14 sept 2019
'What proof?' demands Ukraine-born Paula Barkan, who along with Beri Rozenberg, originally from Latvia, are protesting increasingly strident demands from the Rabbinate that has control over Jewish life in Israel; demands that even include DNA testing
Israelis from families who immigrated from the former Soviet Union are speaking out over what they say are insulting and unreasonable demands from the ultra-Orthodox Rabbinate to prove their Jewishness when planning a marriage in Israel.
According to Israeli law, marriage is under the exclusive authority of the ultra-Orthodox Rabbinate for Jews, Sharia law for Muslims and the church for Christians. Israel has no civil marriage and anyone wishing to marry in a non-religious ceremony must leave the country to do so.
The Rabbinate has been demanding that Israelis from Russian-speaking families provide them with documents or pictures showing that their families going back generations were in fact Jewish.
Paula Barkan, who is of Ukrainian origin, was one of those asked by the rabbis to show proof she was Jewish.
"Proof of what?" she says. "I have been here 30 years, I come from 5,000 years of Jewish culture."
"It is like being punched in the gut," Barkan says. "I was finally comfortable with my identity as an Israeli of Ukrainian origin," but now she feels as though that has been taken away from her.
There will be 180,000 such stories in the coming decade if this behavior is not stopped, Barkan warns.
Barkan is dismissive of the claim that non-Jews took advantage of the mass Jewish immigration from the former Soviet Union in the 1990s.
"Judaism that was practised by Jews in the Soviet Union, even when it was against the law, is not like the religion being practised in Israel today," she says.
The latest insult came last year, when 20 couples were asked to take DNA tests to prove they were genetically Jewish.
Beri Rozenberg came from a proud Jewish family in Latvia. His family were responsible for the care of their synagogue and also provided the matzah for Passover in the Jewish community of their town. His parents married in secret under Soviet rule and even had a ketubah (non-binding Jewish prenuptial agreement).
When Beri tried to register to get married, his parents were happy and proud to accompany him to the Rabbinate and testify as to their heritage.
He was offended and humiliated, though, when their Jewish identity was doubted.
"Being Jewish is not just important to them," he says. "It's important to me."
To illustrate how ridiculous the Rabbinate's process has become, Paula recounts her husband's family having to show up at the Rabbinate with a photo album. Among the many photographs was one of an uncle wearing his kippah. "That was good enough for them" she laughs.
There will be 180,000 such stories in the coming decade if this behavior is not stopped, she warns.
Both Paula and Beri are among the founders of the "Cultural Brigade" a group trying to incorporate some of their families traditions into Israeli life and culture.
Their experiences and those of many others are the basis of a song produced by the group making its way on social media to raise awareness and express their anger.
Israelis from families who immigrated from the former Soviet Union are speaking out over what they say are insulting and unreasonable demands from the ultra-Orthodox Rabbinate to prove their Jewishness when planning a marriage in Israel.
According to Israeli law, marriage is under the exclusive authority of the ultra-Orthodox Rabbinate for Jews, Sharia law for Muslims and the church for Christians. Israel has no civil marriage and anyone wishing to marry in a non-religious ceremony must leave the country to do so.
The Rabbinate has been demanding that Israelis from Russian-speaking families provide them with documents or pictures showing that their families going back generations were in fact Jewish.
Paula Barkan, who is of Ukrainian origin, was one of those asked by the rabbis to show proof she was Jewish.
"Proof of what?" she says. "I have been here 30 years, I come from 5,000 years of Jewish culture."
"It is like being punched in the gut," Barkan says. "I was finally comfortable with my identity as an Israeli of Ukrainian origin," but now she feels as though that has been taken away from her.
There will be 180,000 such stories in the coming decade if this behavior is not stopped, Barkan warns.
Barkan is dismissive of the claim that non-Jews took advantage of the mass Jewish immigration from the former Soviet Union in the 1990s.
"Judaism that was practised by Jews in the Soviet Union, even when it was against the law, is not like the religion being practised in Israel today," she says.
The latest insult came last year, when 20 couples were asked to take DNA tests to prove they were genetically Jewish.
Beri Rozenberg came from a proud Jewish family in Latvia. His family were responsible for the care of their synagogue and also provided the matzah for Passover in the Jewish community of their town. His parents married in secret under Soviet rule and even had a ketubah (non-binding Jewish prenuptial agreement).
When Beri tried to register to get married, his parents were happy and proud to accompany him to the Rabbinate and testify as to their heritage.
He was offended and humiliated, though, when their Jewish identity was doubted.
"Being Jewish is not just important to them," he says. "It's important to me."
To illustrate how ridiculous the Rabbinate's process has become, Paula recounts her husband's family having to show up at the Rabbinate with a photo album. Among the many photographs was one of an uncle wearing his kippah. "That was good enough for them" she laughs.
There will be 180,000 such stories in the coming decade if this behavior is not stopped, she warns.
Both Paula and Beri are among the founders of the "Cultural Brigade" a group trying to incorporate some of their families traditions into Israeli life and culture.
Their experiences and those of many others are the basis of a song produced by the group making its way on social media to raise awareness and express their anger.
7 aug 2019
Deputy health minister, a key Netanyahu coalition partner is facing charges of bribery, breach of trust and fraud in two investigations, including efforts to thwart extradition of accused child sex abuser to Australia
Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit is likely to limit the authority and powers of Deputy Health Minister Yaakov Litzman (United Torah Judaism) in light of the Israel Police recommendation to prosecute him in two separate criminal investigations.
The Israel Police said Tuesday there is sufficient evidence to bring charges against Litzman for fraud, breach of trust and witness tampering in two cases, one of which relates to the extradition of former Melbourne school principal Malka Leifer, who is accused of child sex abuse and the second involving the business of a close associate.
Litzman, the head of the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party, has been a long-standing key coalition partner of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit is likely to limit the authority and powers of Deputy Health Minister Yaakov Litzman (United Torah Judaism) in light of the Israel Police recommendation to prosecute him in two separate criminal investigations.
The Israel Police said Tuesday there is sufficient evidence to bring charges against Litzman for fraud, breach of trust and witness tampering in two cases, one of which relates to the extradition of former Melbourne school principal Malka Leifer, who is accused of child sex abuse and the second involving the business of a close associate.
Litzman, the head of the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party, has been a long-standing key coalition partner of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Australia has been pressing Israel to extradite Leifer, who fled Australia in 2008. She is wanted by Australian police on 74 sexual assault charges, including rape, involving girls at the institution.
An Israeli court ruled in 2016 that Leifer, who has denied the charges, was mentally unfit to face extradition and trial.
She was re-arrested in 2018 after a police investigation cast doubts on her health claims, and is in prison awaiting the extradition ruling, which Jerusalem District Court is expected to deliver by September 23.
In a statement, police alleged that Litzman pressured court-appointed psychiatrists operating through the Health Ministry to support Leifer's mental illness claims.
Litzman denied the allegations, telling Ynet he did not know Leifer and had no wish to comment on the investigation.
"I answered all of the questions (from the police) and I strongly deny everything they are saying," Litzman said.
The second investigation concerns allegations that Litzman improperly intervened in an attempt to stop the Health Ministry's prosecution of a Jerusalem deli belonging to a close associate.
Police say there is evidence of fraud, breach of trust and bribery in the investigation into Litzman's actions to protect Beis Yisrael-Goldy's deli. The menu at the deli, which is just one block away from Litzman's home, includes the "Trump Chicken Breast."
A spokesman for the deputy minister said Litzman has always worked for the benefit of Israel's citizens in complete transparency and that he is certain that further review of the evidence will show that he acted according to the law.
An Israeli court ruled in 2016 that Leifer, who has denied the charges, was mentally unfit to face extradition and trial.
She was re-arrested in 2018 after a police investigation cast doubts on her health claims, and is in prison awaiting the extradition ruling, which Jerusalem District Court is expected to deliver by September 23.
In a statement, police alleged that Litzman pressured court-appointed psychiatrists operating through the Health Ministry to support Leifer's mental illness claims.
Litzman denied the allegations, telling Ynet he did not know Leifer and had no wish to comment on the investigation.
"I answered all of the questions (from the police) and I strongly deny everything they are saying," Litzman said.
The second investigation concerns allegations that Litzman improperly intervened in an attempt to stop the Health Ministry's prosecution of a Jerusalem deli belonging to a close associate.
Police say there is evidence of fraud, breach of trust and bribery in the investigation into Litzman's actions to protect Beis Yisrael-Goldy's deli. The menu at the deli, which is just one block away from Litzman's home, includes the "Trump Chicken Breast."
A spokesman for the deputy minister said Litzman has always worked for the benefit of Israel's citizens in complete transparency and that he is certain that further review of the evidence will show that he acted according to the law.
6 aug 2019
Deputy Minister of Health Rabbi Yaakov Litzman
One of the cases revolves around Melbourne school principal Malka Leifer, who has been fighting extradition to Australia where she must stand trial for multiple charges of sexual assault of minors
The Israel Police announced on Tuesday there it has sufficient evidence to recomend charges against Deputy Minister of Health Yaakov Litzman for fraud, breach of trust and witness tampering in multiple cases including the extradition of former Melbourne school principal Malka Leifer, who is accused of child sex abuse.
The police also says it has evidence of Litzman's culpability including charges of bribery and breach of trust in another case involving a the business of a close associate.
Litzman, an ultra-Orthodox party leader, is a key ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
One of the cases revolves around Melbourne school principal Malka Leifer, who has been fighting extradition to Australia where she must stand trial for multiple charges of sexual assault of minors
The Israel Police announced on Tuesday there it has sufficient evidence to recomend charges against Deputy Minister of Health Yaakov Litzman for fraud, breach of trust and witness tampering in multiple cases including the extradition of former Melbourne school principal Malka Leifer, who is accused of child sex abuse.
The police also says it has evidence of Litzman's culpability including charges of bribery and breach of trust in another case involving a the business of a close associate.
Litzman, an ultra-Orthodox party leader, is a key ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Malka Leifer fighting extradition to Australia
Malka Leifer has been fighting extradition to Australia where she must stand trial for multiple charges of sexual assault of minors committed over years, when she was principle of an ultra-Orthodox school by is feigning mental.
Deputy Minister Litzman is suspected of exerting unlawful influence on psychiatrists working in his ministry, charged with evaluating Leifer's competence to face an extradition hearing.
A decision by the Jerusalem District Court is expected on September 23.
When asked about the suspicions, Litzman told Ynet he does not know Leifer and does not wish to comment on the investigation but denied the allegations.
The police investigation into the conduct of Lizman included the suspicions he tried to stop his ministry's persecution of a food plant belonging to a close associate.
There too sufficient evidence was found to recomend charges against the minister.
Litzman was also investigated for attempting to arrange preferential treatment of convicted pedophiles serving in prison including attempts to secure early parole, despite the prisoners not having undergone the required treatment while incarcerated.
According to the police, some of these alleged violations acced the statue of limitations and in others, there was not sufficient evidence found to recomend charges.
The spokesman for the deputy minister said the Rabbi Litzman has always worked for the benefit of Israel's citizens in complete transparency and that he is certain that further review of the evidence will show the deputy minister acted according to the law.
Manny Waks who has been an activist on behalf of Leifer's victims said: "Today's police announcement is a much welcome development in this prolonged, sordid case.
"Those of us who have been following this case closely over the years have always wondered how it reached this level of farce - there have been over 50 court hearings, with no end in sight.
"It seems the truth is slowly coming to light; an alleged interference at the highest level, Israel's ultra-Orthodox deputy health minister. Ironically, the highest goverment representative tasked with the health and well-being of Israel's citizens".
Malka Leifer has been fighting extradition to Australia where she must stand trial for multiple charges of sexual assault of minors committed over years, when she was principle of an ultra-Orthodox school by is feigning mental.
Deputy Minister Litzman is suspected of exerting unlawful influence on psychiatrists working in his ministry, charged with evaluating Leifer's competence to face an extradition hearing.
A decision by the Jerusalem District Court is expected on September 23.
When asked about the suspicions, Litzman told Ynet he does not know Leifer and does not wish to comment on the investigation but denied the allegations.
The police investigation into the conduct of Lizman included the suspicions he tried to stop his ministry's persecution of a food plant belonging to a close associate.
There too sufficient evidence was found to recomend charges against the minister.
Litzman was also investigated for attempting to arrange preferential treatment of convicted pedophiles serving in prison including attempts to secure early parole, despite the prisoners not having undergone the required treatment while incarcerated.
According to the police, some of these alleged violations acced the statue of limitations and in others, there was not sufficient evidence found to recomend charges.
The spokesman for the deputy minister said the Rabbi Litzman has always worked for the benefit of Israel's citizens in complete transparency and that he is certain that further review of the evidence will show the deputy minister acted according to the law.
Manny Waks who has been an activist on behalf of Leifer's victims said: "Today's police announcement is a much welcome development in this prolonged, sordid case.
"Those of us who have been following this case closely over the years have always wondered how it reached this level of farce - there have been over 50 court hearings, with no end in sight.
"It seems the truth is slowly coming to light; an alleged interference at the highest level, Israel's ultra-Orthodox deputy health minister. Ironically, the highest goverment representative tasked with the health and well-being of Israel's citizens".
5 aug 2019
The Israeli government intends to honor an extremist rabbi who has applauded the killing of non-Jews, especially the Muslims and Palestinians.
According to Haaretz newspaper, education minister Rabbi Rafi Peretz and transportation minister Bezalel Smotrich will honor rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh, who praised the 1994 massacre in al-Khalil city and was previously charged with inciting racism.
The ministers will speak at a Thursday event during which a prize will be awarded to Ginsburgh.
The US-born rabbi is known for publishing a pamphlet praising the actions of terrorist Baruch Goldstein, who in 1994 carried out the massacre at the Ibrahimi Mosque, in which he killed 29 Muslims and injured dozens as they were praying.
Ginsburgh is also among the rabbis who endorsed the book “The King’s Torah,” which discusses circumstances in which Jews may kill non-Jews according to Jewish law.
The prize will be awarded under the auspices of an institution called the “Cathedra for Torah and Wisdom,” which receive financial support from the education ministry’s department for Jewish culture.
According to Haaretz newspaper, education minister Rabbi Rafi Peretz and transportation minister Bezalel Smotrich will honor rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh, who praised the 1994 massacre in al-Khalil city and was previously charged with inciting racism.
The ministers will speak at a Thursday event during which a prize will be awarded to Ginsburgh.
The US-born rabbi is known for publishing a pamphlet praising the actions of terrorist Baruch Goldstein, who in 1994 carried out the massacre at the Ibrahimi Mosque, in which he killed 29 Muslims and injured dozens as they were praying.
Ginsburgh is also among the rabbis who endorsed the book “The King’s Torah,” which discusses circumstances in which Jews may kill non-Jews according to Jewish law.
The prize will be awarded under the auspices of an institution called the “Cathedra for Torah and Wisdom,” which receive financial support from the education ministry’s department for Jewish culture.
