The State of Israel was established as a Jewish and democratic state after World War II. While the Israeli Declaration of Independence stresses religious freedom as a fundamental principle, in practice, most of Israel's governments have depended on ultra-Orthodox parties and have instituted legal barriers that applied to all Jews, regardless of whether they practised Orthodox Judaism. However, as a nation-state, Israel is very open towards other religions and religious practices, including a public Muslim call to prayer chants and Christian prayer bells ringing in Jerusalem. Israel has been evaluated in research by the Pew organization as having "high" government restrictions on religion. The government recognizes only Orthodox Judaism in certain matters of personal status, and marriages can only be performed by religious authorities. The government provides the greatest funding to Orthodox Judaism, even though adherents represent a minority of citizens. Jewish women, including Anat Hoffman, have been arrested at the Western Wall for praying and singing while wearing religious garments the Orthodox feel should be reserved for men. Women of the Wall have organized to promote religious freedom at the Wall. In November 2014, a group of 60 non-Orthodox rabbinical students were told they would not be allowed to pray in the Knesset synagogue because it is reserved for Orthodox. Rabbi Joel Levy, director of the Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem, said that he had submitted the request on behalf of the students and saw their shock when the request was denied. He noted: "Paradoxically, this decision served as an appropriate end to our conversation about religion and state in Israel." MK Dov Lipman expressed the concern that many Knesset workers are unfamiliar with non-Orthodox and American practices and would view "an egalitarian service in the synagogue as an affront." The non-Orthodox forms of Jewish practice function independently in Israel, except for these issues of praying at the Western Wall.
The State of Israel was established as a Jewish and democratic state after World War II While the Israeli Declaration of Independence stresses religious freedom as a fundamental principle in practice most of Israel's governments have depended on ultra-Orthodox parties and have instituted legal barriers that applied to all Jews regardless of whether they practised Orthodox Judaism However as a nation-state Israel is very open towards other religions and religious practices including a public Muslim call to prayer chants and Christian prayer bells ringing in Jerusalem Israel has been evaluated in research by the Pew organization as having "high" government restrictions on religion The government recognizes only Orthodox Judaism in certain matters of personal status and marriages can only be performed by religious authorities The government provides the greatest funding to Orthodox Judaism even though adherents represent a minority of citizens Jewish women including Anat Hoffman have been arrested at the Western Wall for praying and singing while wearing religious garments the Orthodox feel should be reserved for men Women of the Wall have organized to promote religious freedom at the Wall In November 2014 a group of 60 non-Orthodox rabbinical students were told they would not be allowed to pray in the Knesset synagogue because it is reserved for Orthodox Rabbi Joel Levy director of the Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem said that he had submitted the request on behalf of the students and saw their shock when the request was denied He noted "Paradoxically this decision served as an appropriate end to our conversation about religion and state in Israel" MK Dov Lipman expressed the concern that many Knesset workers are unfamiliar with non-Orthodox and American practices and would view "an egalitarian service in the synagogue as an affront" The non-Orthodox forms of Jewish practice function independently in Israel except for these issues of praying at the Western Wall