https://hiddush.org/subchannel-80-0-Shas.aspx This is an RSS update from channel Shas on Hiddush website Thu, 16 Apr 2026 09:03:17 GMT He-il https://hiddush.org/article-23516-0-“Reform”_as_a_generic_invective.aspx https://hiddush.org/article-23516-0-“Reform”_as_a_generic_invective.aspx Thu, 30 Sep 2021 21:45:00 GMT On the eve of Sukkot, the cover of the Shas party’s newspaper “HaDerekh” featured an interview with the party leader, Rabbi Aryeh Deri as the lead article. The first item, in order and in importance, they chose to highlight was the delegitimization of the "Reformers" (i.e. Reform Jews). https://hiddush.org/article-23467-0-Legal_Groups_Protest_Israels_Interior_Minister.aspx https://hiddush.org/article-23467-0-Legal_Groups_Protest_Israels_Interior_Minister.aspx Thu, 21 Jan 2021 21:44:00 GMT J-PLAN, the Jewish Pluralism Legal Action Network, a network of Jewish lawyers in North America, working in partnership with Hiddush – Freedom of Religion for Israel, and the American Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists [AAJLJ] sent a letter on January 18, 2021,to Israel’s Interior Minister, Attorney General, and other officials, to protest the Ministry of the Interior’s recent decision to suspend registration of civil marriages of Israeli citizens lawfully married under the laws of "Utah County in the State of Utah. https://hiddush.org/article-23464-0-Hiddush_on_the_cutting_edge_of_Marriage_Freedom.aspx https://hiddush.org/article-23464-0-Hiddush_on_the_cutting_edge_of_Marriage_Freedom.aspx Thu, 07 Jan 2021 10:00:00 GMT Hiddush - for Freedom of Religion and Equality has warned Minister Deri that if he does not cancel his suspension of legal marriage registrations held through video conferencing under Utah state law, Hiddush will be forced to petition the Supreme Court. https://hiddush.org/article-23436-0-Minister_Yankelevich_what_about_religious_freedom_for_Israelis.aspx https://hiddush.org/article-23436-0-Minister_Yankelevich_what_about_religious_freedom_for_Israelis.aspx Thu, 27 Aug 2020 09:53:00 GMT Speaking about the growing efforts at restricting kosher slaughter and circumcision rites in Europe, as well as litigation initiated at the European Court of Justice in Luxemburg, brought by Orthodox leadership to challenge the legality of such restrictive legislation, Minister Yankelevich spoke last week at the Knesset. https://hiddush.org/article-23417-0-The_“Who_is_a_Jew”_War_is_Back.aspx https://hiddush.org/article-23417-0-The_“Who_is_a_Jew”_War_is_Back.aspx Thu, 18 Jun 2020 18:58:00 GMT Join us for two upcoming webinars on the “Who is a Jew” saga, which is returning to center political and legal stage. https://hiddush.org/article-23411-0-Shas_CEO_cannot_simultaneously_be_CEO_of_statefunded_educational_network.aspx https://hiddush.org/article-23411-0-Shas_CEO_cannot_simultaneously_be_CEO_of_statefunded_educational_network.aspx Thu, 11 Jun 2020 08:42:00 GMT Responding to Hiddush’s demand – Israel’s Attorney General instructs Shas that the party’s CEO, Haim Biton, cannot simultaneously direct the State-funded vast educational network it founded https://hiddush.org/article-23361-0-Pushing_the_wheels_of_justice_to_keep_on_turning.aspx https://hiddush.org/article-23361-0-Pushing_the_wheels_of_justice_to_keep_on_turning.aspx Thu, 28 Nov 2019 14:08:00 GMT As the legal scene in Israel heats up, mostly characterized by uncertainty as to what's next, and when it will finally settle down, Hiddush continues to actively pursue its legal advocacy. While encouraged by indications regarding both public opinion and commitments to religious freedom and equality voiced by some by key parties, legal advocacy remains a necessary and effective avenue to advance Hiddush's mission, even as the wheels of justice turn ever so slowly. https://hiddush.org/article-23347-0-Not_antisemitism_rather_democracy_defending_itself.aspx https://hiddush.org/article-23347-0-Not_antisemitism_rather_democracy_defending_itself.aspx Thu, 10 Oct 2019 21:00:00 GMT Reading through the ultra-Orthodox parties’ official media outlets in recent days brings up yet another crucial consideration, which justifies the demand that these parties be kept out or neutralized in the next government coalition, as the majority of the public clearly wishes. https://hiddush.org/article-23335-0-Renewed_Haredi_assault_on_the_Supreme_Court.aspx https://hiddush.org/article-23335-0-Renewed_Haredi_assault_on_the_Supreme_Court.aspx Thu, 01 Aug 2019 20:14:00 GMT This week temporarily halted the removal-from-office procedure, which Interior Minister Deri (Leader of Shas) initiated against Mayor of Tiberias Ron Kobi. Kobi has become a symbol and lightning rod, as a crusader against religious coercion. https://hiddush.org/article-22148-0-Corruption_in_the_name_of_God.aspx https://hiddush.org/article-22148-0-Corruption_in_the_name_of_God.aspx Thu, 16 Nov 2017 22:18:00 GMT In the last couple days, a new chapter was added to the never ending saga of Israeli religious leaders who view the law as merely a suggestion. Whether for personal benefit or political opportunism, they do not hesitate to deviate from law and common norms. https://hiddush.org/article-17132-0-Does_Shas_leader_Aryeh_Deri_promote_religious_freedom.aspx https://hiddush.org/article-17132-0-Does_Shas_leader_Aryeh_Deri_promote_religious_freedom.aspx Wed, 26 Jul 2017 21:12:00 GMT This week Shas leader and Interior Minister Rabbi Aryeh Deri turned to Israel's Attorney General, demanding that the mandatory guidelines regarding the exclusion of women in the public sphere be suspended and reconsidered. https://hiddush.org/article-17115-0-Don’t_undermine_Jewish_unity__the_State_Conversion_in_Israel_bill.aspx https://hiddush.org/article-17115-0-Don’t_undermine_Jewish_unity__the_State_Conversion_in_Israel_bill.aspx Thu, 01 Jun 2017 20:01:00 GMT Minister Arye Deri’s is obsessed with eradicating any state recognition of Reform and Conservative Judaism in Israel. Now he’s submitted the “State Conversion in Israel” bill, which would for the first time legislate the exclusive authority of the state-established rabbinic bodies over conversion. https://hiddush.org/article-17114-0-Conversion_bill_to_reject_all_conversions_outside_of_Israels_Rabbinate.aspx https://hiddush.org/article-17114-0-Conversion_bill_to_reject_all_conversions_outside_of_Israels_Rabbinate.aspx Thu, 18 May 2017 20:35:00 GMT A measure submitted earlier this month by the Interior Ministry led by Rabbi Aryeh Deri, head of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, is a blatant effort to circumvent a March 2016 Supreme Court ruling that allowed those undergoing private Orthodox conversions in Israel to become citizens under the Law of Return. https://hiddush.org/article-17021-0-The_growing_challenge_to_religious_freedom_and_equality_.aspx https://hiddush.org/article-17021-0-The_growing_challenge_to_religious_freedom_and_equality_.aspx Mon, 19 Dec 2016 09:45:00 GMT The ultra-Orthodox parties, joined by a number of key members of other Coalition parties, to put an end to the prospects of greater opportunities for Women's and egalitarian worship practices at the Western Wall plaza. https://hiddush.org/article-17020-0-Bill_would_anchor_Orthodox_practice_in_law_at_the_Western_Wall.aspx https://hiddush.org/article-17020-0-Bill_would_anchor_Orthodox_practice_in_law_at_the_Western_Wall.aspx Thu, 15 Dec 2016 08:26:00 GMT Lawmakers from Shas and United Torah Judaism, as well as Likud’s Oren Hazan, David Amsalem and Miki Zohar and Jewish Home’s Betzalel Smotrich, Moti Yogev, and Nissan Slomianksy, have endorsed the proposed legislation, officially lodged on Sunday, that would anchor Orthodox practice in law throughout the entire Western Wall vicinity. https://hiddush.org/article-17016-0-Shas_Party_proposes_a_bill_to_outlaw_mixed_prayer_at_Western_Wall.aspx https://hiddush.org/article-17016-0-Shas_Party_proposes_a_bill_to_outlaw_mixed_prayer_at_Western_Wall.aspx Thu, 01 Dec 2016 12:58:00 GMT The Shas party declared on Monday that it would propose a bill that would make it illegal to hold pluralistic prayer services at the Western Wall plaza. https://hiddush.org/article-17012-0-The_‘Muezzin_Bill’_–_a_masquerade.aspx https://hiddush.org/article-17012-0-The_‘Muezzin_Bill’_–_a_masquerade.aspx Tue, 22 Nov 2016 09:51:00 GMT It's the Litzmans and Deris of the religious Jewish leadership that have never hesitated to deny these very freedoms to fellow Jews and non-Jews whenever they have had the political ability to do so. https://hiddush.org/article-17011-0-How_low_can_Israeli_politicians_stoop.aspx https://hiddush.org/article-17011-0-How_low_can_Israeli_politicians_stoop.aspx Thu, 17 Nov 2016 17:00:00 GMT Regardless of one's political view point, it seems that many Americans are still trying to recover from the language that characterized much of the Presidential election campaign and manifested itself in some post election outbursts, including racial and anti-Semitic public displays. https://hiddush.org/article-17010-0-Israeli_religious_leaders_theological_responses_to_the_US_elections.aspx https://hiddush.org/article-17010-0-Israeli_religious_leaders_theological_responses_to_the_US_elections.aspx Tue, 15 Nov 2016 10:02:00 GMT Some days out after the US elections, we can now take a look and share with you an angle that has not been covered by the US media, including the Jewish media. Namely, the Israeli religious "angle," both prior to and immediately after the elections. Needless to say, Hiddush, which focuses solely on issues of religion and state in Israel, is not taking a stand on the merits of the campaigns, the desirability of the candidates, the election results, nor the plethora of political post-election reactions in Israel, mostly from settlers and right-wing political party leaders. https://hiddush.org/article-16955-0-Jerusalem’s_destruction_–_past_events_and_current_concerns.aspx https://hiddush.org/article-16955-0-Jerusalem’s_destruction_–_past_events_and_current_concerns.aspx Sun, 14 Aug 2016 08:50:00 GMT Only the deepest soul searching and bold action this Tisha b'Av will stave off today’s threat of growing erosion from within the Jewish people and Jewish, democratic State. https://hiddush.org/article-16892-0-1_woman_per_religious_council_but_God_forbid_not_more.aspx https://hiddush.org/article-16892-0-1_woman_per_religious_council_but_God_forbid_not_more.aspx Fri, 06 May 2016 09:37:00 GMT 49 women currently serve on Israel's Religious Councils, but only six Councils have more than one female representative. https://hiddush.org/article-16891-0-Minister_Azoulay_heeds_his_rabbis_rather_than_his_government.aspx https://hiddush.org/article-16891-0-Minister_Azoulay_heeds_his_rabbis_rather_than_his_government.aspx Fri, 06 May 2016 09:20:00 GMT It has almost become a painful routine to update our readers on the all too frequent outrageous statements made by Israel's ultra-orthodox cabinet members and MKs, which go against all commonly accepted norms of rule of law and democracy. https://hiddush.org/article-16851-0-Updates_the_Kotel_agreement__Supreme_Court_mikvaot_ruling.aspx https://hiddush.org/article-16851-0-Updates_the_Kotel_agreement__Supreme_Court_mikvaot_ruling.aspx Mon, 21 Mar 2016 12:39:00 GMT In the last week, there have been a number of developments in the ultra-Orthodox political and rabbinical leadership's battle against the implementation of the Kotel agreement, as well as their battle against the Supreme Court's ruling to make Israel's public mikva'ot available for non-Orthodox conversion ceremonies. https://hiddush.org/article-16849-0-Israel_pushed_towards_theocracy.aspx https://hiddush.org/article-16849-0-Israel_pushed_towards_theocracy.aspx Tue, 15 Mar 2016 19:36:00 GMT Minister Rabbi Litzman: "Netanyahu either loves the Reform Jews of the Diaspora, or the Haredim of Israel; it's either-or. There are no two ways about it... The Supreme Court is destroying everything good related to religion & state, and... the only way to stand against it is by passing legislation." https://hiddush.org/article-16844-0-Landmark_ruling_to_allow_nonOrthodox_converts_access_to_all_mikva’ot.aspx https://hiddush.org/article-16844-0-Landmark_ruling_to_allow_nonOrthodox_converts_access_to_all_mikva’ot.aspx Tue, 23 Feb 2016 09:01:00 GMT A new front, far more vicious and perilous, has emerged. The Chief Rabbinate and ultra-Orthodox politicians are gearing up to prevent the implementation of this ruling to further undermine the Supreme Court and demonize the non-Orthodox movements. https://hiddush.org/article-16770-0-Ministry_of_Religious_Services_budget_increased_by_more_than_100.aspx https://hiddush.org/article-16770-0-Ministry_of_Religious_Services_budget_increased_by_more_than_100.aspx Thu, 24 Dec 2015 15:04:00 GMT The budget for the construction and renovation of buildings for religious services will be increased by 50 million NIS (123%), the budget for the Ministry of Religious Services will be increased to nearly 150%, and the budget for cemeteries will be increase by 500%. The millions budgeted for the ultra-Orthodox parties by the Likud in exchange for their political support were merely a down payment - a base level for further increases. https://hiddush.org/article-16769-0-Affirmative_action_for_Haredim_or_cronyism.aspx https://hiddush.org/article-16769-0-Affirmative_action_for_Haredim_or_cronyism.aspx Tue, 22 Dec 2015 22:14:00 GMT On Sunday, Israel’s cabinet approved an affirmative action initiative enabling more ultra-Orthodox workers to find employment in the civil service, as part of Shas’s leader, Minister Rabbi Aryeh Deri’s strategy to integrate the Haredi community into the civil service. https://hiddush.org/article-10707-0-Justice_Joubran_asserts_state_funded_school_networks_subject_to_Propaganda_Law.aspx https://hiddush.org/article-10707-0-Justice_Joubran_asserts_state_funded_school_networks_subject_to_Propaganda_Law.aspx Wed, 04 Mar 2015 15:13:00 GMT Justice Joubran: "Common sense and reason cannot tolerate Shas’s legal interpretation, according to which a teacher could influence a student’s parents." Rabbi Regev: “This is an important precedent that will affect a host of educational networks and future elections campaigns. The mobilization of armies of teachers has been prohibited.” https://hiddush.org/article-9703-0-UltraOrthodox_parties_history_of_voters_faith_manipulation.aspx https://hiddush.org/article-9703-0-UltraOrthodox_parties_history_of_voters_faith_manipulation.aspx Mon, 22 Dec 2014 18:48:00 GMT Since 1988, the ultra-Orthodox parties have been promising rabbinic blessings, making threats and gifting "mystical" amulets to voters who commit to support them in the elections. The Knesset and the Supreme Court have set legal prohibitions against this, but the bribery and manipulation has continued. https://hiddush.org/article-4642-0-Hiddush_slams_Shas_leaders_attack_on_womens_higher_education.aspx https://hiddush.org/article-4642-0-Hiddush_slams_Shas_leaders_attack_on_womens_higher_education.aspx Tue, 01 Jul 2014 20:11:00 GMT Rabbi Shalom Cohen, Shas's new spiritual leader wrote a letter which forbids women from entering academic studies. Hiddush foresees a split in the Sephardic ultra-Orthodox party. https://hiddush.org/article-2630-0-Rabbi_Shalom_Cohen_named_as_new_Shas_spiritual_leader.aspx https://hiddush.org/article-2630-0-Rabbi_Shalom_Cohen_named_as_new_Shas_spiritual_leader.aspx Mon, 28 Apr 2014 07:37:00 GMT Rabbi Cohen succeeds the late Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef and is well known for his offensive remarks towards Israeli Modern Orthodox Jews and the Religious Zionist party, Habayit Hayehudi https://hiddush.org/article-2558-0-The_battle_against_illegal_religious_campaign_tactics_in_Israels_municipal_elections.aspx https://hiddush.org/article-2558-0-The_battle_against_illegal_religious_campaign_tactics_in_Israels_municipal_elections.aspx Thu, 17 Oct 2013 15:12:00 GMT Hiddush has filed complaints against several ultra-Orthodox parties and institutions for illegally using religious methods as a means to secure votes in the 2013 municipal elections. https://hiddush.org/article-2447-0-Why_did_MK_Moshe_Gafni_single_out_Hiddush_in_the_Knesset.aspx https://hiddush.org/article-2447-0-Why_did_MK_Moshe_Gafni_single_out_Hiddush_in_the_Knesset.aspx Thu, 11 Apr 2013 13:23:00 GMT MK Moshe Gafni (UTJ) is right about one thing: Hiddush works tirelessly to provide up-to-date facts and figures to policymakers on religion/state issues to advance the freedoms that were promised to Israelis in the Declaration of Independence. https://hiddush.org/article-2554-0-Hiddush_petitions_Shas_illegal_use_of_smartphone_app_to_secure_votes.aspx https://hiddush.org/article-2554-0-Hiddush_petitions_Shas_illegal_use_of_smartphone_app_to_secure_votes.aspx Tue, 01 Jan 2013 11:08:00 GMT Hiddush files a complaint to the Central Election Committee about Shas's smartphone app offering blessings from party’s spiritual leader. The use of blessings or curses in campaigning is strictly illegal. https://hiddush.org/article-2393-0-What_they_are_saying_about_nonOrthodox_Judaism_and_rabbis_A_Compilation_of_Quotes.aspx https://hiddush.org/article-2393-0-What_they_are_saying_about_nonOrthodox_Judaism_and_rabbis_A_Compilation_of_Quotes.aspx Thu, 30 Aug 2012 10:41:00 GMT Hiddush exposes the hate speech that continues to inform policy, leading to continued discrimination of non-Orthodox Jews. https://hiddush.org/article-2365-0-What_some_MKs_are_actually_saying_about_Reform_rabbis.aspx https://hiddush.org/article-2365-0-What_some_MKs_are_actually_saying_about_Reform_rabbis.aspx Thu, 07 Jun 2012 09:53:00 GMT In the excitement of Israel's first step toward recognition of non-Orthodox rabbis, these appointments were met with disturbing reactions by both ultra-Orthodox and National Religious political leaders. https://hiddush.org/article-2331-0-Say_no_to_unfair_housing_subsidies.aspx https://hiddush.org/article-2331-0-Say_no_to_unfair_housing_subsidies.aspx Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:19:00 GMT Hiddush Petition against suggested guidelines for affordable housing that blatantly favor ultra-Orthodox applicants https://hiddush.org/article-2328-0-What_was_Eli_Yishai_thinking.aspx https://hiddush.org/article-2328-0-What_was_Eli_Yishai_thinking.aspx Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:16:00 GMT Eli Yishai's recent comparison of the Six Day War and the Second Lebanon War were not only offensive, they were just plain incorrect. https://hiddush.org/article-2292-0-MK_Livnat_Ministerial_Committee_on_the_Status_of_Women_will_be_convened.aspx https://hiddush.org/article-2292-0-MK_Livnat_Ministerial_Committee_on_the_Status_of_Women_will_be_convened.aspx Mon, 28 Nov 2011 10:19:00 GMT Debates rage on as discrimination of women and erasing them from public spheres continues, with disagreement between head of the Ministerial Committee on the Status of Women and Shas minister Mashulam Nahari https://hiddush.org/article-2164-0-Amsalem_Reaches_Out_To_Anglos.aspx https://hiddush.org/article-2164-0-Amsalem_Reaches_Out_To_Anglos.aspx Sun, 22 May 2011 11:14:00 GMT US–born Rabbi Dov Lipman to seek Knesset seat with ex-Shas maverick MK’s Am Shalem party. https://hiddush.org/article-2080-0-Knesset_approves_reading_of_housing_law.aspx https://hiddush.org/article-2080-0-Knesset_approves_reading_of_housing_law.aspx Wed, 19 Jan 2011 16:32:00 GMT Regev,"under the guise of a social law, the haredi parties are trying to pass a law to give 'free mortgages to Yeshiva students.'" https://hiddush.org/article-2220-0-Whats_Up_With_Shas_and_the_Zionist_Movement.aspx https://hiddush.org/article-2220-0-Whats_Up_With_Shas_and_the_Zionist_Movement.aspx Mon, 25 Jan 2010 10:29:00 GMT If Shas is not prepared to adopt democracy and equality, its participation in the Zionist Federation should be prevented. If its intentions are opposed to these values, the best thing is for Shas to declare this openly.