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ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 527

Hiddush

Vicky and Eilam Sher on their wedding day in 2020. They held a private ceremony not recognized by the State of Israel. (Courtesy)
February 21, 2025, 9:01 am
Avoiding the Rabbinate, 3,000 Israeli couples married last year in Utah’s ‘Zoom weddings’
New report by group promoting religious freedom says 67% of Israeli public supports recognizing all types of marriages in Israel, including civil, Reform and Conservative
By Rossella Tercatin
Illustrative: Gal Sade Knigsfild and Nofar Almakias pose for a picture with face masks before their wedding in Moshav Yashresh on April 6, 2020 (Yossi Aloni/Flash90)
December 4, 2022, 1:01 pm
Israel starts registering Utah ‘Zoom weddings,’ but fate of marriages still unclear
After initially flouting High Court ruling, Population Authority agrees to recognize marriages performed online by officiant in US; state has appealed against legality of practice
By Judah Ari Gross
Sapir and Gili Zeelon get married over Zoom through a wedding officiant in Utah in January 2021. (Courtesy: Sapir Zeelon)
November 3, 2022, 9:18 pm
Government turns to High Court to challenge recognition of Utah ‘Zoom weddings’
Israel’s state attorney calls for justices to bar the Interior Ministry from recognizing existing marriages until the matter is resolved
By Judah Ari Gross
Sapir and Gili Zeelon get married over Zoom through a wedding officiant in Utah in January 2021. (Courtesy: Sapir Zeelon)
September 29, 2022, 11:42 pm
In step toward civil marriage, Jerusalem court accepts ‘Zoom weddings’ from Utah
In early 2020, Utah began issuing marriage licenses for ceremonies performed online, offering an easy alternative for Israelis who can’t or won’t marry through the rabbinate
By Judah Ari Gross
Likud supporters celebrate at party headquarters in Tel Aviv on March 18, 2015. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)
September 17, 2020, 11:06 pm
One-third of Netanyahu voters believe COVID-19 was sent by God
Hiddush poll also finds 70% of Israelis reject notion that criticism of ultra-Orthodox conduct during pandemic is bigotry
By Ben Sales
Immigrants from France arriving at Ben Gurion Airport, July 2018. (Nir Kafri, The Jewish Agency for Israel)
December 24, 2019, 9:24 pm
Amended figures refute claim that 6 of 7 immigrants since 2012 aren’t Jewish
Population Authority statistics show some 95% of Western immigrants are recognized by Israel’s rabbinate as Jewish, but only about a third from former Soviet Union
By Sam Sokol and ToI Staff
Immigrants from France arriving at Ben Gurion Airport, July 2018. (Nir Kafri, The Jewish Agency for Israel)
December 23, 2019, 5:45 pm
Population Authority dismisses claim 85% of immigrants to Israel aren’t Jewish
Hiddush, a religious freedom organization, releases erroneous number, obtained through a freedom of information request, also claiming 70% of US immigrants are non-Jews
By Sam Sokol
Religious Israelis protest against Tel Aviv municipality Shabbat bus service outside the home of Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai in Tel Aviv, December 14, 2019. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)
December 15, 2019, 8:56 am
Hundreds protest Shabbat buses outside Tel Aviv mayor’s home
Religious Israelis, including rabbis and Tel Aviv deputy mayor, demand that Ron Huldai nix project and stop ‘breaching the status quo’
By ToI Staff
A Shabbat minibus drives through central Tel Aviv on November 23, 2019. (AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov)
December 14, 2019, 4:54 pm
16 arrested in Bnei Brak during protests against new Shabbat buses
Several dozen demonstrate near major road connecting Ramat Gan and Petah Tikva, attempt to block throughway
By ToI Staff
A public bus operated on Shabbat drives through Tel Aviv, November 23, 2019. (AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov)
December 10, 2019, 3:57 am
Most Israelis support Shabbat buses, including Likud voters, ‘traditional’ Jews
As Tel Aviv launches groundbreaking program, poll finds that 71% of public in favor of weekend public transportation, but 97% of ultra-Orthodox opposed
By ToI Staff
Shas party chairman and Minsiter of Interior Affairs Aryeh Deri leads a party meeting at the Knesset on September 22, 2019, (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
September 26, 2019, 11:25 pm
Most Israelis want ultra-Orthodox parties out of government, survey finds
Majority of Jewish residents want governing coalition to support religious freedom, back separation of religion and state
By Ben Sales
Illustrative photo of a military funeral at the Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem on July 5, 2017. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)
July 4, 2019, 8:08 pm
Facing lawsuit, IDF allows non-Orthodox Jewish burials
Under previous rules, military funerals could only be presided over by Orthodox rabbis; new regulations to be rolled out in coming months
By Judah Ari Gross
Conservative Jews praying at Robinson’s Arch in Jerusalem, July 30, 2014. (Robert Swift/ Flash90/ via JTA/ File)
September 7, 2018, 4:31 pm
Israelis want American Jewish help in promoting religious pluralism, study finds
Overwhelming numbers of Israelis want a reduction in religious restrictions imposed by the Orthodox state rabbinate, even as most prefer Orthodox practice
By Ben Sales
A woman praying during a Women of the Wall service at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, Oct. 24, 2014. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)
September 18, 2017, 6:31 pm
Worried about Jewish pluralism in Israel? So are Israelis, poll shows
65% of Israelis surveyed by liberal group by Hiddush want Reform and Conservative Judaism to have official standing equal to Orthodoxy
By Andrew Tobin
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
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