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religion and state in Israel
Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked (R), Tourism Minister Yariv Levin (L) and Likud Knesset Member Amir Ohana (C) attend a committee meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem on July 26, 2017. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
March 13, 2018, 12:53 pm
Amid coalition crisis, committee pushes ‘Jewish state bill’ forward
Facing threat of early elections, lawmakers work to bring compromise wording of controversial legislation to Knesset plenum for first reading
By TOI staff
Likud MK Avi Dichter leads a Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting at the Knesset on February 22, 2017. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
February 21, 2018, 3:03 am
Coalition scrambles to bring ‘Jewish state’ bill to Knesset vote
Enduring disagreements between Likud and Kulanu parties could push controversial legislation off the agenda of current session
By TOI staff
An exhibit at'Mamzerim, Labeled and Erased' at the 2017 Jerusalem Biennale. (Nurit Jacobs-Yinon)
From the WebFebruary 14, 2018, 4:48 pm
In modern Israel, being born a ‘mamzer’ can lead to a life of secrecy and stigma
The New York Jewish Week: An in-depth dive into the little-known ancient Jewish law that still has very contemporary impact
By Michele Chabin
Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman leads the Yisrael Beytenu party faction meeting at the Knesset on October 30, 2017. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
October 30, 2017, 5:42 pm
Citing minority rights, Liberman opposes Jewish state bill
Defense minister warns bill is an attempt to make Israel a state of halacha, or Jewish law
By Marissa Newman
Reform female and male rabbis pray together at Robinson's Arch, the Western Wall site slated for future egalitarian services, on Thursday, February 25, 2016. (Y.R/Reform Movement)
September 19, 2017, 6:33 pm
In response to court, state shuts door on Western Wall deal
Asked to rethink freeze on implementing 2016 compromise agreement, and whether it could be forced to implement the plan it agreed to, government answers with a no and a no
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
Jewish men pray during the holiday of Tisha B'Av at the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem, on August 1, 2017. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
August 22, 2017, 9:54 pm
US State Department slams Israeli stagnation on religious freedom reform
Annual report homes in on hot-button areas of Western Wall pluralism, conversion and who has the right to pray at the country's holiest sites
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
Kulanu MK Rachel Azaria outside the Old City walls in Jerusalem, March 23, 2015. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)
May 24, 2017, 1:16 pm
Jerusalem-born MK sees ‘living, breathing city’ choked by lack of building
A former deputy mayor, Rachel Azaria is not clamoring for US embassy move, calls capital a microcosm and trailblazer for the nation
By Marissa Newman
Dr. Susan Weiss (center), head of the Center for Women's Justice, sits with staff in its Jerusalem offices. (courtesy)
March 9, 2017, 7:44 pm
Maverick women’s rights lawyer looks to change the game, not play it
Ahead of International Agunah Day, attorney Susan Weiss describes her fight against windmills in the dual Israeli religious and secular courts
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
Dov S. Zakheim (center), co-chair of the American Jewish Committee's Jewish Religious Equality Coalition (J-REC), speaks at the Immigration, Absorption and Diaspora Committee at the Knesset in Jerusalem, on January 11, 2017. (AJC)
January 11, 2017, 2:03 pm
At Knesset Diaspora committee meeting, US Jews work to convince the convinced
With Chief Rabbinate, Diaspora Ministry, and coalition MKs no-shows, the pluralism-promoting choir again preached to itself
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
December 5, 2016, 2:49 pm
We must do ‘Jewish’ the non-Orthodox way
Democratic Israel should recognize that the majority of Jews welcome women as equal participants in worship
By Tamar Zandberg
Eli Groner, director of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, addresses journalists in Jerusalem on Sunday, December 4, 2016 (Miriam Alster/Flash90)
December 5, 2016, 12:40 am
PMO chief to Diaspora journalists: Israel can’t separate religion and state
At Jewish media summit in Jerusalem, Eli Groner also urges reporters to focus more on domestic issues; Rivlin: Don't only report the bad news
By Raphael Ahren
In this photo taken Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016, American Reform Rabbi Zachary Shapiro, center left, and other American and Israeli Reform rabbis pray at the Western Wall. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)
From the WebSeptember 28, 2016, 5:42 pm
Israeli and American Jews: Deep ties, profound differences
Recent surveys by the Pew Research Center of Jews on both sides of the Atlantic paint portraits of two very different communities
Illustrative photo of a ritual bath attendant, a woman who checks that the immersion in the bath is kosher according to the Jewish tradition. (Hadas Parush/Flash 90)
September 23, 2016, 8:07 pm
Religious Services Ministry okays private immersion at ritual baths
Decision follows similar move by chief rabbinate, echoes rabbis' warning that performing rite alone can affect its kosher status
By TOI staff
Shachar Shpaier, a 16.5-year-old raising soccer star in Kfar Saba's highest youth league, is the sole religiously observant player on his team. (Courtesy Moshe Shpaier)
September 14, 2016, 1:26 pm
In Israel, many religious athletes must still choose sports or spirituality
A new grassroots movement aims to push a predominantly secular Israeli society to thwart the 'twisted' exclusion of Shabbat-observant sportspeople
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
Illustrative photo of a ritual bath attendant, a woman who checks that the immersion in the bath is kosher according to the Jewish tradition. (Hadas Parush/Flash 90)
June 22, 2016, 6:33 pm
In about-face, rabbinate says attendant not mandatory in ritual bath
In Israeli religious authorities' allowing women to immerse in the mikveh in privacy, some see a possible recognition of other ways of expressing Judaism
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
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