Separation of Religion and State: How Jewish Should Israel Be?

In this video (03:15), Rabbi Avi Novis-Deutsch, Dean of the Schechter Rabbinical Seminary, discusses the role of Judaism in Israel, arguing that state legislation should never dictate how individuals practice Judaism in the private or public domain. Although he maintains that certain religious elements should be built into the character of the State, he argues that separation of religion and state must protect the citizens’ freedom to choose what type of Judaism they want to observe (or not!). This video was created in honor of Israel’s 70th birthday by The Schechter Institutes, which connect Israelis with their Jewish heritage through educational programs that nurture tolerance, pluralism, learning and dialogue.