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Chief Rabbi Lau publicly anti-Diaspora Judaism

Uri Regev 13/12/2015 22:52

It is difficult to conceive of a greater contradiction than that between Chief Rabbi David Lau’s outrageous statement last week, lashing out at Education Minister Naftali Bennett’s visit to the Conservative Movement’s Schechter School in Manhattan, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s welcome declaration at last month’s General Assembly of the Jewish Federations of North America, where he stated that he would “ensure that all Jews – Reform, Conservative and Orthodox – feel at home in Israel.”

76% of Israeli Jews oppose new conscription law

Uri Regev 26/11/2015 11:34

Israel’s politicians have deliberately chosen to pursue legislation which is not only immoral but also unconstitutional, having been struck out twice already by the Supreme Court. The question, though, is how long it will take the Supreme Court to rule that this most recent amendment is illegal as well. Our politicians may be counting on this very fact: the wheels of justice grind slowly…

Israel's theocratic elements becoming more violent and vocal

Uri Regev 04/11/2015 23:07

The formula "Jewish and democratic" remains not only unsettled, but actually serves as a mine field. Frequent explosions occur, for religious extremists feeling constrained do not hesitate to threaten the institutions of the State to have their demands met.

Chief Rabbinate perverting Sukkot with religious bigotry

Uri Regev 06/10/2015 21:04

Only one year ago, Chief Rabbi Lau self-righteously preached to the Pope, proclaiming Israel's greatness in protection of religious freedom, and now he himself aimed to curtail Christian prayer services in Jerusalem.

Revealing interview with Chief Rabbi David Lau

Uri Regev 08/09/2015 16:29

Chief Rabbi David Lau reminds us once again why the mindset of the Israeli Chief Rabbinate is so misguided and objectionable. His manipulative approach is rejected throughout the Jewish diaspora and nowhere throughout the democratic Jewish communities would such “logic” hold water.

Conversion – Time to go beyond the rhetoric

Uri Regev 13/08/2015 16:26

The leader of the Tzohar rabbinical organization, Rabbi David Stav, and his colleagues threw a shock grenade into the volatile religion/state arena this week.

U.S. Supreme Court ruling, Israel and religious hypocrisy

Uri Regev 08/07/2015 11:26

Even as we celebrate with our brothers and sisters in North America, we are disheartened that only some of the Jewish organizations at the forefront of this battle for equality and defense of marriage have been active or even supportive when it comes to advocating for marriage freedom in Israel.

Sacrificing Israel's economy at the altar of yeshiva studies and politics

Uri Regev 14/06/2015 13:52

The cataclysmic consequences of the irresponsible policies pursued by most Israeli governments when it comes to the dictates of their religious coalition partners have been reinforced by a major study of Israel’s economy through 2059, published recently by Assaf Geva, a senior Finance Ministry economist.

80% of secular Israeli Jews prefer not to get married via Orthodox Rabbinate

Uri Regev 08/05/2015 16:26

The consistent rise in the number of Israeli Jews who would have preferred to marry outside the Orthodox Rabbinate has been monitored in Hiddush’s multi-year polling on freedom of marriage.

Overwhelming majority of voters STILL want Ultra-Orthodox Parties out of coalition

Uri Regev 26/03/2015 16:47

According to a March 24 poll conducted by Rafi Smith Polling Institute for Hiddush – Freedom of Religion in Israel, 62% of Israelis support a government without the ultra-Orthodox parties; 87% prefer that control of the Knesset Finance Committee be given to Kulanu, rather than United Torah Judaism (UTJ).