Disqus - Latest Comments for ReligionandStateinIsrael

Re: How Israel’s education minister inserts ideology into schools

ReligionandStateinIsrael — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 09:09:31 -0000

re: "More than 95% of the budgets allocated to Jewish education are directed to organizations that adhere to the ultra-Orthodox brand of Judaism."

Typo. Should read "adhere to the *Orthodox brand of Judaism."

see original Hebrew: אחוז מהתקציבים המיועדים לחינוך יהודי זורמים לארגונים בזרם האורתודוקסי .

Re: The Western Wall Controversy yawn (Judean Rose) ~ Elder Of Ziyon - Israel News

ReligionandStateinIsrael — Mon, 03 Jul 2017 05:52:39 -0000

The Western Wall Heritage Foundation does not run the Robinson's Arch area.

Re: Convenient adversaries - Opinion - Jerusalem Post

ReligionandStateinIsrael — Sun, 02 Jul 2017 10:25:02 -0000

re: "Meanwhile, the religious-nationalist rabbinical group “Liba” is leading the fight to stop the recognition of liberal streams of Judaism at the Temple Mount..."

It appears there may have been a typo in this sentence. I assume you meant to write: "Meanwhile, the religious-nationalist rabbinical group “Liba” is leading the fight to stop the recognition of liberal streams of Judaism at the *Western Wall*.."

Joel Katz
https://twitter.com/religio...

Re: Will Western Wall dispute topple Israeli government?

ReligionandStateinIsrael — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 08:14:34 -0000

1. re: "(the Reform and Conservative streams of Judaism known as Progressive Judaism and Women of the Wall)"

I think you meant to write "Progressive Judaism and Masorti Judaism" -- not Women of the Wall.

2. re: "Meanwhile, Reform organizations appealed to the Supreme Court to enforce the decision."

This is incorrect. The Reform Movement/Conservative Movement/Women of the Wall have NOT appealed to the High Court to enforce the gov't decision regarding an Egalitarian Prayer Space at the Southern Section of the Western Wall.

3. re: "However, in view of the ultra-Orthodox objections, the state appealed to the Supreme Court no less than eight times to put off the implementation of the plan and allow time to reach a compromise."

This statement is unfortunately misleading. I believe you are referring to the State asking the High Court for numerous delays in responding to a petition regarding Torah scrolls in the Women's Section of the Kotel prayer area.
(These 'appeals' are not legal appeals -- rather requests for 'more time' to carry out the Gov't decision on the Egalitarian Prayer area -- which would have a direct effect on the issue of women's group prayer in the Women's Section).

Joel Katz
https://twitter.com/religio...

Re: The end of Israel’s religious establishment?

ReligionandStateinIsrael — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 09:19:04 -0000

re: "Much of the media attention has been focused on the Western Wall in Jerusalem, where the conflicts over symbolism are played out in public view. Recently, the government voted for the first time to remove part of this area from official rabbinical control, allowing pluralist groups, including women, to gather and pray without the previous restrictions."

The area for the proposed prayer area is "Robinson's Arch". This area is NOT under the control of Rabbi Rabinowitz (Western Wall and Holy Sites), nor the Western Wall Heritage Foundation. Therefore it has not been "removed" from rabbinical control.

When and if Women of the Wall pray in the proposed prayer area, they will no longer be under the "previous restrictions" --- because they will no longer pray in the Women's Section of the Western Wall.

Re: Netanyahu backslides on religious reforms

ReligionandStateinIsrael — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 09:52:14 -0000

re: "The Israeli law of return grants citizenship to every Jew arriving to the country, provided that one of his parents was Jewish. The ultra-Orthodox definition of a Jew is more restrictive, hence the "masses."

Please note the error in the sentences above.

The law since 1970 applies to those born Jews (having a Jewish mother or maternal grandmother), those with Jewish ancestry (having a Jewish father or grandfather) and converts to Judaism (Orthodox, Reform, or Conservative denominations—not secular—though Reform and Conservative conversions must take place outside the state, similar to civil marriages).

Re: Court rules haredi paper must publish ad by haredi women’s party

ReligionandStateinIsrael — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 06:55:56 -0000

UPDATE: Supreme Court REVERSED the District Court decision.

Re: Why has the Chief Rabbinate called to boycott an interfaith service?

ReligionandStateinIsrael — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 16:24:54 -0000

re: "A joint Jewish-Christian prayer service set to take place on Temple Mount in Jerusalem during the holiday of Sukkot has come under fire."

As mentioned in the interview, the prayer service will not take place "on" the Temple Mount; rather it is planned for the Southern Wall area of the Temple Mount --- outside of the Mount itself.

Re: Women of the Wall face Torah smuggling controversy at Shevat Rosh Hodesh prayers

ReligionandStateinIsrael — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 05:33:44 -0000

re: "Since the group's 25th anniversary in November 2013, they have returned to having their Rosh Hodesh prayer service at the Women's section of the Kotel after being barred by the police for months to the Robinson's Arch equalitarian area.

The women however, will only be praying for a short time at the main women's section until the 16 conditions they agreed to are met making the Robinson's Arch area equal to the Kotel plaza."

1. WOW were not banned by the police to the Robinson's Arch area.

2. May I assume that the conclusion, "[WOW] will only be praying for a short time at the main women's section..." is not a factual one -- but rather your own personal opinion?

No one knows when and if the "16 conditions" will be fulfilled -- nor whether any of the conditions will be fulfilled. Therefore, WOW could be praying at the Women's Section for a "long, long time".

Joel Katz
http://religionandstateinis...

Re: Feminism, Torah and the Western Wall

ReligionandStateinIsrael — Sun, 13 Oct 2013 06:20:52 -0000

re: "More recently, the "Women of the Wall" have been increasing the frequency with which they conduct prayer services at the Western Wall on the women's side, including Torah readings by women and the wearing of tallitot by women."

It is incorrect to say that there has been "increase frequency". Women of the Wall

Re: Sharansky Defends Women’s Prayer at Kotel

ReligionandStateinIsrael — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 07:26:16 -0000

I'm a bit confused by the subtitle "Jewish Agency chief promises that no arrests will be made"

As far as I know, Natan Sharansky has no legal jurisdiction over what happens at the Kotel. How can he "promise" no arrests will be made?

Joel Katz
http://religionandstateinis...

Re: Pray Tell: On Jerusalem’s Feminist Activists, Women Of The Wall

ReligionandStateinIsrael — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 04:49:47 -0000

Thank you Lilit for bringing this important issue to your readers' attention.

You describe "Women of the Wall [as] ... a group that goes to the Kotel wearing kippot and tallitot, to pray out loud, sing, carry the Torah, and hold services for Rosh Chodesh..."

A more accurate description is from their mission statement:

"As Women of the Wall, our central mission is to achieve the social and legal recognition of our right, as women, to wear prayer shawls, pray, and read from the Torah collectively and out loud at the Western Wall."

Note that not all WOW women who attend the prayer services choose to wear kippot or tallitot -- but they do seek to achieve the right of all women to do so if they wish.

Currently, WOW does not bring a Torah scroll to the Kotel -- but rather walk over to the Robinson's Arch area to read from the Torah.

One final note re: "the Western Wall, the holiest site in Judaism".
A more accurate description would be "one of the holiest sites in Judaism" (since the Temple Mount is seen as the holiest site by many).

Joel Katz
http://religionandstateinis...
http://twitter.com/religion...

Re: A Dose of Nuance; From Limmud to ... JPost - Opinion - Columnists

ReligionandStateinIsrael — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 23:33:22 -0000

Thank you for such an insightful post.

One small note. Apparently, according the Education Ministry’s guidelines, a school cannot suspend a pupil for singing on television. Therefore, Ben-Shitrit’s parents “agreed” to a self-imposed “suspension” for 2-weeks.

Joel Katz
http://religionandstateinis...
http://twitter.com/religion...

Re: Fight for women’s equality at the Western Wall fails to move secular Israelis | JTA - Jewish & Israel News

ReligionandStateinIsrael — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 16:13:59 -0000

re: "Haredi rabbis dominate Israel’s Chief Rabbinate and thus control not
only the Western Wall, known in Hebrew as the Kotel, but also civil
matters such as marriage, divorce and burial."

Not sure if anyone else noticed the irony of the author's use of the term "civil matters" above.
Yes, Americans naturally see marriage, divorce and burial as "civil matters"; but here in Israel there is (essentially) no civil marriage and divorce, and limited non-religious burial.

Joel Katz
http://www.religionandstate...

Re: The row over Jewish women's rights

ReligionandStateinIsrael — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 04:48:24 -0000

re: " ... Israel will grant citizenship to anybody with one Jewish parent, be it the father or the mother..."

Please note that the Law of Return grants citizenship to anyone with one Jewish grandparent.

http://www.religionandstate...

Re: Jewish Agency committee calls for new approach to Western Wall prayer | JTA - Jewish & Israel News

ReligionandStateinIsrael — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 10:22:16 -0000

Tweet by @JewishAgency
"Endorsed unanimously by the Board! RT @JTAnews: Jewish Agency committee calls for new approach to Western Wall prayer"

Re: Mostly Kosher: The Saddest Harediest Clown I Ever Saw

ReligionandStateinIsrael — Fri, 18 May 2012 00:59:31 -0000

BuzzFeed on March 2012 credits AP

Re: Exploring the Promised Land: Remembering Birthright

ReligionandStateinIsrael — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 03:14:53 -0000

Thanks Isabel for a fantastic post!

re: "if you are not orthodox and want to be married, you must travel to another country—Crete is a popular destination"

If you do not wish to be married in an Orthodox wedding in Israel, you can travel to another country and get married in a civil ceremony; thereafter your marriage will be recognized by Israel's Interior Ministry.

You can later choose to have a private non-Orthodox ceremony in Israel (that has no legal significance to the Israel authorities).

For anyone interested in the fascinating issues of religion and state in Israel, please visit: http://religionandstateinis....

Joel Katz

Re: Beit Shemesh | Jerusalem Post - Blogs

ReligionandStateinIsrael — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 06:41:00 -0000

English subtitles to Channel 2 Special on Beit Shemesh here: http://ping.fm/ASWoJ

Re: Deferentially progressive - JPost - Jerusalem Report - TheRegion

ReligionandStateinIsrael — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 07:24:31 -0000

Thank you for such a well-written article.

Re: Israel’s Chief Rabbinate agrees to recognize all conversions

ReligionandStateinIsrael — Sun, 08 May 2011 06:26:33 -0000

Unfortunately, the headline is very misleading.

The Rabbinate does NOT recognize "all" conversions. It recognizes only Orthodox conversions.

Joel Katz
Religion and State in Israel

Re: What is a social media strategy?

ReligionandStateinIsrael — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 08:21:02 -0000

Great post Simi!

I hope you'll write a post describing PresenTense's "comprehensive set of metrics".

Joel

Re: Agudah and the Internet

ReligionandStateinIsrael — Wed, 26 May 2010 05:41:40 -0000

Rabbi Lau inaugurates Web design incubator for Haredim http://ht.ly/1PYAc

"The Prog Center was established by Web developer Chaim Dikman, himself Haredi, as an incubator for Haredi Web designers. The center has already trained 150 Haredimn, and hundreds more have attended workshops that the center has sponsored around the country."

Re: Want to attract younger donors? Hire younger people.

ReligionandStateinIsrael — Tue, 18 May 2010 08:27:57 -0000

You Don’t Have to Be Jewish to Love This Campaign

http://www.nytimes.com/2010...

"In an effort to get close to younger potential donors, a philanthropic organization is seeking to take the “ish” from “Jewish” and turn it into an expression of its own."

"There are three agencies, including the New York office of Taxi, the unconventional Canadian shop. The budget to develop and promote the campaign is being estimated at $250,000 to $300,000."

Doesn't seem like they're following your advice.

Re: Short Takes

ReligionandStateinIsrael — Wed, 05 May 2010 03:21:45 -0000

re: Charedi Education in Israel

"Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai is absolutely correct that Charedim in Israel educate their students towards ignorance -- they don't teach basic math, science or language. And the Charedi critics are correct that Israeli public schools are pretty lousy about these subjects anyway and terrible when it comes to Jewish culture. Fix them both. "

What do you mean by "fix"? Are you advocating that the Independent Haredi school system teach the core curriculum?