Freedom of religion in israel

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.

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.
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

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas addresses the general Conference of Fatah Youth in Ramallah, with a backdrop including a portrait of Abbas and Yasser Arafat, November 27, 2025; illustrative.

PA drafts constitution, omits Jewish ties to Jerusalem, calls for Sharia legal system


Simchat Torah: Divine fire and national legacy

Should Torah exist apart from society or be fully integrated within it?

SIMCHAT TORAH at the Gush Etzion junction.

Police on guard as tens of thousands of Muslims hold Ramadan prayers on Temple Mount

Police said mass prayer on al-Aqsa ended on Friday afternoon with no irregular incidents, after Israel limited the number entering from the West Bank.

 Muslims pray on the first Friday of Ramadan, at the Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound in Jerusalem's Old City, March 7, 2025

Jerusalem’s Armenian Quarter under threat: Urgent call for protection - opinion

Jerusalem’s Armenian Quarter faces a critical threat from real estate deals and far-Right ambitions. Urgent action is needed to protect this vital part of the city’s cultural and religious heritage.

 A WOMAN walks in the Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City. The Armenians in Jerusalem are one of the smallest and most vulnerable communities; they are neither Palestinian nor Israeli and have no interest in being dragged into the ongoing conflict, says the writer.

US criticizes Ben Gvir's Temple Mount visit, sparking debate on Jewish prayer rights - opinion

US opposition to Itamar Ben Gvir's Temple Mount visit highlights hypocrisy in denying Jewish prayer rights while supporting discriminatory practices.

 NATIONAL SECURITY Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir walks near the Western Wall, after visiting the temple Mount on Tisha B’Av, earlier this month.

‘Jewish myth:’ In Arab world, many still refuse to accept the two Temples' existence - analysis

‘Temple denial’ is a known practice amongst those who seek to deny any historical presence for Jews in Israel, leading to a denial of Israel’s right to exist

 The Dome of the Rock and the Temple Mount in Jerusalem's Old City as viewed from the Mount of Olives. This place should be for all who are interested in free and safe access and peaceful worship together, the writer maintains.

IDF reservists learn Talmud, maintain spiritual practice amid Gaza war

Most recently, a group of IDF reservists finished the Talmudic tractate of Berachot by splitting it up into sections and each learning a small part. 

 IDF soldier shown with a Jewish spiritual book in his pocket.

Secular groups warn: 'The war must not be used to push religion in army bases'

They say that allowing groups such as the Noam Party into bases violates the rights of gay soldiers, due to its homophobic nature.

  Noam Party leader MK Avi Maoz, December 5, 2022.

Israelis must reconcile “Jewish” and “democratic” - opinion

The current government has taken things to a new level, and parts of the coalition are unaware that a messianic halachic state is not a Jewish state.

 SPLITTING A disputed tallit is a familiar concept in Judaism. The good news is that the subject has always been controversial. The bad news is that the debate has reached a boiling point, says the writer.

Awakening the secular soul: Reconnecting with Jewish heritage

As Yom Kippur concluded in Tel Aviv, it's imperative to contemplate the emotions that engulfed the demonstration—emotions that ranged from frustration to anger and even hatred.

 Re-CHARGING Reform Judaism conference on May 31, 2023

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.

 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.