NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Religion in Israel

Israel is the only country in which Judaism is the religion of the majority of citizens. According to the country's Central Bureau of Statistics, in 2005 the population was 76.1% Jewish, 16.2% Muslim, 2.1% Christian, and 1.6% Druze, with the remaining 3.9% (mainly immigrants from the former Soviet Union) not classified by religion.^[1] This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Israel Central Bureau of Statistics (×”×œ×©×›×” ×”×ž×¨×›×–×™×ª ×œ×¡×˜×˜×™×¡×˜×™×§×”) is a state organization for the creation and maintenance of numeric data related to populations vis-Ã -vis the ethnic makeup of Israel and its cities. ... There is also a collection of Hadith called Sahih Muslim A Muslim (Arabic: Ù…Ø³Ù„Ù…, Persian: Mosalman or Mosalmon Urdu: Ù…Ø³Ù„Ù…Ø§Ù†, Turkish: MÃ¼slÃ¼man, Albanian: Mysliman, Bosnian: Musliman) is an adherent of the religion of Islam. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Religions Druzism Scriptures Languages Arabic, Hebrew The Druze (Arabic: Ø¯Ø±Ø²ÙŠ, derzÄ« or durzÄ«, plural Ø¯Ø±ÙˆØ², durÅ«z; Hebrew: , Druzim; also transliterated Druz or Druse) are a Middle Eastern religious community whose traditional religion began as an offshoot of the Ismaili sect of Islam, but is unique in its incorporation of Gnostic, neo...

As of 1999, 5% of Israeli Jews defined themselves as Haredim; an additional 12% as "religious"; 35% as "traditionalists" (not strictly adhering to Jewish law or halakha); 43% as "secular"; and 5% as "anti-religious." Among all Israeli Jews, 65% believe in God and 85% participate in a Passover seder [1]. However, other sources indicate that between 15% and 37% of Israelis identify themselves as either agnostics or atheists.^[2] Haredi or Charedi Judaism (alternatively Hareidi or Chareidi - this spelling being usually preferred by Haredim themselves) is the most theologically conservative form of Orthodox Judaism. ... Halakha (Hebrew: ×”×œ×›×”; also transliterated as Halakhah, Halacha, Halakhot and Halachah with pronunciation emphasis on the third syllable, kha), is the collective corpus of Jewish religious law, including biblical law (the 613 mitzvot) and later talmudic and rabbinic law as well as customs and traditions. ... At the bottom of the hands, the two letters on each hand combine to form ×™×”×•×” (YHVH), the name of God. ... Table set for the beginning of the Passover Seder, including Passover Seder Plate (front center), salt water, three shmurah matzot (rear center), and bottles of kosher wine. ... Agnosticism (from the Greek a, meaning without, and Gnosticism or gnosis, meaning knowledge) means unknowable, and is the philosophical view that the truth value of certain claimsâ€”particularly theological claims regarding metaphysics, afterlife or the existence of God, god(s), or deitiesâ€”is unknown or, depending on the form of... â€œAtheistâ€ redirects here. ...

Israelis tend not to align themselves with a movement of Judaism (such as Reform Judaism or Conservative Judaism) but instead tend to define their religious affiliation by degree of their religious practice. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Reform Judaism can refer to (1) the largest denomination of American Jews and its sibling movements in other countries, (2) a branch of Judaism in the United Kingdom, and (3) the historical predecessor of the American movement that originated in 19th-century Germany. ... Conservative Judaism, (also known as Masorti Judaism in Israel predominantly), is a modern stream of Judaism that arose out of intellectual currents in Germany in the mid-19th century and took institutional form in the United States in the early 1900s. ...

Of the Arab Israelis, as of 2005, 82.7% were Muslims, 8.4% were Druze, and 8.3% were Christians.^[1] The Israeli Arabs, or 1948 Palestinians, are those Arabs who remained inside the borders of what would become Israel after 1948, when most Arabs fled the country in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War (see also Nakba). They make up roughly 20% of Israels population. ...

Religion and citizenship

Israel was founded to provide a national home, safe from persecution, to the Jewish people. Although Israeli law explicitly grants equal civil rights to all citizens regardless of religion, ethnicity, or other heritage, it gives preferential treatment in certain aspects to individuals who fall within the criteria mandated by the Law of Return. Preferential treatment is given to Jews who seek to immigrate to Israel as part of a governmental policy to increase the Jewish population. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

The criteria set forth by the Law of Return are controversial. The Law of Return differs from Jewish religious law in that it disqualifies individuals who are Jewish but who converted to another religion, and also in that it grants immigrant status to individuals who are not Jewish but are related to Jews.

Judaism in Israel

Most citizens in the State of Israel are Jewish, and most Israeli Jews practice Judaism in some form. For other uses, see Jew (disambiguation). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

While Judaism has always affirmed a collection of Jewish Principles of Faith, it has never developed a fully binding catechism. While individual rabbis, or sometimes entire groups, at times agreed upon a firm dogma, other rabbis and groups disagreed. With no central agreed-upon authority, no one formulation of Jewish principles of faith could take precedence over any other. Judaism's core belief, however, firmly remains a binding principle agreed upon by Jews of all backgrounds: the belief in one God, creator of the universe. There are a number of basic Jewish principles of faith that were formulated by medieval rabbinic authorities. ... Codex Manesse, fol. ... Rabbi, in Judaism, means â€˜teacherâ€™, or more literally â€˜great oneâ€™. The word Rabbi is derived from the Hebrew root word , rav, which in biblical Hebrew means â€˜greatâ€™ or â€˜distinguished (in knowledge)â€™. Sephardic and Yemenite Jews pronounce this word ribbÄ«; the modern Israeli pronunciation rabbÄ« is derived from a recent (18th...

In the last two centuries the largest Jewish community in the world, in the United States, has divided into a number of Jewish denominations. The largest and most influential of these denominations are Orthodox Judaism, Reform Judaism, and Conservative Judaism. Several denominations have developed within Judaism, especially among Ashkenazi Jews living in anglophone countries. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Reform Judaism can refer to (1) the largest denomination of American Jews and its sibling movements in other countries, (2) a branch of Judaism in the United Kingdom, and (3) the historical predecessor of the American movement that originated in 19th-century Germany. ... Conservative Judaism, (also known as Masorti Judaism in Israel predominantly), is a modern stream of Judaism that arose out of intellectual currents in Germany in the mid-19th century and took institutional form in the United States in the early 1900s. ...

All of the above denominations exist, to varying degrees, in the State of Israel. Nevertheless, Israelis tend to classify Jewish identity in ways that are strikingly different from American Jewry.

Gallup International reports that 25% of Israeli citizens regularly attend religious services, compared to 15% of Jewish French citizens, 10% of Jewish UK citizens, and 57% of Jewish American citizens. See: Gallup poll (opinion poll) Gallup, New Mexico ... Places of worship are buildings or other locations where religious persons may worship their deity, regularly or not. ... The culture of the United Kingdom is rich and varied, and has been influential on culture on a worldwide scale. ... The Washington National Cathedral, located in the capital of the U.S., is one of the largest churches in the country. ...

The secular-traditional spectrum

Most Jewish Israelis classify themselves as "secular" (hiloni) or as "traditional" (masorati). The former term is more popular among Israeli families of European origin, and the latter term among Israeli families of Oriental origin (i.e. Middle East, Central Asia and North Africa). The latter term, as commonly used, has nothing to do with the official "Masorti" (Conservative Judaism) movement in the State of Israel. There is ambiguity in the ways these two terms are used. They often overlap, and they cover an extremely wide range of ideologies and levels of observance.

Many Jewish Israelis feel that being Israeli (living among Jews, speaking Hebrew, in the Land of Israel) is in itself a sufficient expression of Judaism without any religious observances. This conforms to some classical secular-Zionist ideologies of Israeli-style civil religion. While many in the Jewish diaspora who otherwise consider themselves as secular will attend a synagogue or at least fast on Yom Kippur (the holiest Jewish holiday), this is not as common among secular Israelis. â€œHebrewâ€ redirects here. ... Kingdom of Israel: Early ancient historical Israel â€” land in pink is the approximate area under direct central royal administration during the United Monarchy. ... Zionism is a political movement that supports a homeland for the Jewish people in the Land of Israel, where Jewish nationhood is thought to have evolved somewhere between 1200 BCE and late Second Temple times,[1][2] and where Jewish kingdoms existed up to the 2nd century CE. Zionism is... The Jewish diaspora (Hebrew: Tefutzah, scattered, or Galut ×’×œ×•×ª, exile, Yiddish: tfutses) is the expulsion of the Jewish people out of the Roman province of Judea. ... A synagogue (from Ancient Greek: , transliterated synagogÄ“, assembly; Hebrew: beit knesset, house of assembly; Yiddish: , shul; Ladino: , esnoga) is a Jewish place of religious worship. ... Yom Kippur (IPA: ; Hebrew:×™×•Ö¹× ×›Ö´Ö¼×¤Ö¼×•Ö¼×¨, IPA: ) is the Jewish holiday of the Day of Atonement. ... Jewish holiday, (or Yom Tom or chag or taanit in Hebrew) is a day that is holy to the Jewish people according to Judaism and is usually derived from the Hebrew Bible, specifically the Torah, and in some cases established by the rabbis in later eras. ...

Because the terms "secular" and "traditional" not are strictly defined, published estimates of the percentage of Israeli Jews who are considered "traditional" range from 32%[2] to 55%[3]. Estimates of the percentage of "secular" Jews vary even more widely: from 20%[4] to 80%[5] of the Israeli population.

The Orthodox spectrum

The spectrum covered by "Orthodox" in the diaspora exists in Israel, again with some important variations. The Orthodox spectrum in Israel includes a far greater percentage of the Jewish population than in the diaspora, though how much greater is hotly debated. Various ways of measuring this percentage, each with its pros and cons, include the proportion of religiously observant Knesset members (about 25 out of 120), the proportion of Jewish children enrolled in religious schools, and statistical studies on "identity". This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The modern Knesset building, Israels parliament, in Jerusalem Though similar-sounding, Beit Knesset (×‘×™×ª ×›× ×¡×ª) literally means House of Assembly, and refers to a synagogue. ...

What would be called "Orthodox" in the diaspora includes what is commonly called dati ("religious") or haredi ("ultra-Orthodox") in Israel. The former term includes what is called Religious Zionism or the "National Religious" community (and also Modern Orthodox in US terms), as well as what has become known over the past decade or so as Hardal (haredi-leumi, i.e. "ultra-Orthodox nationalist"), which combines a largely haredi lifestyle with a nationalist (i.e. pro-Zionist) ideology. Haredi or Charedi Judaism (alternatively Hareidi or Chareidi - this spelling being usually preferred by Haredim themselves) is the most theologically conservative form of Orthodox Judaism. ... Religious Zionism, or the Religious Zionist Movement, a branch of which is also called Mizrachi, is an ideology that claims to combine Zionism and Judaism, to base Zionism on the principles of Jewish religion and heritage. ... Modern Orthodox Judaism (or Modern Orthodox or Modern Orthodoxy; sometimes abbreviated as MO or Modox) is a movement within Orthodox Judaism that attempts to synthesize traditional observance and values with the secular, modern world. ... Hardal (Hebrew: ×—×¨×“×œ, ×—×¨×“×™ ×œ××•×ž×™ Translit. ...

Haredi applies to a populace that can be roughly divided into three separate groups along both ethnic and ideological lines: (1) "Lithuanian" (i.e. non-hasidic) haredim of Ashkenazic (i.e "Germanic" - European) origin; (2) Hasidic haredim of Ashkenazic (mostly of Eastern European) origin; and (3) Sephardic (including mizrahi) haredim. The third group has the largest political representation in Israel's parliament (the Knesset), and has been the most politically active since the early 1990s, represented by the Shas party. Languages Yiddish, Hebrew, Russian, English Religions Judaism, Satanism, Nazism Related ethnic groups Sephardi Jews, Mizrahi Jews, and other Jewish ethnic divisions Ashkenazi Jews, also known as Ashkenazic Jews or Ashkenazim (Standard Hebrew: sing. ... Hasidic Judaism (also Chasidic, etc. ... Map of Eastern Europe Pre-1989 division between the West (grey) and Eastern Bloc (orange) superimposed on current national boundaries: Russia (dark orange), other countries of the former USSR (medium orange),members of the Warsaw pact (light orange), and other former Communist regimes not aligned with Moscow (lightest orange). ... Languages Ladino also JudÃ¦o-Portuguese, Catalanic, and Shuadit Religions Judaism Related ethnic groups Ashkenazi Jews, Mizrahi Jews, other Jewish ethnic divisions, Spaniards, Portuguese Sephardi Jews (Hebrew: ×¡×¤×¨×“×™, Standard Tiberian ; plural ×¡×¤×¨×“×™×, Standard Tiberian ) are a subgroup of Jews originating in the Iberian Peninsula, usually defined in contrast to Ashkenazi Jews; frequently... Languages Hebrew, Dzhidi, JudÃ¦o-Arabic, Gruzinic, Bukhori, Judeo-Berber, Juhuri and JudÃ¦o-Aramaic Religions Judaism Related ethnic groups Ashkenazi Jews, Sephardi Jews, other Jewish ethnic divisions and Arabs. ... The modern Knesset building, Israels parliament, in Jerusalem Though similar-sounding, Beit Knesset (×‘×™×ª ×›× ×¡×ª) literally means House of Assembly, and refers to a synagogue. ... For the band, see 1990s (band). ... Shas (Hebrew: ) is an political party in Israel, primarily representing Ultra-orthodox Sephardi and Mizrahi Judaism. ...

There is also a growing baal teshuva ("returnees") movement of secular Israelis rejecting their previously secular lifestyles and choosing to become religiously observant with many educational programs and yeshivas for them. An example is Aish HaTorah, which received open encouragement from some sectors within the Israeli establishment. The Israeli government gave Aish HaTorah the real estate rights to its massive new campus opposite the Western Wall because of its proven ability to attract all manner of secular Jews to learn more about Judaism. In many instances after visiting from foreign countries, students decide to make Israel their permanent home by making aliyah. Other notable organizations involved in these efforts are the Chabad and Breslov Hasidic movements who manage to have an ever-growing appeal, the popularity of Rabbi Amnon Yitschak's organization and the Arachim organization that offer a variety of frequent free "introduction to Judaism" seminars to secular Jews, the Lev LeAchim organization that sends out senior yeshiva and kollel students to recruit Israeli children for religious elementary schools and Yad LeAchim which runs counter missionary programs. This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This article is about the Jewish educational system. ... Aish HaTorah Center opposite the Western Wall in Jerusalem Aish HaTorah (Fire of the Torah) is an Orthodox Jewish outreach organization and yeshiva. ... Western Wall by night â€œWailing Wallâ€ redirects here. ... Aliyah (Hebrew: ×¢×œ×™×™×”, ascent or going up) is a term widely used to mean Jewish immigration to the Land of Israel (and since its establishment in 1948, the State of Israel). ... It has been suggested that Hasidic philosophy be merged into this article or section. ... Breslov is a branch of Hasidic Judaism founded by Rebbe Nachman of Breslov (1772-1810) a great-grandson of the Baal Shem Tov, founder of Hasidism. ... Hasidic Judaism (also Chasidic, etc. ... A kollel (Hebrew: ×›×•×œ×œ; a gathering/collection [of scholars] is an institute for advanced studies of the Talmud and of rabbinic literature for post-graduate Jewish adults, essentially a yeshiva which pays married men a regular monthly stipend or annual salary (and/or provides housing and meals) to study Judaisms... Counter-Missionaries are Jews who defend Judaism against the Christian claims that Jesus is the Messiah, and comprise members from all Jewish sects. ...

At the same time, there is also a significant movement in the opposite direction towards a secular lifestyle. There is some debate which trend is stronger at present.

The secular-religious Status Quo

The religious status quo, agreed upon by David Ben-Gurion with the religious parties at the time of the declaration of independence in 1948 is an agreement on the religious Jewish role in government and the judicical system of Israel. Under this agreement, which is still mostly held today: This does not cite any references or sources. ... (October 16, 1886 â€“ December 1, 1973; Hebrew: ) was the first Prime Minister of Israel. ... 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1948 calendar). ...

Nevertheless, some breaches of the status quo have become prevalent, such as several suburban malls remaining open during the Sabbath. Though this is contrary to the law, the Government largely turns a blind eye. The relationship between Judaism and the state has always been a controversial and unstable one. Look up kosher in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This article or section cites very few or no references or sources. ... Bereavement in Judaism (××‘×œ×•×ª aveilut; mourning) is a combination of minhag (traditional custom) and mitzvot (commandments) derived from Judaisms classical Torah and rabbinic texts. ... Judaism considers marriage to be the ideal state of existence; a man without a wife, or a woman without a husband, are considered incomplete. ... Ger tzedek (Hebrew: righteous proselyte or proselyte [of] righteousness) or Ger (stranger or proselyte) is a gentile (i. ... Haredi Judaism, also called ultra-Orthodox Judaism, is the most theologically conservative form of Judaism. ... This article or section cites very few or no references or sources. ... Skytrain Bangkok. ... This article needs additional references or sources to facilitate its verification. ... The circled U indicates that this can of tuna is certified kosher by the Union of Orthodox Congregations. ... Chief rabbi is a title given in several countries to the recognised religious leader of that countrys Jewish community. ... Kibbutz Dan, near Qiryat Shemona, in the Upper Galilee, 1990s A kibbutz (Hebrew: ; plural: kibbutzim: ×§×™×‘×•×¦×™×; gathering or together) is an Israeli collective intentional community. ... For the band, see 1990s (band). ... The Supreme Court (Hebrew: ×‘×™×ª ×”×ž×©×¤×˜ ×”×¢×œ×™×•×Ÿ, Beit Hamishpat Haelyon ) is at the head of the court system in the State of Israel. ... shelby was here 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

There have been many problems brought forth by secular Israelis regarding the Chief Rabbinate's strict control over Jewish weddings, Jewish divorce proceedings, conversions, and who counts as Jewish for the purposes of immigration.

The state of Israel enables freedom of religion for all its citizens but does not enable freedom of religion - The state of Israel forbids and does not approve of any civil marriages or non-religious divorces performed amongst the the secular Israeli Jews within the country. Because of this many Israelis choose to marry outside of Israel.

The Ministry of Education manages the secular (largest) and religious streams of various faiths in parallel, with a limited degree independence and a common core Curriculum.

In recent years, perceived frustration among some members of the secular sector with the Status Quo has strengthened parties such as Shinui, which advocate separation of religion from the state, without much success so far. Shinui (×©×™× ×•×™) (original full name: Tenua le-Shinui ve Yozma and then to Shinui-Mifleget ha-Merkaz) is a Zionist, secular and anti-clerical, free market liberal party in Israel. ...

Today the secular Israeli-Jews claim that they aren't religious and don't follow the Jewish rules and that Israel as a democratic modern country should not force the old outdated religious rules upon its citizens against their will. The religious Israeli-Jews claim that the separation between state and religion will contribute to the end of Israel's Jewish identity.

Signs of the first challenge to the status quo came in 1977, with the fall of the Labor government that had ruled Israel since independence and the formation of a rightwing coalition under Menachem Begin. Right-wing Revisionist Zionism had always been more acceptable to the religious parties, since it did not share the same history of antireligious rhetoric that marked socialist Zionism. Furthermore, Begin needed the Haredi members of the Knesset (Israel's unicameral parliament) to form his coalition and offered more power and benefits to their community than what they were accustomed to receiving, including a lifting of the numerical limit on military exemptions. (August 16, 1913 â€“ March 9, 1992) (Hebrew: ×žÖ°× Ö·×—Öµ× ×‘Ö°Ö¼×’Ö´×™×Ÿ) was a Polish-Jewish head of the Zionist underground group the Irgun, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and the first Likud Prime Minister of Israel. ...

On the other hand, secular (nonreligious) Israelis (Reform Judaism and Conservative Judaism have always had a negligible presence in Israel), began questioning whether a "status quo" based on the conditions of the 1940s and 1950s was still relevant in the 1980s and 1990s, and perceived that they had cultural and institutional support to enable them to change it regardless of its relevance. They challenged Orthodox control of personal affairs such as marriage and divorce, resented the lack of entertainment and transportation options on the Sabbath (then the country's only day of rest), and questioned whether the burden of military service was being shared equally, since the 400 scholars, who originally benefited from the exemption, had grown to 50,000^{[citation needed]}. Finally, the Progressive (Reform) and Masorti (Conservative) communities, though still minuscule, began to exert themselves as an alternative to the Haredi control of religious issues. Reform Judaism can refer to (1) the largest denomination of American Jews and its sibling movements in other countries, (2) a branch of Judaism in the United Kingdom, and (3) the historical predecessor of the American movement that originated in 19th-century Germany. ... Conservative Judaism, (also known as Masorti Judaism in Israel predominantly), is a modern stream of Judaism that arose out of intellectual currents in Germany in the mid-19th century and took institutional form in the United States in the early 1900s. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... This does not cite any references or sources. ... This article cites very few or no references or sources. ... For the band, see 1990s (band). ... This article or section cites very few or no references or sources. ... Reform Judaism can refer to (1) the largest denomination of American Jews and its sibling movements in other countries, (2) a branch of Judaism in the United Kingdom, and (3) the historical predecessor of the American movement that originated in 19th-century Germany. ... Conservative Judaism, (also known as Masorti Judaism in Israel predominantly), is a modern stream of Judaism that arose out of intellectual currents in Germany in the mid-19th century and took institutional form in the United States in the early 1900s. ...

No one was happy with the "status quo"; the Orthodox used their new-found political force to attempt to extend religious control, and the non-Orthodox sought to reduce or even eliminate it.

Role of the Chief Rabbinate

It was during the British Mandate of Palestine that the British administration established an official dual Ashkenazi-Sephardi "Chief Rabbinate" (rabbanut harashit) that was exclusively Orthodox, as part of an effort to consolidate and organize Jewish life based on its own model in Britain which encouraged strict loyalty to the British crown, and in order to attempt to influence the religious life of the Jews in Palestine in a similar fashion. In 1921, Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook (1864-1935) was chosen as the first Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi and Rabbi Yaakov Meir as the first Sephardi Chief Rabbi (Rishon LeTzion). Rabbi Kook was a leading light of the religious Zionist movement, and was acknowledged by all as a great rabbi of his generation. He believed that the work of secular Jews towards creating an eventual Jewish state in Eretz Yisrael was part of a divine plan for the settlement of the land of Israel. The return to Israel was in Kook's view not merely a political phenomenon to save Jews from persecution, but an event of extraordinary historical and theological significance. Popular common picture of a smiling Rabbi A.Y. Kook. ... Abraham Isaac Kook (1864 - 1935) was the first Ashkenazi chief rabbi of the British Mandate for Palestine, the founder of the (now) Religious Zionist Yeshiva Merkaz HaRav, and a renowned Torah scholar. ... Flag Britain unilaterally closed the territory east of the Jordan River (Transjordan) to Jewish settlement and organized Transjordan as an autonomous state in 1923. ... Flag Britain unilaterally closed the territory east of the Jordan River (Transjordan) to Jewish settlement and organized Transjordan as an autonomous state in 1923. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Abraham Isaac Kook (1864 - 1935) was the first Ashkenazi chief rabbi of the British Mandate for Palestine, the founder of the (now) Religious Zionist Yeshiva Merkaz HaRav, and a renowned Torah scholar. ... Languages Yiddish, Hebrew, Russian, English Religions Judaism, Satanism, Nazism Related ethnic groups Sephardi Jews, Mizrahi Jews, and other Jewish ethnic divisions Ashkenazi Jews, also known as Ashkenazic Jews or Ashkenazim (Standard Hebrew: sing. ... // Chief rabbi is a title given in several countries to the recognised religious leader of that countrys Jewish community. ... Languages Ladino also JudÃ¦o-Portuguese, Catalanic, and Shuadit Religions Judaism Related ethnic groups Ashkenazi Jews, Mizrahi Jews, other Jewish ethnic divisions, Spaniards, Portuguese Sephardi Jews (Hebrew: ×¡×¤×¨×“×™, Standard Tiberian ; plural ×¡×¤×¨×“×™×, Standard Tiberian ) are a subgroup of Jews originating in the Iberian Peninsula, usually defined in contrast to Ashkenazi Jews; frequently... Religious Zionism, or the Religious Zionist Movement, a branch of which is also called Mizrachi, is an ideology that claims to combine Zionism and Judaism, to base Zionism on the principles of Jewish religion and heritage. ... The Land of Israel (Hebrew: Eretz Yisrael) refers to the land making up the ancient Jewish Kingdoms of Israel and Judah. ... Kingdom of Israel: Early ancient historical Israel â€” land in pink is the approximate area under direct central royal administration during the United Monarchy. ...

Prior to the 1917 British conquest of Palestine, the Ottomans had recognized the leading Talmudic rabbis of the old yishuv ("[Jewish] settlement") as the official leaders of the small Jewish community that for many centuries consisted mostly of the devoutly Orthodox Jews from Eastern Europe as well as those from the Levant who had made aliyah to the Holy Land, primarily for religious reasons. The European immigrants had unified themselves in an organization initially known as the Vaad Ha'ir, which later changed its name to Edah HaChareidis. The Turks viewed the local rabbis of Palestine as extensions of their own Orthodox Hakham Bashis ("[Turkish] Chief Rabbi/s") who were loyal to the Sultan. Motto Ø¯ÙˆÙ„Øª Ø§Ø¨Ø¯ Ù…Ø¯Øª Devlet-i Ebed-mÃ¼ddet (The Eternal State) Anthem Ottoman imperial anthem Borders in 1680, see: list of territories Capital SÃ¶ÄŸÃ¼t (1299â€“1326) Bursa (1326â€“65) Edirne (1365â€“1453) Constantinople (Ä°stanbul, 1453â€“1922) Language(s) Ottoman Turkish (official); spoken languages include Abkhazian, Adyghe, Albanian, Arabic, Aramaic, Armenian, Azerbaijani... The first page of the Vilna Edition of the Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Berachot, folio 2a. ... Map of Eastern Europe Pre-1989 division between the West (grey) and Eastern Bloc (orange) superimposed on current national boundaries: Russia (dark orange), other countries of the former USSR (medium orange),members of the Warsaw pact (light orange), and other former Communist regimes not aligned with Moscow (lightest orange). ... The Levant The Levant (IPA: /lÉ™vÃ¦nt/) is an imprecise geographical term historically referring to a large area in the Middle East south of the Taurus Mountains, bounded by the Mediterranean Sea on the west, and by the northern Arabian Desert and Upper Mesopotamia to the east. ... Aliyah (Hebrew: ×¢×œ×™×™×”, ascent or going up) is a term widely used to mean Jewish immigration to the Land of Israel (and since its establishment in 1948, the State of Israel). ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Holy Land (Biblical). ... The Edah HaCharedis (Hebrew: ×”×¢×“×” ×”×—×¨×“×™×ª HaEdah HaCharedis), also written Edah Haredit, is a prominent Haredi rabbinical body in present-day Jerusalem. ... Hakham Bashi (Turkish: Hakham BaÅ¡si) was the name for the Chief Rabbi of the Ottoman Empire, and as such, the Hakham Bashi was the closest thing to an overall Exilarchal authority among Jewry everywhere in the Middle East in early modern times. ...

Thus the centrality of an Orthodox dominated Chief Rabbinate became part of the new state of Israel as well when it was established in 1948. Based in its central offices at Heichal Shlomo in Jerusalem the Israeli Chief rabbinate has continued to wield exclusive control over all the Jewish religious aspects of the secular state of Israel. Through a complex system of "advice and consent" from a variety of senior rabbis and influential politicians, each Israeli city and town also gets to elect its own local Orthodox Chief Rabbi who is looked up to by substantial regional and even national religious and even non-religious Israeli Jews. David Ben Gurion (First Prime Minister of Israel) publicly pronouncing the Declaration of the State of Israel, May 14, 1948. ... For other uses, see Jerusalem (disambiguation). ...

Through a national network of Batei Din ("religious courts"), each headed only by approved Orthodox Av Beit Din judges, as well as a network of "Religious Councils" that are part of each municipality, the Israeli Chief Rabbinate retains exclusive control and has the final say in the state about virtually all matters pertaining to conversion to Judaism, the Kosher certification of foods, the status of Jewish marriages and divorces, and monitoring and acting when called upon to supervise the observance of some laws relating to Shabbat observance, Passover (particularly when issues concerning the sale or ownership of Chametz come up), the observance of the Sabbatical year and the Jubilee year in the agricultural sphere. PUBLIC photograph of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef Voting in Israeli Elections This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... PUBLIC photograph of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef Voting in Israeli Elections This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Rabbi Ovadia Yosef (Hebrew: ×¢×•×‘×“×™×” ×™×•×¡×£) (b. ... Sephardim (×¡×¤×¨×“×™, Standard Hebrew SÉ™fardi, Tiberian Hebrew ardÃ®; plural Sephardim: ×¡×¤×¨×“×™×, Standard Hebrew Sfaradim, Tiberian Hebrew ) are a subgroup of Jews, generally defined in contrast to Ashkenazim and/or . ... Shas (Hebrew: ) is an political party in Israel, primarily representing Ultra-orthodox Sephardi and Mizrahi Judaism. ... A beth din (×‘×™×ª ×“×™×Ÿ, Hebrew: house of judgment, plural battei din) is a rabbinical court of Judaism. ... Av Beit Din, or Av Beis Din, or Av Beth Din (××‘ ×‘×™×ª ×“×™×Ÿ) Hebrew, literally Father of the House of Justice. The Av Beit/Beis Din was the second-highest ranking member of the Sanhedrin during the Second Commonwealth period. ... Ger tzedek (Hebrew: righteous proselyte or proselyte [of] righteousness) or Ger (stranger or proselyte) is a gentile (i. ... Look up kosher in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Judaism considers marriage to be the ideal state of existence; a man without a wife, or a woman without a husband, are considered incomplete. ... This article or section cites very few or no references or sources. ... Pasch redirects here. ... Chametz or Chometz (×—×ž×¥) is the Hebrew term for leavened bread. The word is used generally in regard to the Jewish holiday of Passover. ... The Sabbatical Year, (in Hebrew: ×©Ö°××žÖ´×˜Ö¸Ö¼×” Shemittah -- [Year of] Remission) was promulgated in the Torah and was practiced within Judaism. ... The Jubilee year (every 50th year) and the Sabbatical year (every seventh year) are Biblical commandments concerning ethical ownership of land. ...

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) also relies on the Chief Rabbinate's approval for its own Jewish chaplains who are exclusively Orthodox. The IDF has a number of units that cater to the unique religious requirements of the Religious Zionist yeshiva students through the Hesder program of combined alternating military service and yeshiva studies over several years. The Israel Defense Forces are part of the Israeli Security Forces. ... This article is about the Jewish educational system. ... Hesder (in Hebrew: arrangement; or Yeshivat Hesder ×™×©×™×‘×ª ×”×¡×“×¨) is an Israeli yeshiva program which combines advanced Talmudic studies with military service in the Israel Defense Forces. ...

Challenges from the left and right

The Chief Rabbinate is nevertheless under constant criticism and pressure from both the "left" and "right" wings of Judaism and Jewish groups. Many secular Israelis dislike the fact that their private lives are subject to the rulings of a religious court, albeit a Jewish one. The Reform and Conservative movements based in the United States resent that they are locked out of Israel's religious establishment and remain unrecognized as official Jewish religious bodies in Israel. They have established offices and synagogues in Israel to propagate their views. Simultaneously, the Haredi population, including many Hasidic groups, view the Chief Rabbinate as "too lenient", "too Zionistic", and of being the "lackeys" of the Israeli political establishment, since, for example, even members of the Knesset who are not religious, are allowed to be part of the electoral college that elects each new set of Chief Rabbis every ten years. Reform Judaism can refer to (1) the largest denomination of American Jews and its sibling movements in other countries, (2) a branch of Judaism in the United Kingdom, and (3) the historical predecessor of the American movement that originated in 19th-century Germany. ... Conservative Judaism, (also known as Masorti Judaism in Israel predominantly), is a modern stream of Judaism that arose out of intellectual currents in Germany in the mid-19th century and took institutional form in the United States in the early 1900s. ... Haredi or Charedi Judaism (alternatively Hareidi or Chareidi - this spelling being usually preferred by Haredim themselves) is the most theologically conservative form of Orthodox Judaism. ... Hasidic Judaism (also Chasidic, etc. ...

Jewish emblem of Jerusalem Source: [1] This is a copyrighted and/or trademarked logo. ... Jewish emblem of Jerusalem Source: [1] This is a copyrighted and/or trademarked logo. ... Lion of Judah has its origins in the Book of Genesis of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) where the Israelite tribe of Judah had the lion as its symbol. ... Olive branch Olive branch is a colloquial term referring to a concession or a gesture of peace, as well as a peace symbol. ...

Jerusalem, Jews and Judaism

Jerusalem has long been embedded into the religious consciousness of the Jewish people. Jews have always studied and personalized the struggle by King David to capture Jerusalem and his desire to build the Jewish temple there, as described in the Book of Samuel and the Book of Psalms. Many of King David's yearnings about Jerusalem have been adapted into popular prayers and songs. For this reason, Jerusalem quickly became Israel's largest city; much through support of religious Israeli and diaspora Jews. In fact, Jews have maintained a majority in Jerusalem since at least 1864, according to British census records [6]. For other uses, see Jerusalem (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Jerusalem (disambiguation). ... This page is about the Biblical king David. ... A drawing of Ezekiels Visionary Temple from the Book of Ezekiel 40-47 The Temple in Jerusalem or Holy Temple (Hebrew: ×‘×™×ª ×”×ž×§×“×©, transliterated Bet HaMikdash) was located on the Temple Mount (Har HaBayit) in the old city of Jerusalem. ... The Books of Samuel, also referred to as [The Book of] Samuel (Hebrew: שְׁמוּאֵל), are (two) books in the Hebrew Bible (Judaisms Tanakh and originally writtten in Hebrew) and the Old Testament of Christianity. ... Psalms (Tehilim תהילים, in Hebrew) is a book of the Hebrew Bible or Tanakh, and of the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. ...

Nonetheless, a large portion of secular Israelis have little connection with Jerusalem and rarely visit it, in stark contrast to the centrality it is given in Israeli religious and diaspora Jewish communities.

Messianic Judaism in Israel

Messianic Jews are Jewish people who believe that Jesus is the Messiah. They emphasise that Jesus himself was a Jew, and so were his early followers. Most Messianic Jews in Israel reject traditional Christianity and its symbols, in favour of celebrating Jewish festivals. Although Messianic Jews are not considered Jews under Israel's Law of Return,[7] they claim that there are up to 10,000 in the State of Israel, many of whom are recent immigrants from the former Soviet Union.[8] Messianic Judaism is any of a group of loosely related religious movements, all claiming a connection with Judaism but predominantly evangelical Christian in their beliefs, believing Jesus to be the Messiah, and using the New Testament as scripture. ... The word Jew ( Hebrew: יהודי) is used in a wide number of ways, but generally refers to a follower of the Jewish faith, a child of a Jewish mother, or someone of Jewish descent with a connection to Jewish culture or ethnicity and often a combination... This article is about Jesus of Nazareth. ... In Judaism, the Messiah (×žÖ¸×©Ö´××™×—Ö· Standard Hebrew Arabic: , Ø§Ù„Ù…Ø³ÙŠØ), Tiberian Hebrew , Aramaic ) initially meant any person who was anointed to a certain position among the ancient Israelites, at first that of High priest, later that of King and also that of a prophet. ... Christianity is a monotheistic[1] religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament. ... Jewish holiday, (or Yom Tom or chag or taanit in Hebrew) is a day that is holy to the Jewish people according to Judaism and is usually derived from the Hebrew Bible, specifically the Torah, and in some cases established by the rabbis in later eras. ...

Islam in Israel

Israel lies adjacent to Islam's third holiest site or shrine after those in Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia: The Haram al Sharif (Temple Mount) from which Muslims believe that Muhammad ascended to Heaven. This belief, not only by Israeli Muslims, but by all Muslims, raises the importance of the Dome of the Rock and the adjacent Al-Aqsa Mosque. Most Muslims are angered by rumors that the Israeli government are trying to demolish the shrines, replacing them with the Third Temple. These beliefs are unfounded; in 1967, the Government of Israel acknowledged the authority of the Waqf to administer Muslim holy sites. Israel has always protected the Haram Al Sharif and even forbids Jews from saying prayers at the site of the Holy of Holies. Muslims constitute 16 percent of the population of Israel. ... Islam (Arabic: ) is a monotheistic religion based upon the teachings of Muhammad, a 7th century Arab religious and political figure. ... This article needs additional references or sources to facilitate its verification. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The Temple Mount or Noble Sanctuary (Hebrew language: Har HaBayit, Arabic language: الحرم الشريف Al-Haram As-Sharif), is a hotly contested religious site in the old city of Jerusalem. ... The Temple Mount as it appears today. ... For other persons named Muhammad, see Muhammad (name). ... The Dome of the Rock in the center of the Temple Mount, or Mount Moriah The Dome of the Rock (Arabic: Ù…Ø³Ø¬Ø¯ Ù‚Ø¨Ø© Ø§Ù„ØµØ®Ø±Ø©, translit. ... For other uses, see Al-aqsa (disambiguation). ... The Jerusalem Temple (Hebrew: beit ha-mikdash) was the center of Israelite and Jewish worship, primarily for the offering of sacrifices known as the korbanot. ...

Most Muslims in Israel are Sunni Arabs. From 1516 to 1917, the Sunni Ottoman Turks ruled the areas that now include Israel. Their rulership reinforced and ensured the centrality and importance of Islam as the dominant religion in the region. The conquest of Palestine by the British in 1917 and the subsequent Balfour Declaration opened the gates for the arrival of large numbers of Jews in Palestine who began to tip the scales in favor of Judaism with the passing of each decade. However, the British transferred the symbolic Islamic governance of the land to the Hashemites based in Jordan, and not to the House of Saud. The Hashemites thus became the official guardians of the Islamic holy places of Jerusalem and the areas around it, particularly strong when Jordan controlled the West Bank (1948-1967). Let me know if you want to use it, and credit by Wayne McLean (Jgritz) File links The following pages link to this file: Dome of the Rock User:Jgritz/photos Image:Dome of the rock distance. ... Let me know if you want to use it, and credit by Wayne McLean (Jgritz) File links The following pages link to this file: Dome of the Rock User:Jgritz/photos Image:Dome of the rock distance. ... The Dome of the Rock in the center of the Temple Mount, or Mount Moriah The Dome of the Rock (Arabic: Ù…Ø³Ø¬Ø¯ Ù‚Ø¨Ø© Ø§Ù„ØµØ®Ø±Ø©, translit. ... The Temple Mount as it appears today. ... Sunni Muslims are the largest denomination of Islam. ... Languages Arabic other minority languages Religions Predomiantly Sunni Islam, as well as Shia Islam, Greek Orthodoxy, Greek Catholicism, Maronite, Alawite Islam, Druze, Ibadi Islam, and Judaism An Arab (Arabic: ) is any member of the Semitic group of people whose cultural, linguistic, and in certain cases, ancestral origins trace back to... // Events March - With the death of Ferdinand II of Aragon, his grandson Charles of Ghent becomes King of Spain as Carlos I. July - Selim I of the Ottoman Empire declares war on the Mameluks and invades Syria. ... 1917 (MCMXVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar (see: 1917 Julian calendar). ... The Ottoman Turks were the ethnic subdivision of the Turkish people who dominated the ruling class of the Ottoman Empire. ... Combatants United Kingdom Australia New Zealand Ottoman Empire Commanders Sir John Maxwell Archibald Murray Henry George Chauvel Philip Chetwode Charles Dobell Edmund Allenby Djemal Pasha Kress von Kressenstein Jadir Bey Tala Bey Erich von Falkenhayn Otto Liman von Sanders The Sinai and Palestine Campaign during the Middle Eastern Theatre of... The Balfour Declaration was a letter dated November 2, 1917 from the British Foreign Secretary Arthur James Balfour, to Lord Rothschild (Walter Rothschild, 2nd Baron Rothschild), a leader of the British Jewish community, for transmission to the Zionist Federation, a private Zionist organization. ... Hashemite is the Anglicised version of the Arabic: Ù‡Ø§Ø´Ù…ÙŠ (transliteration: Hashemi) and traditionally refers to those belonging to the Banu Hashim, or clan of Hashem, a clan within the larger Quraish tribe. ... The House of Saud ( transliteration: ) is the royal family of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. ...

In 1922 the British had created the Supreme Muslim Council in the British Mandate of Palestine and appointed Amin al-Husayni (1895-1974) as the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem. The council was abolished in 1948, but the Grand Mufti continued as one of the most notorious Islamic and Arab leaders of modern times, often inciting Muslims against Jews wherever he went. Year 1922 (MCMXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar). ... The Supreme Muslim Council (SMC) was the highest body in charge of Muslim community affairs in Palestine under British control. ... Flag Britain unilaterally closed the territory east of the Jordan River (Transjordan) to Jewish settlement and organized Transjordan as an autonomous state in 1923. ... Mohammad Amin al-Husayni Mohammad Amin al-Husayni (ca. ... A Mufti (Arabic: Ù…ÙØªÙ‰ ) is an Islamic scholar who is an interpreter or expounder of Islamic law (Sharia), capable of issuing fataawa (plural of fatwa). // Role of a Mufti in governments In theocracies like Saudi Arabia and Iran, and in some countries where the constitution is based on sharia law, such...

Jerusalem and Islam

Christianity in Israel

Christians are presently the smallest religious group and denomination of the Abrahamic religions in Israel. Most Christians living permanently in Israel are Arabs or have come from other countries to live and work mainly in churches or monasteries with long histories in the land. This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Languages Arabic other minority languages Religions Predomiantly Sunni Islam, as well as Shia Islam, Greek Orthodoxy, Greek Catholicism, Maronite, Alawite Islam, Druze, Ibadi Islam, and Judaism An Arab (Arabic: ) is any member of the Semitic group of people whose cultural, linguistic, and in certain cases, ancestral origins trace back to... It has been suggested that Ecclesia (Church) be merged into this article or section. ... Monastery of St. ...

A great paradox about the areas of Israel and its surroundings is that even though according to Christian teachings it is where Jesus was born, lived, and died (according to Roman Catholic tradition, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem is the place where Jesus died and was eventually buried -- making Jerusalem one of Christianity's holiest sites), there are nevertheless very few Christians living in the area compared to Muslims and Jews. This is because: (1) the rise of Islam displaced Christianity in almost all of the Middle East and beyond, and (2) since the rise of modern Zionism, including changes in the geopolitical balance between the world's powers, millions of Jews have flocked to the newly-established State of Israel. This article is about Jesus of Nazareth. ... Main Entrance to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ... Zionism is a political movement that supports a homeland for the Jewish people in the Land of Israel, where Jewish nationhood is thought to have evolved somewhere between 1200 BCE and late Second Temple times,[1][2] and where Jewish kingdoms existed up to the 2nd century CE. Zionism is... Geopolitics is the study which analyses geography, history and social science with reference to international politics. ...

Nevertheless, Christianity in Israel reveals the vestiges of the land's past and present interaction with Christian powers. Most Christians in Israel belong primarily to branches of the Eastern Orthodox Churches that oversee a variety of churches, monasteries, seminaries, and religious institutions all over the land, particularly in Jerusalem, because it was the Byzantine Empire (known as the Eastern Roman Empire) that controlled most of the Middle East from the fourth century until the 1400s, and it was that empire which embraced and nurtured the denomination of Christianity known as Eastern Orthodoxy following the East-West Schism of 1054, until its rule was broken first by the Mamelukes in 1291, and then for all time by the Islamic Ottoman Turks. In the nineteenth century the Russian Empire constituted itself the guardian of the interests of Christians living in the Holy Land, and even today large amounts of Jerusalem real estate (including the site of the Knesset building) are owned by the Russian Orthodox Church. The Eastern Orthodox Church is a Christian body that views itself as: the historical continuation of the original Christian community established by Jesus Christ and the Twelve Apostles, having maintained unbroken the link between its clergy and the Apostles by means of Apostolic Succession. ... For other uses, see Jerusalem (disambiguation). ... Byzantine Empire at its greatest extent c. ... For the later Papal Schism in Avignon, see Western Schism. ... Events Cardinal Humbertus, a representative of Pope Leo IX, and Michael Cerularius, Patriarch of Constantinople, decree each others excommunication. ... An Ottoman Mamluk, from 1810 Mamluks (or Mameluks) (the Arabic word usually translates as owned, singular: مملوك plural: مماليك) comprised slave soldiers used by the Muslim Caliphs and the Ottoman Empire, and who on more than one occasion seized power for... For broader historical context, see 1290s and 13th century. ... The Ottoman Turks were the ethnic subdivision of the Turkish people who dominated the ruling class of the Ottoman Empire. ... The modern Knesset building, Israels parliament, in Jerusalem Though similar-sounding, Beit Knesset (×‘×™×ª ×›× ×¡×ª) literally means House of Assembly, and refers to a synagogue. ...

In between, there were periods in history when Muslims and Christians vied for control of the Holy Land. The Crusades by Western Europe from the 11th to the 13th centuries brought the influence and power of the Roman Catholic Church to the area. For example, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem is still one of the Roman Catholic patriarchs of the east. The Patriarchate of Jerusalem is the oldest Eastern Catholic Patriarchates (though the Patriarchs have not actually been resident in Jerusalem for much of the institution's history), and the only one that follows the Latin Rite. During the existence of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem, the Patriarchate was divided into four archdioceses - the Archbishop of Tyre, the Archbishop of Caesarea, Archbishop of Nazareth, and the Archbishop of Petra - and a number of dioceses, spreading the seeds of this kind of Christianity in these domains, and also the Vassals of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. In 1889, the Ottoman Empire allowed the Catholic Church to re-establish its hierarchy in Palestine. Other ancient churches, such as the Armenian, Coptic and Ethiopian churches, are also well represented, especially in Jerusalem. This article is about the medieval crusades. ... The borders of Western Europe were largely defined by the Cold War. ... Topics in Christianity Movements Â· Denominations Ecumenism Â· Preaching Â· Prayer Music Â· Liturgy Â· Calendar Symbols Â· Art Â· Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul Â· Church Fathers Constantine Â· Athanasius Â· Augustine Anselm Â· Aquinas Â· Palamas Â· Wycliffe Tyndale Â· Luther Â· Calvin Â· Wesley Arius Â· Marcion of Sinope Pope Â· Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box: The Roman Catholic Church... The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem is the title given to the Latin Rite Roman Catholic Archbishop of Jerusalem. ... The Roman Catholic patriarchs of the east are generally speaking the head bishops of some of the autonomous Eastern Rite Catholic churches. ... The Latin Rite is one of the 23 sui iuris particular Churches within the Catholic Church. ... Official language Latin, French, Italian, and other western languages; Greek and Arabic also widely spoken Capital Jerusalem, later Acre Constitution Various laws, so-called Assizes of Jerusalem The Kingdom of Jerusalem was a Christian kingdom established in the Levant in 1099 by the First Crusade. ... The Archbishop of Tyre was one of the major suffragans of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem during the Crusades and was established to serve the Catholic members of the diocese. ... The Archbishop of Caesarea was one of the major suffragans of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem during the crusades. ... The Archbishop of Nazareth was one of the major suffragans of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem during the crusades. ... The Archbishop of Petra was established during the Crusader era and served the diocese of Palaestrina III; the Oultrejordain area, and traditionally included St. ... The Crusader state of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, created in 1099, was divided into a number of smaller seigneuries. ... Year 1889 (MDCCCLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Motto Ø¯ÙˆÙ„Øª Ø§Ø¨Ø¯ Ù…Ø¯Øª Devlet-i Ebed-mÃ¼ddet (The Eternal State) Anthem Ottoman imperial anthem Borders in 1680, see: list of territories Capital SÃ¶ÄŸÃ¼t (1299â€“1326) Bursa (1326â€“65) Edirne (1365â€“1453) Constantinople (Ä°stanbul, 1453â€“1922) Language(s) Ottoman Turkish (official); spoken languages include Abkhazian, Adyghe, Albanian, Arabic, Aramaic, Armenian, Azerbaijani...

The upshot of the long Byzantine Eastern Orthodox history and then the Crusader Roman Catholic presence in areas of the Middle East including Israel, is that many local people accepted and clung to these official forms of Christianity as their own faith until the present time. During times of danger, many Christians were also able to worship or take refuge in well-fortified or secluded chuches that had remained committed to serving their loyal flocks in spite of being surrounded by a massive growing Islamic population.

In March 2000 the head of the Roman Catholic Church visited Israel. In an ongoing attempt to put an end to the centuries-old hostility between the Catholic Church and the Jews, Pope John Paul II visited Yad Vashem, (the Israeli national Holocaust memorial) and later touched one of the holiest sites in Judaism, the Western Wall in Jerusalem. 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article on relations between Catholicism and Judaism deals with the current relationship between the Roman Catholic Church and Judaism, focusing on changes over the last fifty years, and especially during the pontificate of Pope John Paul II. // The Second Vatican Council Throughout history accusations of anti-Semitism have resounded... Coat of Arms of Pope John Paul II. The Letter M is for Mary, the mother of Jesus, to whom he held strong devotion Pope John Paul II (Latin: , Italian: Giovanni Paolo II, Polish: Jan PaweÅ‚ II) born [] (May 18, 1920, Wadowice, Poland â€“ April 2, 2005, Vatican City) reigned as... An exterior view of the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial museum in Jerusalem. ... â€œShoahâ€ redirects here. ... Western Wall by night â€œWailing Wallâ€ redirects here. ... For other uses, see Jerusalem (disambiguation). ...

In modern times, one of the most vocal and active sectors of Christianity in support of Israel has come from the Protestant churches that support Evangelicalism. In the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century they were very influential in Great Britain, and some believe that this was one reason why Arthur Balfour (1848-1930) assisted with the Balfour Declaration of 1917 whereby Britain promised the Jews a homeland in Palestine. In the latter part of the twentieth century until the present it has been Evangelical groups in the United States that have favored and lobbied for the Jews' right to have their homeland in Israel. This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The word evangelicalism usually refers to a broad collection of religious beliefs, practices, and traditions which are found among conservative Protestant Christians. ... Arthur James Balfour, 1st Earl of Balfour, KG, OM, PC, (25 July 1848-19 March 1930) was a British Conservative politician and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1902 to 1905. ... The Balfour Declaration was a letter dated November 2, 1917 from the British Foreign Secretary Arthur James Balfour, to Lord Rothschild (Walter Rothschild, 2nd Baron Rothschild), a leader of the British Jewish community, for transmission to the Zionist Federation, a private Zionist organization. ...

The Evangelicals preach a biblically-oriented faith, and firmly believe in the Hebrew Bible's prophecies about the Jewish people's return to Zion (Israel) which they further believe is an absolute prerequisite for the Second Coming of Jesus. Each year hundreds of thousands of Christian Evangelicals come as tourists on private and organized trips to see Israel for themselves, to be inspired by "the land of the Bible", and in the process greatly enriching the local economy as well. There are some modern Messianic congregations in Israel where Jews who believe that Jesus is the Messiah openly meet together. There is also friction with the Israeli Jewish religious establishment as Messianic Jews have many centers all over Israel, inviting Israelis to investigate Jesus' messianic claims for themselves. This Gutenberg Bible is displayed by the United States Library of Congress. ... 11th century manuscript of the Hebrew Bible with Targum This article is about the term Hebrew Bible. For the Hebrew Bible itself, see Tanakh (Jewish tradition) or Old Testament (Christian tradition). ... The Second Coming refers to the Christian belief in the return of Jesus Christ, an event that will fulfill aspects of Messianic prophecy such as the resurrection of the dead, last judgment and full establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth (also called the Reign of God), including the... This article is about Jesus of Nazareth. ... Ä â€œTouristâ€ redirects here. ...

There are nine officially recognised churches, for example for the purposes of marriage and divorce. These are the Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic (Latin rite), Gregorian-Armenian, Armenian Catholic, Syrian Catholic, Chaldean (Uniate), Melkite (Greek Catholic), Maronite and Syrian Orthodox churches. There are more informal arrangements with other churches such as the Anglican Church.

Jerusalem and Christianity

The Bahá'í Faith in Israel

The Bahá'í Faith has its administrative centre in Haifa on land it has owned since Bahá'u'lláh's imprisonment in Acre in the early 1870s by the Ottoman Empire. Pilgrims from all over the world visit for short periods to time. Apart from a few hundred volunteer staff, and in agreement with the Israeli government, Bahá'ís do not live or preach in Israel. Seat of the Universal House of Justice, governing body of the BahÃ¡Ãs, in Haifa, Israel The BahÃ¡Ã Faith is the religion founded by BahÃ¡ullÃ¡h in 19th century Persia. ... The BahÃ¡Ã Arc from the International Archives building Shrine of the BÃ¡b and its associated terraces at the BahÃ¡Ã World Centre Shrine of the BÃ¡b The BahÃ¡Ã World Centre is the name given to the administrative centre of the BahÃ¡Ã Faith. ... Shrine of BahÃ¡ullÃ¡h BahÃ¡ullÃ¡h (ba-haa-ol-laa Arabic: Glory of God) (November 12, 1817 - May 29, 1892), born (Persian: ), was the founder of the BahÃ¡Ã Faith. ... The city of Acre [1] is in the Western Galilee district in northern Israel. ... Motto Ø¯ÙˆÙ„Øª Ø§Ø¨Ø¯ Ù…Ø¯Øª Devlet-i Ebed-mÃ¼ddet (The Eternal State) Anthem Ottoman imperial anthem Borders in 1680, see: list of territories Capital SÃ¶ÄŸÃ¼t (1299â€“1326) Bursa (1326â€“65) Edirne (1365â€“1453) Constantinople (Ä°stanbul, 1453â€“1922) Language(s) Ottoman Turkish (official); spoken languages include Abkhazian, Adyghe, Albanian, Arabic, Aramaic, Armenian, Azerbaijani... The Shrine of the BÃ¡b and its Terraces, 2003. ...

Hinduism in Israel

Israel is home to a relatively small Hindu population which has spread to Israel mainly by International Society for Krishna Consciousness Missionaries. ...

Religious tensions

The State of Israel allows freedom of religion for all religious communities, both in law and in practice. Freedom House reports: "Freedom of religion is respected. Each community has jurisdiction over its own members in matters of marriage, burial, and divorce." However, some minority religious communities face social pressure and, on occasion, obstruction from the government. This map reflects the findings of Freedom Houses 2006 survey Freedom in the World, concerning the state of world freedom in 2005. ...

Religious tensions exist between Jewish haredi Israelis and Jewish non-haredi Israelis. Haredi Israeli males devote their young adulthood to full time Talmudic studies and therefore generally get exemptions from military service in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Originally the exemption from uniform conscription was intended to apply to a small number of elite religious students. Many leaders of haredi yeshivas encourage students to apply for exemptions from service, ostensibly to protect them from the secularizing environment of the IDF. Over the years, the number of exempt people has grown to be about 10% of conscriptable manpower. Haredi or Charedi Judaism (alternatively Hareidi or Chareidi - this spelling being usually preferred by Haredim themselves) is the most theologically conservative form of Orthodox Judaism. ... The first page of the Vilna Edition of the Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Berachot, folio 2a. ... The Israel Defense Forces are part of the Israeli Security Forces. ... This article is about the Jewish educational system. ...

Many secular Israelis consider the system of exemptions to be systematic shirking of duty to serve in the IDF by a large segment of society. Because of uniform conscription the burden of defending Israel is intended to be shared by all social classes, giving everyone in society a stake in the Zionist enterprise. The haredi (theological) counter-argument is that it is only in the merit of intense Torah and Talmud learning that God grants the Jews the blessings of survival in a sea of hostile enemies. A bilingual poster in Romanian and Hungarian promoting a film about Jewish settlement in Palestine, 1930s. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The first page of the Vilna Edition of the Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Berachot, folio 2a. ... This article discusses the term God in the context of monotheism and henotheism. ...

Haredi couples tend to marry at a young age (usually late teens) and often rely on government assistance sooner and to a greater extent than do secular Israelis. Haredi Israelis are also represented by haredi political parties, which like all smaller parties in a system of proportional representation may tend to wield disproportionate political power at the point when government coalitions need to be negotiated and formed following national elections. Proportional representation (sometimes referred to as full representation, or PR), is a category of electoral formula aiming at a close match between the percentage of votes that groups of candidates (grouped by a certain measure) obtain in elections and the percentage of seats they receive (usually in legislative assemblies). ...

As of October, 2005, three were main haredi parties in the Knesset: Shas with eleven seats in the Knesset representing Sephardi interests, and two Ashkenazi parties, Agudat Israel (dominated by the Hasidim) and Degel HaTorah (dominated by the Lithuanian yeshiva factions) with five Knesset seats between them. The latter two had previously been united as the United Torah Judaism alliance. The modern Knesset building, Israels parliament, in Jerusalem Though similar-sounding, Beit Knesset (×‘×™×ª ×›× ×¡×ª) literally means House of Assembly, and refers to a synagogue. ... Shas (Hebrew: ) is an political party in Israel, primarily representing Ultra-orthodox Sephardi and Mizrahi Judaism. ... Sephardim (×¡×¤×¨×“×™, Standard Hebrew SÉ™fardi, Tiberian Hebrew ardÃ®; plural Sephardim: ×¡×¤×¨×“×™×, Standard Hebrew Sfaradim, Tiberian Hebrew ) are a subgroup of Jews, generally defined in contrast to Ashkenazim and/or . ... Ashkenazi Jews, also known as Ashkenazic Jews or Ashkenazim (×Ö·×©×Ö°×›Ö¼Ö²× Ö¸×–Ö´×™ ×Ö·×©×Ö°×›Ö¼Ö²× Ö¸×–Ö´×™× Standard Hebrew, AÅ¡kanazi,AÅ¡kanazim, Tiberian Hebrew, Ê¾AÅ¡kÄƒnÄzÃ®, Ê¾AÅ¡kÄƒnÄzÃ®m, pronounced sing. ... Categories: Organization stubs | Israel-related stubs | Israeli political parties | Orthodox Judaism ... Hasidic Judaism (also Chasidic, etc. ... Degel HaTorah (or Degel haTorah) (×“×’×œ ×”×ª×•×¨×” Hebrew for Flag/Banner [of] the Torah) is an Israeli mostly Ashkenazi Haredi Judaism political party with a small number of seats (2-3) in the Knesset, Israels national parliament. ... This article is about the Jewish educational system. ... United Torah Judaism (In Hebrew: יהדות התורה which translates as Judaism [of the] Torah) (UTJ) is a small Haredi political party in the Israeli Knesset. ...

Secular Israelis often view haredi Israelis with distrust or animosity. In recent years, the Shinui party was created as a backlash to the perceived influence of the haredi parties, and to represent the interests of secular Jews that supposedly were not seen to by the other non-religious parties. Shinui (×©×™× ×•×™) (original full name: Tenua le-Shinui ve Yozma and then to Shinui-Mifleget ha-Merkaz) is a Zionist, secular and anti-clerical, free market liberal party in Israel. ...

Constant tensions also exist between the Orthodox establishment and the Conservative and Reform movements. In Israel the Orthodox Jewish movements are by far the largest and strongest, with Conservative and Reform being quite small (in marked contrast to the United States). Only the Orthodox Jewish movements are officially recognized in Israel (though conversions conducted by Conservative and Reform clergy outside of Israel may be accepted for the purposes of the Law of Return). This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Conservative Judaism, (also known as Masorti Judaism in Israel predominantly), is a modern stream of Judaism that arose out of intellectual currents in Germany in the mid-19th century and took institutional form in the United States in the early 1900s. ... Reform Judaism can refer to (1) the largest denomination of American Jews and its sibling movements in other countries, (2) a branch of Judaism in the United Kingdom, and (3) the historical predecessor of the American movement that originated in 19th-century Germany. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

As a result, unlike Orthodox Synagogues (or Muslim mosques or Christian churches) Conservative and Reform synagogues do not receive government funding and support. Conservative and Reform rabbis cannot officiate at religious ceremonies; thus their marriages, divorces, and conversions are not considered valid. In addition, there has been persistent tension, and even protests by outraged Orthodox worshipers, at the Western Wall, preventing Conservative and Reform Jews from holding services which violate Orthodox norms. Western Wall by night â€œWailing Wallâ€ redirects here. ...

Messianic Jews, who are members of Messianic Christian Churches, have faced frequent demonstrations and intermittent protests over missionary activity which is prohibited under Israeli law In 2000 a Messianic synagogue was raided in Jerusalem [9] A congregation in Arad faced demonstrations and an arson attack in 2005.[10] Messianic Judaism is any of a group of loosely related religious movements, all claiming a connection with Judaism but predominantly evangelical Christian in their beliefs, believing Jesus to be the Messiah, and using the New Testament as scripture. ... The MIAs logo. ... Arad (Hebrew: ×¢×¨×“) is a modern city in southern Israel, on the border of the Judean Desert, 25 km west of the Dead Sea and 45 km east of Beer-Sheva, near the famous Masada (Metzada), in the South District of Israel. ...

The Israeli government often intervenes to stop the construction of new synagogues, mosques, and churches for a variety of reasons. Often it may be due to safety and environmental concerns. All groups face the same governmental scrutiny for required building permits and correct construction methods. In May 2003, Israeli government officials destroyed a newly-built Bedouin mosque in the village of Tal el-Malah after villagers defied a government ban on building a mosque to serve the local 1,500 Muslims. The nearest mosque was more than twelve kilometers away. Permission has been denied for Muslims to build mosques in other Bedouin villages. [11] A synagogue (from Ancient Greek: , transliterated synagogÄ“, assembly; Hebrew: beit knesset, house of assembly; Yiddish: , shul; Ladino: , esnoga) is a Jewish place of religious worship. ... The Masjid al-Haram in Mecca as it exists today A mosque is a place of worship for followers of the Islamic faith. ... It has been suggested that Ecclesia (Church) be merged into this article or section. ... A Bedouin man resting on a hillside at Mount Sinai Bedouin, derived from the Arabic ( â€Ž), a generic name for a desert-dweller, is a term generally applied to Arab nomadic pastoralist groups, who are found throughout most of the desert belt extending from the Atlantic coast of the Sahara via...

Israel is also sometimes accused of acts of persecution against Palestinians, although even critics of Israel do not see the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the Arab-Israeli conflict as being primarily religiously motivated. On the Palestinian side, several Islamic groups, notably Hamas and Islamic Jihad support the establishment of sharia law. While these conflicts may use religious overtones or rhetoric, they are generally considered military and political struggles. The Palestinian flag, adopted in 1948, is a widely recognized modern symbol of the Palestinian people. ... Israel, with the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Golan Heights The Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which is often claimed to be at the heart of the Arab-Israeli conflict, is an ongoing dispute between two peoples, Jewish Israelis and Arab Palestinians, that both claim the right to sovereignty over the Land... Combatants Arab nations Israel Arab-Israeli conflict series History of the Arab-Israeli conflict Views of the Arab-Israeli conflict International law and the Arab-Israeli conflict Arab-Israeli conflict facts, figures, and statistics Participants Israeli-Palestinian conflict Â· Israel-Lebanon conflict Â· Arab League Â· Soviet Union / Russia Â· Israel and the United... Hamas (Arabic: ; acronym: Arabic: , or Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya or Islamic Resistance Movement; the Arabic acronym means zeal) is a Palestinian Islamist organization that currently (since January 2006) forms the majority party of the Palestinian National Authority. ... Islamic Jihad (Arabic: â€Ž, Harakat al-Jihad al-Islami) is a terrorist Islamist group based in the Syrian capital, Damascus. ... Sharia (Arabic: transliteration: ) is the body of Islamic law. ...

Marriage and religious authority

Currently, Israeli marriage licenses are recognised only if performed under an official religious authority (whether it be Orthodox Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Druze, etc.) only between a man and a woman of the same religion, while civilian marriages are only officially sanctioned if performed abroad. This is a major issue among secular groups, as well as adherents to non-Orthodox streams of Judaism. There is fear that civil marriage will divide the Jewish people in Israel between those who can marry Jews and those who cannot, leading to concerns over retaining the character of the Jewish state. The book Der Judenstaat (The Jewish State, 1896) by Theodor Herzl. ...

Contents

Religion and citizenship

Judaism in Israel

The secular-traditional spectrum

The Orthodox spectrum

The secular-religious Status Quo

Role of the Chief Rabbinate

Challenges from the left and right

Jerusalem, Jews and Judaism

Messianic Judaism in Israel

Islam in Israel

Jerusalem and Islam

Christianity in Israel

Jerusalem and Christianity

The Bahá'í Faith in Israel

Hinduism in Israel

Religious tensions

Marriage and religious authority

See also

Notes

References

External links

Contents

Religion and citizenship GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

Judaism in Israel

The secular-traditional spectrum

The Orthodox spectrum

The secular-religious Status Quo

Role of the Chief Rabbinate

Challenges from the left and right

Jerusalem, Jews and Judaism

Messianic Judaism in Israel

Islam in Israel

Jerusalem and Islam

Christianity in Israel

Jerusalem and Christianity

The Bahá'í Faith in Israel

Hinduism in Israel

Religious tensions

Marriage and religious authority

See also

Notes

References

External links

Religion and citizenship