iRep Presentation BASIC Nov 2016

IREP:THE ISRAEL RELIGIOUS EXPRESSION PLATFORM

About me: A lawyer specializing in

Religion and State LL.M. in International

Law; M.P.A. from Harvard Kennedy School of Government

I live in Jerusalem with my husband and two children

iRepThe Israel Religious Expression

Platform

Global Planning Table

iRep’s Mission To create sustained increase in religious

pluralism in Israel, and strengthen Israel’s relationship with North American Jewry based on mutual recognition of and respect for diverse Jewish expressions.  

iRep acts by supporting Israeli civil society organizations who do education and awareness building to advance meaningful change to the religion-state status quo.

Who we are?

iRep

Ann Arbor Bosto

nCincinnat

i

Colorado

Greensboro

Dallas

Kansas City

Los Angel

esMetro West

Miami

Milwaukee

Washington DC

Western Massachus

etts

San Francisc

o

New York

St. Louis

Who we are?

iRep

Ann Arbor Bosto

nCincinnat

i

Colorado

Greensboro

Dallas

Kansas City

Los Angel

esMetro West

Miami

Milwaukee

Washington DC

Western Massachus

etts

San Francisc

o

New York

St. Louis

Morningstar

Foundation

Bronfman

Foundation

Expanding the range of legally-recognized options for marriage in Israel

Marriage

Why Marriage?Positive – we are adding options

Touches every Jew, current or potential resident of Israel

Affects our joint project of Jewish Peoplehood

Important implications

Why is this important? About 660,000 people cannot marry at

all under Israeli law People can only marry within their

religion: an Oleh with (only) a Jewish father cannot marry a Jew.

No civil marriage, no marriage for LGBT, and people cannot chose to be married by their Reform or Conservative Rabbi

Support for alternative marriage options

66% support official recognition of all forms of marriage (Reform, Conservative, and civil)

75% support civil marriage

Our goal

How?

Bottom up approachPersonal engagementCreate massive grass roots movement to support change in the marriage laws.

Partnering with Israeli organizations

71% of Israeli Jews believe the Rabbinate’s monopoly distances Jews from Judaism

76% believe Israel should allow same-sex couples to get married or have civil unions

60% of Israeli Jews welcome support from the American Jewish community in promoting marriage freedom in Israel. 

What are the

chances?

Things are starting to move

Things are starting to move25% of national religious public supports civil marriage

9% of couples not married through the Rabbinate today are orthodox.

What’s Next?Forward trend needs to be cultivated and supported

iRep will continue building grassroots support within targeted groups

General44%

FSU immigrants15%

Religious10%

Haredi11%

Arab20%

Population in Israel

Engagement with NA Bring the discussion on marriage

freedom to Federations Through educational tools, stories –

create a discourse within NA Jewry on the issue and make you better delegates to discuss the issue of marriage freedom on your visits to Israel and meetings with Israeli decision makers

For more information contactEinat.Hurvitz@JewishFederations.o

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iRep- Israel Religious Expression Platform