Freedom of religion in israel

Who owns Judaism? Israel must take it back from the religious establishment - opinion

Israelis have not abandoned Judaism. They are abandoning those who claim ownership over it.

|ByBATYA KAHANA-DROR
Ultra-Orthodox Jewish protesters demonstrate against a cafe operating on Shabbat, while secular protesters hold a counter-demonstration, in central Jerusalem, August 29, 2026
A man puts on a tefillin in Washington Square Park in Manhattan on June 19, 2026 in New York City. Tefillin are a Jewish traditional ritual object, believed to be an approximately 2000 year old tradition.

Education Ministry establishes guidelines guaranteeing students' rights to lay tefillin in schools

The directive aimed to establish clear, uniform rules and provide school principals with a guided framework to facilitate the policy's implementation throughout the public school system.

|ByJONAH DAVIDOV
People watch Macy's Fourth of July fireworks as the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, from a ship at Brooklyn Bridge Marina, in New York City, US, July 4, 2026

Coast Guard removes environmentalist ship from US 250th anniversary parade over political banners

The ship had banners that read, "Save the Clean Water Act" and "Indigenous Rights, Racial Justice, Climate Solutions."

|ByREUTERS
Scribe Nadav Elhadad writes a Torah scroll at Safed’s Mount Sinai Institute, in Feb.

Shavuot and Mount Sinai: Why modern Jews still wrestle with the Torah

The debate over Torah from Sinai may depend less on proof than on the condition of the soul.

|ByNATHAN LOPES CARDOZO

New survey reveals public attitudes towards religious influence in Israel

56% of Israeli residents aged 20 and above believe that the influence of religion has strengthened in various areas in recent years.

JULY 14, 2023ByMAARIV ONLINE
BNEI BRAK: The combination of ultra-Orthodox large families who are unemployed, lack a regular income and the basic education required for knowledge and occupation, has led to extensive poverty among this sector, says the writer.

Herzog condemns Quran burning in Sweden, attacks on Christians in Israel

President Herzog's strong condemnation underscores the urgency of the situation and the need for immediate action to protect religious minorities and their sacred texts.

JULY 9, 2023ByZVIKA KLEIN
Israeli president Isaac Herzog attends the President's Award for volunteering at the president's residence in Jerusalem, June 14, 2023.

The Jewish people are a people that live apart - excerpt

NATIONAL AFFAIRS: The following is an extract from the introduction to the writer’s new book, "Being a Nation-State in the Twenty-First Century," published by Academic Studies Press.

APRIL 28, 2023BySHUKI FRIEDMAN
SCHOOLCHILDREN LOOK at the Declaration of Independence on display at Israel’s 10th anniversary exhibition held at Jerusalem’s Binyenei Ha’uma in 1958.

The reform Israel needs is not part of Yariv Levin's plan - opinion

The opportunity for real change is upon us and the demand for a constitution is being expressed. It will take time, but the process has finally begun.

MARCH 29, 2023ByGERSHON BASKIN
OUR CONSTITUTION should make the official languages of Israel – Hebrew and Arabic. Communities should no longer have the right to bar someone from a different community living in their midst, says the writer.

Netanyahu assures no law against Christians after missionary bill outrage

Evangelical Christian groups have supported the Zionist cause in various capacities for decades, and have close relationships with Israeli institutions.

MARCH 23, 2023ByMAYA ZANGER-SHAMIR, MICHAEL STARR
Head of the Finance committee MK Moshe Gafni leads a Finance committee meeting at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, on January 17, 2023.

Imam aims to build bridges with ‘People of the Book’

Sheikh Hassen Chalghoumi: ‘I come here to encourage others to work with me to build solidarity between all people."

MARCH 21, 2023ByMAAYAN JAFFE-HOFFMAN
Sheikh Hassen Chalghoumi (left) receiving his badge from Aharon Azoulay, head of Hamifrats

Do not alienate those who disagree with you politically

Compromise is necessary to preserve solidarity between us.

FEBRUARY 24, 2023ByYEDIDIA STERN
A DEBATE gets stormy in the Knesset this week. The mutual denial and accusations of malicious intentions must be replaced with a willingness to listen and understand each other’s grievances, says the writer.

US gov't commission ‘seeks assurances’ for status quo of Jerusalem holy sites

The commission said it had recorded an increase in the targeting of churches, mosques, and synagogues, as well as religious sites.

FEBRUARY 17, 2023ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
A priest shows a gravestone allegedly vandalized by Jewish men in the Christian cemetery on Mount Zion, in the Old City of Jerusalem, January 4, 2023.

Israel: A Jewish democracy or religious state? - opinion

The Israeli government should strike a balance between the demands made by the ultra-Orthodox sectors and the needs of Israeli citizens in general.

FEBRUARY 12, 2023ByLIOR AKERMAN
BNEI BRAK: The combination of ultra-Orthodox large families who are unemployed, lack a regular income and the basic education required for knowledge and occupation, has led to extensive poverty among this sector, says the writer.

The Western Wall bill was a costly mistake by Netanyahu's gov't - analysis

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's response to criticisms often shows how serious of a threat he views them.

FEBRUARY 9, 2023ByELIAV BREUER
Benjamin Netanyahu visits at the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City, the night before the Israeli general elections, October 31, 2022