Archive for 2018
Israel’s Religiously Divided Society
Produced by Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about global trends, this thorough video (19:01) provides insight into Israel’s polarized society, exploring the different ways in which Secular, Traditional, Religious
How the Nation-State Law Challenges Israel’s Democratic Character
This ABC News segment (07:11) features Liam Getreu, the Executive Director of the New Israel Fund Australia, describing the opposition of many to Israel’s controversial Nation-State Law, which enshrines the State of Israel as
Is Israel a Theocracy?
Created by Natan’s Notes, a YouTube Channel that provides “clear answers to tough questions,” this minute-long video shows how Israel is not a theocracy, but rather a democracy that has some lows that
Religion & State in Israel: Symbiosis or Separation?
Through interviews with Jerusalem residents, rabbis and intellectuals, this introductory video (03:01) outlines the tension between religion and state in the creation of a Jewish democratic state. The interviews are conducted in Hebrew,
Can Israel be Both Jewish & Democratic?
In this short video (03:46), Rabbi Velvel Belinsky suggests that in order for Israel to be both a Jewish and democratic state, it needs to first define its core identity, values and goals from
25 Years After Oslo Accords, Mideast Peace Seems Remote as Ever
Written in 2018, 25 years after the US-brokered Oslo Accords between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), this lengthy New York Times article examines the failure of the peace deal, which was
Religion & State in Israel: The Marriage Quandary
This introductory video (05:11) explores the possibility of civil marriage in a Jewish democratic state where personal status issues are currently under the monopoly of the ultra-Orthodox Rabbinate. Prominent religious and political leaders discuss the
A Religious-Zionist Perspective on Civil Marriage in Israel
In this short video (04:11) created by Ne’emanei Torah Va’Avodah, a national religious lobbying group that advocates for more moderate policies on religion and state issues, well-known leaders in the Orthodox Religious Zionist community explain
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
Moshe Koppel: Saving Religion from the State
In this thought provoking video (05:18), Moshe Koppel argues for the separation of religion and state in Israel in order to protect Judaism from the influence of politics. Author of “Religion and State