Freedom of religion in israel

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

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

 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.

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

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

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


Israel's struggle for religious freedom in a Jewish theocracy

The struggle for religious pluralism in general in Israel is not a hot item politically – only when a certain powerful minority can wag the dogs of the party in power.

 A rock fell on the egalitarian section at the Western Wall shortly after the end of the fast of Tisha Be’av on July 22, 2018.

Majority of Israelis wish to see budget for diverse Jewish cultural events

A majority of the Jewish public in Israel believes that there should be more accommodation for the diversity of identities and traditions in Israeli society.

 REFORM JEWS hold up broken hearts as they demonstrate outside the Knesset in 1997 against pending legislation by ultra-religious parties to tighten their grip on conversion issues.

Board of Deputies of British Jews criticizes WZO over Kotel violence

Women of the Wall are demanding that Yaakov Hagoel, chairman of the World Zionist Organization and acting chairman of the Jewish Agency, take responsibility and apologize for violence that ensued.

 Women of the Wall praying at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, January 2022

Israel’s democracy: Refuge for Christians in Middle East

Opinion: "Christians have been able to take pilgrimages to countless religious sites in every corner of Israeli territory," writes Rev. Johnnie Moore.

 Sea of Galilee

Pluralists outraged over Bennett ruling out Kotel deal

PM's broken promise called "strategic ticking time bomb that will harm relations between Israel and world Jewry."

 PRAYING AT Robinson’s Arch at the south end of  the Kotel, the section set aside for pluralistic prayer.

Israel's current gov’t unlikely to approve Kotel deal - Bennett tells 'Post'

We knew in advance that we cannot advance everything. We will only act with consensus."

 Robinson's Arch, located to the right of the Western Wall

Ultra-Orthodox histrionics over religion, state may backfire - analysis

Both ultra-Orthodox parties have denounced the government as “treif," have accused Bennett of being “a con artist” and repeatedly denounced the government for "destroying Judaism."

UNITED TORAH JUDAISM Party MK Ya’acov Litzman (left), UTJ MK Moshe Gafni and Shas head Arye Deri converse during a meeting at the Knesset earlier this month.

Jerusalem restaurants excited for potential new kashrut rules

“When you don’t have competition, I think it’s bad for business,” Crave co-owner Tzvi Maller said, speaking about the potential kashrut trust-bust proposed in the Knesset on Tuesday.

Kashrut certificate in Jerusalem, July 21, 2021.

Where will Miriam Naor go with the Meron disaster state inquiry?

Naor is a moderate, but she is secular and a moderate activist.

     Former Supreme Court President Miriam Naor at the Supreme Court hall during a ceremony for outgoing Supreme Court Judge Uri Shoham in Jerusalem on August 2, 2018.

IDF urged to allow chametz on army bases during Passover

The letter to the Chief of Staff asks to ensure the supply of kosher food for Passover does not justify a ban on the holding of chametz by secular or non-Jews.

IDF SOLDIERS from the 669 Unit during a training exercise last year.