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The Ultra-Orthodox Draft: Crossing the Third Rubicon

The Special Committee for the Equal Sharing of the Burden Bill, a parliamentary committee headed by MK Ayelet Shaked, is currently preparing the government’s proposed legislation on the issue of Haredi military service for its second and third readings. This is the last, decisive stage in a historical process of repairing the relationship between ultra-Orthodox Jews and the State of…
18/08/2013
2012-2013 Annual Assessment

2012-2013 Annual Assessment

Of all JPPI’s many activities and publications, its Annual Assessments are particularly significant. Not only do they provide an invaluable yearly snapshot of the situation and dynamics of the Jewish people, they also present a coherent, comprehensive set of policy recommendations that address current needs and, if properly heeded, could help pave the way forward. Once again, this year’s assessment…
11/08/2013

The Referendum Law: A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

In 2010, the 18th Knesset enacted a law requiring a referendum on any peace treaty with the Palestinians that includes concessions of sovereign Israeli territory. The current Knesset is now in the midst of efforts to upgrade the referendum law to the status of a Basic Law, with the apparent intention of protecting the legislation from judicial review or repeal…
30/07/2013

Israel’s Chief Rabbinate: My Beloved Turned Away

Politically, the defeat of the Religious Zionist candidate, Rabbi David Stav, is a farce. The number of Religious-Zionist Knesset members is both greater than the relative weight of the Religious Zionist community in Israeli society and greater than the number of ultra-Orthodox Knesset members. There is no doubt that had Naftali Bennett, Israel’s Minister of Religion, thrown his full weight…
26/07/2013

The Ultra-Orthodox Draft: A Test of the New Israeli Politics

As we approach the end of the current Knesset session, behind the scenes, there are rumors of a struggle regarding the future of the ultra-Orthodox draft, with some parties arguing that the Haredi conscription law should be passed swiftly, in a legislative coup that skips the standard procedures, while others favor deferring the legislation to the next session. While this…
18/07/2013
2013 – Elections in the United States and Israel
US Elections

2013 – Elections in the United States and Israel

Elections in the United States and Israel; the Triangular Relationship – Washington, Jerusalem, and the American Jewish Community: Challenges and Opportunities. This post-election analysis by Avinoam Bar-Yosef, JPPI’s President, includes, among other issues: Obama and Netanyahu Together Again, Curse of the Second Term?  Moving Forward with New Administrations in Place  Generational Change in Israeli Leadership For the full paper: 2013 –…
19/06/2013
US Elections

The Peri Committee Recommendations: Fanning the Flames of Haredi Extremism

A power struggle is currently underway on the Haredi street between a moderate majority and an extremist minority. Although this is an internal battle within the ultra-Orthodox community, it has critical consequences for all Israelis, since it will impact Israel’s economy, the unity of its society, and our national resilience. What is the issue at hand? The ultra-Orthodox majority wishes…
15/06/2013

Conversion in Israel: From Bethlehem to Chelm to Sodom

Once, she was called Ruth; today she is Natasha. Both of these women came to Israel to settle here and integrate into society. Ruth changed her identity, from Moabite to Jew, and her blood was mixed with our blood in the fields of Bethlehem—so much so, that according to tradition, both King David and the messiah of the future are…
14/05/2013
Patrilineal Descent in American Reform Judaism
יהודי ארה"ב

Patrilineal Descent in American Reform Judaism

The American Jewish Reform movement’s 1983 Patrilineal Descent decision declaring that the children of Jewish fathers have the same Jewish status as the children of Jewish mothers affected all of American Judaism, because more American Jews call themselves Reform than any other wing of Judaism. Many advocates, including the influential Rabbi Alexander Schindler, celebrated the decision as promoting “the full…
06/05/2013
יהודי ארה"ב
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