ARZA

By Anat Hoffman Talk radio is very popular in Israel. Animated debates on every topic under the sun fill the airwaves every day. One station, Kol BaRama, a station with a large Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) listenership, has the practice of not allowing women to speak on air. They say this is to respect the feelings of [...]

By Barbara Kavadias The past year has seen an increase in tension – and even violence – at the Kotel or Western Wall, one of Judaism’s holiest sites. Last Friday, progressive Jews worldwide were disturbed to learn of protests and near-rioting as the Women of the Wall came to pray for Rosh Chodesh at the [...]

Last week, Anat Hoffman, leader of Women of the Wall and Executive Director of the Israel Religious Action Center was arrested at the Western Wall. Anat was praying with more than 200 women when she was taken into custody for wearing a tallit and disturbing public order by praying out loud. Her arrest and the [...]

This letter was written by an ARZA member in response to the arrest of Anat Hoffman on Tuesday. It was sent to a member of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Amid all of the wonderful things for which we celebrate Israel, the appalling, and disgraceful treatment of Jewish women in Jerusalem and elsewhere is a [...]

On Tuesday night, Anat Hoffman, leader of Women of the Wall and Executive Director of the Israel Religious Action Center, was arrested for praying at the Western Wall. Anat was reciting the Shema with members of the women’s Zionist organization, Hadassah, who are in Israel for their centennial conference. She was detained and held overnight [...]

Since last summer’s tent city protests in Israel, there has been a great deal of public debate about the public subsidy for Yeshiva studies, coupled with its exemption from Israel’s Universal Draft, used almost entirely by Haredi Jews.  This topic was taken up by the Israel Courts, who found the current system unacceptable.  It was [...]

The following is a letter of congratulations written to Rabbi Miri Gold by Rabbi Robert Leib of Old York Road Temple-Beth Am in Abington, PA. Feel free to share your own messages to Miri in the comments below,  or on ARZA’s Facebook page! Dear Miri, On behalf of our entire congregation, most especially those who [...]

This is the official statement from the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism. It was released on May 29, 2012. This precedent-setting declaration comes from the Attorney General, but only after the Supreme Court ordered him to reconsider his original position. For years, the state has financed the salaries of thousands of rabbis throughout the country. [...]

By Rabbi Miri Gold People are asking me how I feel after the landmark decision to have the Ministry of Culture and Sport pay salaries to non-Orthodox rabbis who serve communities in Israel.  I’ll always remember this momentous date, because it is my youngest son’s 23rd birthday today. I’ll also remember it as the day [...]

Editor’s Note: The following post was issued as a press release this afternoon following the news today that Rabbi Miri Gold would become the first non-orthodox Rabbi to be paid by the State of Israel. Israeli Reform Rabbi Miri Gold will be the first non-orthodox Rabbi to be paid by the State of Israel, under [...]