2010

[Yitzhak Levy's, a former education minister of Israel] attempt to frame the issue as “trying to impose Western culture on Jewish culture” is especially ludicrous.

Like it or not, English is essential nowadays for virtually all knowledge-based enterprises — the majority of scientific papers are published in English, and it is the most popular language on the World Wide Web, to name just two examples. And how exactly ismathematics “Western?”


Rabbis visit Beit Fajar mosque; condemn attack

By Jonah Mandel www.jpost.com October 5, 2010

Six of Gush Etzion’s most prominent rabbis visited the torched mosque in Beit Fajar on Tuesday to apologize for the destruction allegedly caused by Jewish vandals, and to deliver new Korans to the local imam in place of those burned in Monday’s pre-dawn arson attack on the West Bank house of worship.


Rabbis visit torched mosque, condemn attack

By Ali Waked www.ynetnews.com October 5, 2010

The delegation included Rabbi Lichtenstein from Gush Etzion, Rabbi Menachem Fruman from Tekoa, Efrat's Chief Rabbi Shlomi Rifkin and Rabbi Shlomo Brin from Yeshivat Har Etzion.


Jewish settlers replace Korans burnt in West Bank

By Joseph Nasr www.reuters.com October 5, 2010

"This visit is to say that although there are people who oppose peace, he who opposes peace is opposed to God," said Rabbi Menachem Froman, a well-known peace activist and one of a handful of settlers who went to Beit Fajjar to show solidarity with their Muslim neighbors.


The Challenge of Halakhic Innovation by Rabbi Benjamin Lau

Meorot - A Forum of Modern Orthodox Discourse Tishrei 5771 2010

This article originally appeared in Hebrew in Akdamot 23, Elul 5769 (2009)

This article defines a vision of halakhah and the rabbinate that identifies with modern life and works to advance religious life within Israel and Western societies.

It argues for a halakhah and a rabbinate that is sensitive to Kelal Yisrael, Zionism and Israeli democracy, the interests of women, the handicapped and that can speak to all Jews. It wishes to return Torah its original domain— every aspect of human life.

The author rejects the superiority of halakhic stringency and advocates the use of hiddush to confront the realities of modern life, seeing the former as traditional halakhic methodology.


Institute regulates Halacha study yearly cycle

By Jonah Mandel www.jpost.com October 4, 2010

Tzurba Merabanan, the high institute for Halacha instruction, on Sunday aligned the ranks of the thousands following its curriculum for a five-year study cycle of pertinent daily Halacha issues.


For the love of God (and country)

By Akiva Novick www.ynetnews.com October 4, 2010

A new halachic study ruled that seducing an enemy agent for the sake of national security is an important mitzvah, Yedioth Ahronoth reported Monday.

The ruling, made by Rabbi Ari Shvat, was included in the latest issue of "Tehumin," an annual collection of articles about Jewish law and modernity, which is published by the Zomet Institute, a non-profit organization dedicated to seamlessly merging Halachic Judaism with modern Israeli life.


Rabbi declares sleeping with the enemy kosher

By Lahav Harkov www.jpost.com October 6, 2010

Tzomet's director, Rabbi Yisrael Rosen, praised the study, but told DPA that "women employees of the Mossad are probably not going to come consult with a rabbi" before their missions.

The Tzomet Institute is a non-profit research institute dedicated to merging halacha with modern life.


Prominent Golan Heights rabbi accused of attempting to kill man he says raped his daughter

By Eli Ashkenazi www.haaretz.com October 4, 2010

A prominent Golan Heights rabbi and his son-in-law were arrested yesterday on suspicion of trying to kill a man they say raped the rabbi's daughter.

The rabbi and both family members involved in the fight were also carrying clubs, and two of the men had their faces covered, police said.


Want a child? Replace your wig

By Ari Galahar www.ynetnews.com October 6, 2010

An ultra-Orthodox haredi couple which could not bear children for almost three years was offered a surprising solution recently. The two consulted Rabbi Daniel Zar, who promised them that if the woman removed her wig and replaced her head covering, she would be able to conceive a child within two months.


Aish HaTorah Starting an Eco-Fellowship Program about Jewish Responsible Living

By Karen Chernick www.greenprophet.com October 5, 2010

Aish HaTorah is expanding its programming on Judaism and the environment by attempting to create an eco-fellowship that will focus on “the Jewish Biblical and traditional requirements for compassionate and sustainable living and how that applies to modern times.”

Click here for VIDEO


Israeli Campus Paradox: More Jews, Less Shabbat

By R. C. Berman http://lubavitch.com October 8, 2010

Chabad on Campus representatives at TAU, Rabbi (Shay) Yeshayahu and Chava Gerlitzky, have been welcoming students to their Shabbat table every week for three years now. Many of their guests are American students studying at TAU hoping to recreate their Chabad-on-Campus experiences while in Israel.

Jeremy Dery, president of Chabad at TAU’s overseas student activities, posts ads about Chabad’s Shabbat dinners on three bulletin boards in the Carter Building, the home base for overseas students, and at Einstein dorms, where nearly all overseas students live.


Rabbi: Don't Induce Childbirth on 10/10/10

www.israelnationalnews.com October 10, 2010

Rabbi Menachem Burstein, head of the Pu'ah Institute that works with Jewish couples with fertility problems, has issued a Halachic opinion that women close to their due dates should not try to advance their child's delivery to Sunday – October 10, 2010.


Police arrest rabbis who urge followers not to recognize courts

By Yair Altman www.ynetnews.com October 4, 2010

The central unit of Jerusalem Police arrested Rabbi Yisrael Ariel and Rabbi Doc Stein, both members of the organization 'Sanhedrin,' that called upon settlers and right-wing activists not to recognize the authority of the court system in Israel.


Ethiopian Community kicks off Sigd Festival

By Greer Fay Cashman www.jpost.com October 10, 2010

Just as the Mimouna festival of Moroccan Jews and the Saharane festival of the Jews of Kurdistan have become national festivals in Israel, so the Sigd Festival which tells of the history of Ethiopian Jewry, is also entering the Israeli psyche as part of the national heritage.


Religion and State in Israel

October 11, 2010 (Section 2) (see also Section 1)

Editor – Joel Katz

Religion and State in Israel is not affiliated with any organization or movement.

All rights reserved.