What happens when Israelis wish to act outside the confines of Jewish law, or according to an interpretation that differs from that of the conservative Chief Rabbinate?
Some 88,000 couples live together without being married, including 83,000 couples where at least one partner is formally recognized as being Jewish.
Rabbi Moti Elon was convicted by the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court in 2013 of two counts of indecent assault by force against a minor.
The Tel Aviv rabbinical court ruled nearly five years ago that the man was obligated to grant a divorce, but he ignored the ruling.
“The enshrining of discrimination into law, and harmful words spoken by religious leaders, sow the seeds of hatred and brutality in the land."
Ghosts of the Jewish past in the former Soviet Union are helping ensure the integrity of the Jewish people in Israel.
Rabbi Aryeh Stern describes gay pride flags as symbolizing “the opposite” of holiness, and says he is “saddened” that the parade is taking place at all.
The Rabbinical Assembly of the Conservative Movement said it was “outraged” by the incident.
Is it any wonder so many Israelis have lost confidence in the Chief Rabbinate?
“I think we erred, we made a mistake,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon said in an Army Radio interview.
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