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.

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

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

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


High Court should deal with traffic violations not Jewish law, says Sephardi chief rabbi

Yitzhak Yosef: It’s a shame judges are involving themselves with Halacha.

Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef at the Western Wall

Activists march in Jerusalem to demand better treatment of livestock

Organizer: It’s time to think about the relationship between humans and animals.

ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS march by Jerusalem’s Old City on Thursday.

How is Israel faring on issues of religion and state?

‘Metro’ takes a look back on how Israel has fared on key issues such as ‘mikvaot,’ Shabbat in the public sphere, conversions and marriage/ divorce – and the work still left to be done.

Batya Kahana Dror of Mavoi Satum

Chief Rabbi Lau in opposition to Chief Rabbi Yosef policy on US converts recognition

A 2008 agreement stating that conversions approved by the the Beth Din of America would be recognized as valid in Israel, but the compromise has been slowly unraveling ever since.

Chief Rabbis Yitzhak Yosef and David Lau

Sinat Hinam on Rosh Hodesh Av

The Jerusalem Post

Rabbinic ethics – Spots on the clothing, specks on the soul

When the individuals accused of misconduct are politicians, it’s presumably par for the course. Politics is a dirty business and always was. But tragically, some of those accused include rabbis.

RUMORS OF corruption are a problem rabbis must face

Outrage signals growing moderate religious voice

The religious and secular public has become weary with constant rhetorical attacks by figures such as Rabbis Shmuel Eliyahu, Shlomo Aviner and others against liberal ideas and notions of pluralism.

Rabbi Col. Eyal Karim (left), nominated to become IDF chief rabbi, sits next to his predecessor, Bri

Judaism Can Lead on Tolerance

The Jerusalem Post

US Jewish group opposes Israeli mikve bill

The Knesset bill would prevent the Reform and Conservative movements from using public mikvaot for conversion ceremonies.

A mikve, the Jewish ritual bath [Illustrative]

Jerusalem mini-market owners defy forced Shabbat closures

"We are Jewish but not religious, so have a right to stay open during Shabbat," says merchant.

An employee of Makolet 24-hour Market on Hillel Street, one of the eight markets being forced by the Jerusalem Municipality to close during Shabbat.