BREAKING NEWS

Religious leaders, social rights activists and MKs gather to call for pluralism

Jewish leaders from both Orthodox and non-Orthodox denominations, along with social activists and MKs gathered in the Knesset on Tuesday to call for greater acceptance of non-Orthodox denominations and pluralist groups in Israel.
The event was initiated by MK Michal Rozin of Meretz ahead of the International Human Rights which takes place this Thursday, to discuss the issues of religious pluralism in Israel through the prism of human rights and women’s rights within Judaism and in relation to the current holiday of Hanukka.
Among the guests were head of the Reform Movement in Israel Rabbi Gilad Kariv; Orthodox rabbi, musician and interfaith activist David Menachem; Rabbi Haya Roen Becker of the Masorti (Conservative) Movemen, Dr. Hana Kehat, founder of the women’s divorce rights organization Koleich, along with MKs Merav Michaeli, Ksenia Svetlova, Tamar Zandberg, Dov Khenin, Karin Elharar and David Bitan.
“The true challenge is the integration of the values of Judaism and the values of liberalism and humanism,” said Rozin in her opening comments.
“The conflict between the two does not make our society more productive but instead brings about crises and divisiveness amongst the Israeli public.”