IDI News January 2011 - The Israel Democracy Institute

January, 2011

Time to Step Up for Democracy

In recent months, a number of controversial bills have surfaced in the Knesset. Taken together, they signal a worrying trend that undermines basic constitutional values and may end up damaging Israel's democratic character. Legislation of this type may also add fuel to the international assault on Israel’s legitimacy. In the following articles, IDI scholars respond to these initiatives, exposing the social trends that underly them and appealing to moderate voices on all sides of the political spectrum to help ensure that the Jewish State lives up to the obligations in its Declaration of Independence.

"Time to Step up for Democracy" by Arye Carmon, Mordechai Kremnitzer, and Yedidia Z. Stern

"On Voluntary and Involuntary Silence" by Yedidia Z. Stern and Avi Sagi

"Israeli McCarthyism?" by Mordechai Kremnitzer and Shiri Krebs

"The Road to Fascist Hell" by Yair Sheleg

IDI Responds to the Rabbis' Letter

The now infamous "Rabbis' Letter" created a public storm by asserting that halakhah (Jewish law) forbids the sale of homes in Israel to non-Jews. Does Jewish law indeed sanction this type of discrimination? What is the social and political backdrop for the rabbi's letter? On January 18, a symposium co-sponsored by IDI, the Van Leer Institute, Hillel, and the Department of Jewish Thought at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, addressed this topic, as have numerous articles and media appearances by IDI scholars.

"The Rabbis' Letter and Halakhah" by Eliezer Hadad

"Clear-Cut Racism or Complicated Relationship?" by Yair Sheleg

Symposium: The Rabbi's Letter - A Threat to Society and Democracy?

Events at IDI

Roundtable: An Appeals Court in the Israeli Judiciary System?
On January 31, 2011, IDI's George Shultz Roundtable Forum brought together the State Prosecutor, former judges, MKs, lawyers, and academicians to discuss the establishment of an appeals court in Israel. The event was broadcast live on the IDI's web site. Find out more

More News from IDI

IDI Convenes Conference on People with Disabilities in the Jewish and Democratic State

In early January, IDI convened a conference on People with Disabilities in the Jewish and Democratic State as part of its Human Rights and Judaism project. Video coverage of this event, which brought together rabbis, academics, activists, and individuals with disabilities, is now available on the IDI website.

Micromanagement Out of Control: IDI's Avraham Ben Bassat on the State Budgeting Process

In this interview with The Marker, IDI Senior Fellow Prof. Avi Ben Bassat, former director general of the Ministry of Finance, critiques the manner in which the state budget is drafted and implemented, and offers a number of recommendations for improvement. Read the full article

IDI In the News They Dared to Stand for Something: IDI Vice President Prof. Mordechai Kremnitzer and Senior Fellow Emerita Prof. Ruth Gavison were the subject of a Haaretz op-ed upon their recent retirement from the Hebrew University. The author concludes that their sense of responsibility and public activism prevented their appointment to the Supreme Court.		Jobs at IDI IDI has an immediate opening for a part-time development officer in New York, who will report to the Vice President of Development in Israel. Click here for further information about this position. IDI also offers a variety of internship opportunities in Israel. For information about those possibilities, click here.
New from IDI Press God, State, Nature, Human: Hans Kelsen on Political Theology - Prof. Izhak Englard introduces the Hebrew reader to central concepts in the philosophy of law and political science, as developed by Hans Kelsen, one of the most celebrated jurists of the 20th century.		A View From Abroad What are the implications of the Katzav verdict for Israeli democracy? In this article from the Jewish Chronicle, Prof. Vernon Bogdanor, a member of IDI's International Advisory Council, presents his perspective,offering words of both encouragement and caution. Read the article

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