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ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 472

Mati Wagner

Mati Wagner

Mati Wagner is The Times of Israel's religions reporter.
Ultra-Orthodox men dance during a special celebration marking the end of Hanukkah, in Meron, northern Israel, on January 2, 2025. (David Cohen/Flash90)
January 9, 2025, 3:08 pm
Haredi men’s employment growth stalls, income gap with mainstream Israel widens – study
Alongside turmoil over low military draft rates, Israel Democracy Institute report raises alarm over Haredi men’s limited progress integrating into workforce
By Mati Wagner
Rabbi Asher Deutsch teaches a class in Ponevezh Yeshiva in Bnai Brak in an undated photo. (Givat Hayeshiva)
January 8, 2025, 11:12 am
Till death do them part: After top rabbi dies, power struggle blazes at elite Haredi yeshiva
The split at Ponevezh Yeshiva runs so deep that it delayed the head rabbi’s funeral last month, but when it comes to the army, the question is not ‘if’ but ‘how’ to evade the draft
By Mati Wagner
Left: Conservative Rabbi Shalom Tzvi (Harry) Davidowitz (public domain); right: From right to left, Rabbi Mauricio Balter, executive director of Masorti Olami, Dr. Yizhar Hess, Rabbi Ashira Konigsberg, Rabbi Jacob Blumenthal, CEO of the Rabbinical Assembly and the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, look up at the street sign named for Shalom Tzvi (Harry) Davidowitz, Herzliya, December 11, 2024. (Herzliya Municipality)
December 15, 2024, 6:06 am
1st street in Israel named for Masorti rabbi who influenced Declaration of Independence
In Herzliya, the Conservative Movement celebrates the commemoration of US cleric Shalom Tzvi Davidowitz, who is likely responsible for adding God into the historic 1948 statement
By Mati Wagner
A member of the Haredi community near a protest against the drafting of ultra-Orthodox Jews outside an IDF recruitment center in Jerusalem, October 31, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
November 24, 2024, 6:19 pm
Haredim in favor of IDF service insist only carrots, not sticks, will draw more recruits
As the military issues the first of 7,000 new conscription notices, communal leaders say soldiers coerced into service are liabilities: ‘They would be destroyed in Lebanon or Gaza’
By Mati Wagner
Illustrative: An Israeli reserve soldier and his wife pose for a picture after their wedding in the northern Israeli city of Kiryat Shmona, October 25, 2023. (Erez Ben Simon/Flash90)
November 22, 2024, 4:44 pm
IDF rabbinate opposes asking troops to sign form ‘unchaining’ wives in case of disaster
While conditional divorces can free women in case of a husband’s disappearance or loss of mental faculties in battle, rabbis say pushing such a document on soldiers may hurt morale
By Mati Wagner
Rabbi Elazar Menachem Man Shach, 1990. (Moshe Shai/FLASH90)
November 19, 2024, 6:43 pm
Thousands are flocking to the grave of a Haredi leader. His former aide says he’d hate it
On the anniversary of Rabbi Elazar Shach’s death, his burial place has become a prayer hub where adherents denounce newly issued military draft orders for Haredim
By Mati Wagner
Rabbi Daniel De'ei, who organizes and financially supports round-the-clock Torah studies at Rachel's Tomb, Bethlehem, November 11, 2024. (Mati Wagner/Times of Israel)
November 12, 2024, 4:22 pm
Haredim flock to Rachel’s Tomb to pray for the IDF – and for God not to make them enlist
On the anniversary of the matriarch’s death, Israel’s ultra-Orthodox community sees no contradiction in asking her to protect the soldiers while protecting Haredim from serving
By Mati Wagner
Illustrative: Israeli soldiers pray next to their artillery units near the Israeli border with Lebanon, September 29, 2024. (David Cohen/Flash90)
November 1, 2024, 5:43 am
As religious Zionist IDF casualties rise, so does resentment of Haredi exemption bill
Rift between two religiously observant communities deepens as the Knesset debates a law on ultra-Orthodox military enlistment, or lack thereof, amid the ongoing multifront war
By Mati Wagner
Rabbi Kalman Ber attends a vote for the new Chief Ashkenazi rabbi, at the Chief Rabbinate headquarters in Jerusalem, October 31, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
October 31, 2024, 8:02 pm
Ultra-Orthodox-backed Kalman Ber chosen as Ashkenazi chief rabbi in runoff
Top Netanya cleric beats out Rabbi Micha Halevi, who drew anger from religious Zionists by reneging on promise to stay out of race, after initial balloting ended in tie
By Mati Wagner and ToI Staff
Committee members at the elections for Israel's new chief rabbis in Jerusalem, September 29, 2024. (Arie Leib Abrams/Flash90)
October 30, 2024, 4:10 pm
Divisive, long-delayed election for chief rabbi to proceed Thursday
Over a year late, the vote for Israel’s top Ashkenazi authority seems to be on track amid political strife and broken commitments
By Mati Wagner
IDF Reserve soldiers and Orthodox Jews take part in prayer and the weekly reading of a Torah Scroll at dawn just before a military exercise on the Golan Heights, April 1, 2024. (Michael Giladi/ Flash90)
October 23, 2024, 8:21 am
How Israeli Jews face the Simhat Torah holiday, forever marred by Oct. 7 massacre
Rabbis recommend muted celebrations, less festive meals and new liturgy, on the first anniversary of the Hamas atrocities that also celebrates completing the reading of the Torah
By Mati Wagner
Hillel attendees in Berlin build a sukkah. (Debi Simon for Hillel Deutschland/ via JTA)
October 16, 2024, 2:11 pm
Despite record post-Oct. 7 antisemitism, European Jews are out and proud this Sukkot
From Milan to Warsaw, Jewish communities are building huts and brandishing the four species as usual — with a little bit of extra protection
By Mati Wagner
Illustrative: A Woman removes her wedding ring. (Dragana991/iStock)
October 15, 2024, 10:52 pm
Haifa court rules divorce refusal is a crime, sentences husband to 18 months in prison
Man is 2nd to be sentenced to prison for refusing to give his wife a ‘get,’ after trapping her in marriage since 2004; rabbinic courts in US, Israel have issued rulings against him
By Mati Wagner
Illustrative: Israeli soldiers operate in the Gaza Strip, in photos released on October 10, 2024. (Israel Defense Forces)
October 10, 2024, 10:47 pm
New top Sephardic rabbi backs rulings that soldiers in combat must eat on Yom Kippur
Seeking to allay concerns of ultra-Orthodox troops in Gaza, David Yosef notes existing protocols barring them from fasting, says when in doubt they should turn to IDF rabbis
By Mati Wagner
Secular and Orthodox activists clash after the religious Rosh Yehudi group sets up a gender divider made of Israeli flags in defiance of a municipality decision at a public prayer service in Dizengoff Square, Tel Aviv on Yom Kippur, September 24, 2023. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash 90)
October 10, 2024, 2:16 pm
Despite winning court battle, group cancels outdoor Yom Kippur prayers in Tel Aviv
Citing concern of saboteurs disrupting gender-separated services even after court confirmed their legality, Rosh Yehudi says they’ll be held inside to keep the peace
By Mati Wagner
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