Haredi

Café Basimta: The Jerusalem café where Shabbat, religious freedom, and evangelism collide - opinion

Secular Israelis began showing up, buying coffee not because they wanted to hear about Jesus, but because they wanted to make a point about religious coercion.

The writers – Jonathan Feldstein (L) and David Nekrutman – outside Café Basimta, not on Shabbat.
Yair Golan, chairman of the Democrats party, attends the Shabtai Shavit World Summit on Counter-Terrorism at Reichman University in Herzliya, October 6, 2026.

Ayatollah Khamenei's assassination a 'mistake,' Democrats party leader Yair Golan says

 HAREDI YESHIVA students

Education Min. violated privacy law in leak exposing 21,000 special education students, court finds

Ultra-Orthodox Jewish protesters demonstrate against an IDF recruitment conference for the Haredi community in Jerusalem, August 4, 2026.

Israel Police criticize Military Police over handling of Modi'in draft dodger arrest after riot


A Zionist coalition? Israel’s founders envisioned something broader - opinion

The Declaration of Independence promises equality for all citizens, and calls for a “Zionist coalition” will undermine that vision.

Opposition members of Israel's Knesset leave during a preliminary vote to establish a political commission of inquiry, December 24, 2025; Illustrative.

ITIM organization asks High Court to bar draft evaders from Rabbinate exam benefits

ITIM asked the High Court to bar men from using yeshiva study completed without regularized military status to qualify for Rabbinate certification.

The Supreme Court convenes to maintain the freeze on the law limiting enforcement against haredi (ultra-Orthodox) draft dodgers, July 28, 2026.

High Court maintains freeze on law limiting enforcement against haredi draft dodgers

The interim order issued on Tuesday followed a hearing held just a few hours earlier, during which the nine-member panel heard from the different sides represented in the case.

The Supreme Court convenes to maintain the freeze on the law limiting enforcement against haredi (ultra-Orthodox) draft dodgers, July 28, 2026.

Beyond the haredi draft: What’s really at stake for Israel’s future - opinion

It would be a national mistake if many make one of the most consequential political decisions of their lives based primarily on anger over a single issue, without considering the much broader impact.

 ‘THE HAREDI leadership argues that it is forbidden to draft yeshiva students whose Torah is their profession and that they defend the State of Israel through their studies.’

Government tells High Court draft arrests risk civil war, says case outcome 'known in advance'

“Israel needs haredi recruits, not haredi detainees,” the government said, arguing that arrests of yeshiva students could reverse a gradual increase in enlistment and risk civil war.

Thousands of Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men from the Gur (Hasidic dynasty) protest outside Military Prison near Kfar Yona, central Israel, against the jailing of seminary students who failed to comply with an army recruitment order, July 20, 2026.

One people cannot survive under two laws: What pushed Israel's deputy FM to resign - opinion

What I taught my daughter on Tisha B’Av – and why I resigned from the government.

Sharren Haskel speaks to the media as she announces her resignation as deputy foreign minister, at the Knesset, on July 14, 2026.

Most religious Zionists prefer dialogue over legislation to solve Israel's social issues - poll

At Tzohar's annual conference, 79% of religious Zionists backed grassroots dialogue over legislation as the best path to social consensus in Israel.

RESIDENTS OF Kfar Yona protest against an ultra-Orthodox demonstration opposing the arrest of Haredi draft evaders near the Beit Lid military prison in central Israel, June 24, 2026.

Divider-in-chief: How Netanyahu is ruining Israel-Diaspora relations - opinion

While Benjamin Netanyahu frequently speaks with great emphasis about the unity of both the country and the Jewish people, his record in office stands in stark contrast to that declared objective.

Israel Elections: A polling station in Jerusalem, as Israelis vote in their general elections, on March 23, 2021.

A-G asks High Court to strike down 'discriminatory' haredi draft enforcement freeze

The law passed the Knesset on July 14. Justice Ofer Grosskopf froze it the following day and ordered the state and Knesset to explain why it should not be struck down.

Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara attends a House committee meeting at the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament in Jerusalem on, June 8, 2026.

Jerusalem cafe became symbol of secular defiance, until Israelis learned it's run by Jews for Jesus

“Everyone accuses us of that,” Ben David, the cafe owner, said about proselytizing. “The Jesus goal is not completely out, but it’s not front and center.”

Ultra-Orthodox protesters outside of the Basimta cafe on Saturday, July 4, 2026.