Jewish Religion

Orthodox intolerance helps grow Reform in Israel

By Rabbi Dow Marmur JERUSALEM — The Triguboff Institute, established by an Australian philanthropist, specializes in the needs of Jews from the former Soviet Union, notably Russia and Ukraine. The fact that perhaps as many as 400 000 Israeli citizens of Russian and Ukrainian background aren’t regarded as Jews by the state’s rabbinic establishment has prompted […]

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Jewish Religion, Middle East

Minister: ‘Mimouna is the best symbol of unity in Israel’

As Passover and Shabbat end tonight, people across Israel are celebrating Mimouna. Social Equality Minister Gila Gamliel (Likud) is taking part in the festival at the Dahan home in Yavne, along with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara. Gamliel spoke to fellow attendees, saying that “the festival of Mimouna, in which the doors

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Jewish Religion, Middle East

Haredi MK: Jews who visit Temple Mount spark war

MK Moshe Gafni (United Torah Judaism), Chairman of the Knesset”s Finance Committee, on Wednesday blasted Jewish visits to the Temple Mount, claiming that Jews who ascended to the holy site were violating Jewish religious law. Speaking to Israel Radio, Gafni argued that religious Jews who visited the Temple Mount were leading the country to war,

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Jewish Religion, Middle East

Jews, Baptists break matza together at seder of ‘hope’

Liberation celebration explores slavery both ancient and modern Evans and Donna Spagner of Watchung share a Haggada during the interfaith seder at the Fountain Baptist Church. Photos by Robert Wiener The Rev. Vernon Williams explains the history of African-American slavery. Rabbi Hannah Orden holds up Miriam’s Cup in tribute to women of the Bible who

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Jewish Religion, USA

Religious tensions mark Passover festival in Israel

JERUSALEM — Ha’aretz’s cartoonist has summarized a substantial slice of what concerns us this week. He depicts one variety of religious Jew wanting to perform a sacrifice on the Temple Mount, and another Jew, unkempt and secular, walking his dog in the opposite direction. The Jew leading a young goat in the direction of the Temple

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Ira Sharkansky, Jewish Religion, Middle East

Ancient Jewish wisdom and modern science

By Stanley Tiger SAN DIEGO –Passover in the 21st Century presents Jewish people with new dilemmas unimagined in previous eras: Should I have regular white flour matzah, whole wheat matzah, egg matzah, any of the flavored matzahs, and more recently “gluten free matzah.” We also have the choice of salted or unsalted matzah, domestic or

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