Menachem Mendel

A few months ago the Israel Democracy Institute sponsored a symposium upon the release of a new book on the rabbinate. Below are two videos from the conference. (Hebrew)

Posted on December 28th, 2011 under Israel, Rabbinic Authority, Religion in Israel, Religious Authority, Religious Zionism. Comments: 1

Below is the video of the speech by Hadassa Margolese at tonight’s demonstration in Beit Shemesh against religious coercion, fansticism, violence, etc. Hadassa is the mother of Naama, the young girl who was featured in this Israel Channel Two newscast.

Posted on December 27th, 2011 under Beit Shemesh, Israel, News, Religion in Israel, Religious Zionism. Comments Off

It seems as if the conference on Torat ha-Melekh that is suppose to take place at Hebrew University this evening has been cancelled [update: maybe not]. A friend was kind enough to send me the following message from the Department of Jewish Thought, a co-sponsor of the event. מועצת החוג למחשבת ישראל התכנסה היום, יום [...]

Posted on December 12th, 2011 under Academia, Israel, Jewish-Gentile Relations, Religion in Israel, Religious Zionism. Comments: 2

The conference at Haifa University on the book Torat ha-Melekh has been cancelled after protests from numerous quarters over the author being invited to speak. (hat tip)

Posted on August 31st, 2011 under Jewish Law, Jewish-Gentile Relations, Public Events, Rabbinic Authority, Rabbinic Literature, Religion in Israel, Religious Zionism. Comments: 4

Tomer Persico has posted about a conference next week at Haifa University on the book Torat ha-Melekh.

Posted on August 28th, 2011 under Jewish Law, Jewish Thought, Jewish-Gentile Relations, Rabbinic Authority, Rabbinic Literature, Religion in Israel, Religious Zionism. Comments Off

The August 20, 1948 edition of Davar included the following pictures of how Tisha B’av was observed in a religious army unit. A short article described how the flag was raised and then lowered to half-mast in memory of the members of the unit who were killed in the battle of Gush Etzion, the Negev, [...]

Posted on August 7th, 2011 under Israel, Religious Zionism. Comments: 2

Israel has been experiencing a summer of protests focused around numerous economic and social issues. On Saturday night an estimated 150,000 people demonstrated around the country calling for a change in government economic policy. Although I may have missed them, I have yet to read or hear any voices addressing these issues from the standpoint [...]

Posted on July 30th, 2011 under Israel, Jewish Law, Religion in Israel, Religious Zionism. Comments: 2

Hillel Gershuni has posted some thoughtful comments (Hebrew) about the book Torat ha-Melekh. Hillel’s main points are that the book in no way calls for individuals to take the law into their own hands, it even emphasizes the need for the state to be the sole arbiter of power and force. Additionally, there is nothing [...]

Posted on July 4th, 2011 under Jewish Law, Jewish-Gentile Relations, Rabbinic Authority, Rabbinic Literature, Religious Zionism. Comments Off

I am not sure if history will see this as the opening battle, but the struggle for what may be the future of Religious Zionism seems to be under way. A number of weeks ago Rabbi Neriah Gutal wrote a review of Rabbi Israel Rosen’s book, Ve-Ohev ha-Ger in Musaf Shabbat. A number of responses [...]

Posted on June 16th, 2011 under Israel, Musaf Shabbat, Religious Zionism, Zionism. Comments: 17