June 2015
Leaders of the worldwide Conservative movement blasted Israeli President Reuven Rivlin Sunday June 7th for backtracking on a prior commitment to host a bar mitzvah ceremony for disabled children at his residence along with a representative rabbi from the Conservative community.
Feb 2015
Masorti Judaism has published this paper explaining why the UK Masorti rabbis have supported same-sex ceremonies.
Nov 2014
Once again, Masorti are discriminated against in Israel, this time by the Knesset Speaker. See an article here and here (on Ha'aretz, may not be able to view without subscription)
Feb 2014
Transfer of part of Western Wall to right-wing group to be blocked after Conservative and Reform groups protest Times of Israel
December 2013
Gill Caplin writes about Masorti Olami (Global Masorti) in 'Times of Israel'. "Conservative/Masorti Judaism has rejuvenated itself everywhere that Jews can be found. It will continue to do so." Here's hoping.
October 2013
Of course, the orthodox rabbinate has to question our kashrut..... http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/israel-news/seeing-red-over-wine-heksher
Go and buy wine from Rujum winery in Mitzpe Ramon.
February 2013
And now, Masorti wine
For the first time in Israel, a winery, (Rujum, the High Desert Winery near Mitzpe Ramon), has Masorti, not Orthodox, kosher supervision. The Masorti hashgacha (supervision) agreement also calls for a living wage for employees and transparency to assure that salaries and taxes are paid.
September 2012
How to find a flag for Simchat Torah that embodies Masorti values
August 2012
An excellent article in the Forward by Yizhar Hess on the lack of religious pluralism in Israel, an ironic comment on Israel's response to Germany's possible ban on circumcision http://forward.com/articles/160342/religious-freedom-for-israelis-too/
May 2012
'Masorti may boycott hotels that refuse to allow Torah scrolls to be used for mixed-gender services'. Should we also avid those hotels? Read the article
April 2012
'Modesty Police' threaten Masorti women in Mahane Israel, Jerusalem
Israeli Conservative Movement approves ordination of gay rabbis
’A very important development in Jewish law,’ says President of the Israeli Conservative Movement Rabbinical Assembly.
Shmaya - a Ritual & Educational Mikva in the Galilee
Article on a new mikva at Kibbutz BHanaton
March 2012
As the race for Chief Rabbi heats up, (a bit!) Rabbi Reuven Hammer reflects on a past Chief Rabbi who trained at the Conservative JTS http://www.jpost.com/JewishWorld/JewishFeatures/Article.aspx?id=263029
Jan 2012
An update on plans for a Masorti Primary Free School in Finchley in the JC http://www.thejc.com/community/community-life/62297/finchley-free-school...
Peres is first Israeli President to visit Masorti event and praise both Masorti and Noam. http://www.jta.org/news/article/2012/01/10/3091102/peres-praises-masorti...
July 2011
"Truly being a Jewish State means that no Jew ought to be left behind or left out" - click here
An article on Rabbi Louis Jacobs, The Reluctant Renegade, by Elliot Jager
May 2011
Ugandan Jewry's links with masorti
Masorti israel Celebrates its 30th anniversary
February 2011
University tuition hike in Britain undercuts gap year programs in Israel
Article quotes Assael Romanelli, the director of Noam Drachim, the gap year program of the British Masorti movement, who told Anglo File he shortened the program from 10 to six months this year hoping to attract as many participants as possible. This year, 14 teenagers are on the program. “I’d be happy to get four kids next year,” he said. “I think this year, for all gap year programs it’s just about survival.
The Challenges facing British Jewry Not specifically about Masorti, but a welcome look at the overall Anglo-Jewish community by Leslie Wagner. Highlights the 14.8% increase in Masorti shul membership from 2005 - 2010, second only to the haredim. click here for article
Jews in Albania? An article from an unlikely source, (The Christian Science Monitor) about the Jews who survived the holocaust in Albania. Albania!!
Court end Discriminatory bus routes in Jerusalem
A good article on the Mehadrin buses in Israerl which were requiring women to sit in a segregated area - memories of Rosa Parkes? J Post Article
Masorti in France
March 2010 Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef a Masorti Jew?!? - and its not Purim. Article by Rabbi Andrew Sacks
January 2010
Kibbutz hanaton makes the news - and wins the "Where to send the wandering jew" competition. Article on Hanaton
November 2009 It couldn't happen anywhere except Israel - a woman arrested at Kotel for wearing a tallit and holding Torah!! Article from Ynet
Magen Tzedek - healthy kosher eating - but can it only work if it attracts non-Jews? By J J Goldberg From The Forward
October 2009 On how a Masorti Rabbi in Kiryat Bialik is the unofficial 'Chief Rabbi' - and what does this say about state monopolies on religion!
August 2009
An article from the Jerusalem Post on 'the hopeless irrelevance of the Israeli Chief Rabbinate'
July 2009 Jermey Rosen, an independent orthodox rabbi writes a brilliant blog on the current JFS case. July 8th blog
June 2009
Problems that a female member of the Noam Garin in Tsahal has had in trying to say kaddish
In Ivrit, listen to
Or read (in English) Jerusalem Post Article
May 2009
Conversion in Israel, by Rabbi Andrew Sachs Article
April 2009 The Count Not actually from a Masorti site, but an interesting take on the Omer. Article by Shlomo Gewirtz
Joseph and the four cups of wine? From this weeks Jerusalem Post
Feb 2009
Tu b'Shvat Article by Reuven hammer
A blog on religion and state in Israel, edited by Joel Katz, has links to some very interesting stuff. Not a masorti site, but worth looking at. Religion and state in Israel
Jan 2009
'Sociological differences explain division in Conservative Jewry' - differing viewpoints on homosexuality between Israel's Schechter Institute and American masorti? Article in Jerusalem Post
Saturday’s edition of the Guardian ran a review of Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg’s new book The Silence of Dark Water: An Inner Journey
Read it in full at:
Dec 2008 Yizhar Hess, the Executive Director and CEO of the Masorti Movement, wrote this article on the death of Orthodox Secularism in israel.
Oct 2008 An article from the NY The Jewish Week on post-denominational Judaism