URJ - Israel Information and Action

Union for Reform Judaism - Serving Reform Congregations in North America

For the Love of Israel - Information and Action

Israeli Religious Action Center Wins Major Case

May 2008: The Israel Religious Action Center, the legal arm of Progressive Judaism in Israel, has just won a precedent setting case in the Israeli Supreme Court. The Court ruled that the State has to provide equal funding for Reform and Conservative conversion classes.

The implications of such a verdict are huge. This is the first time that the Court has declared that government funding must be provided to non-Orthodox Jewish religious services in Israel. Such outstanding verdict goes well beyond the issue of funding for conversion classes, addressing the core issue of religious freedom in Israel.

Read a letter of appreciation from Rabbi Gilad Kariv, Executive Director, IMPJ
Read more in Israeli media

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Reform Movement Israel Briefing Conference Call
Wednesday, January 7 (more about the call)
Listen below or download the MP3.

Warren Olney’s To the Point/NPR interview of Rabbi Eric Yoffie and Diane Balser, executive director, Brit Tzedek V’Shalom (more about the interview)
Listen below or download the MP3.