American rabbi elected to Israeli Knesset with hopes of bridging sectarian divide

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 13:58:00 -0600

Israel's mainstream Jewish community is upset with the way its Ultra-Orthodox community is exempted from requirements to do military or national service and often doesn't pay any taxes. That tension provided an opening for an American-born rabbi, Dov Lipman to be elected with a goal of bridging the divide.

Ben

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 04:35:53 -0600

There is no such thing as a non-religious Jew in Israel.
The mitzvah of Yishuv Eretz Yisroel and Succah are the only two Mitzvahs done with ones entire body.

Every israli is aYishuvnik, and if that qualifies as Zionism, by definition, all Isrealis are Zionists.

PRI: Public Radio International

American rabbi elected to Israeli Knesset with hopes of bridging sectarian divide

Ben