Justice Minister: Rabbinical courts should support, not replace civil courts

Slowly but surely, the world begins to realize how similar these religions are and to wonder what the hell are we doing trying to mediate in this internecine struggle.

The writing has been on the wall for a while now. Just like Turkey, day by day Israel is becoming a religious state. If we allow them, the evangelical christians would do the same here in US.

This guy offers a highly unpopular OPINION and backtracks. The anti-Israeli idiots are all over it. Meanwhile, Sharia law is PRACTICED in varying Arab countries, and the anti-Israeli idiots act as though Israel is worse.

to me it is obvious the minister shows loyalty to his faith and his people.that gives me a good feeling.bless him.we jews understand each other.outsiders... well they just dont understand.

to live daily lives by thats why there is the "oral" law.That it may not be interpreted properly or misused by some reflects on those who chose to do so. That is why many Jews do not trust them.

to live daily lives by thats why there is the "oral" law.That it may not be interpreted properly or misused by some reflects on those who chose to do so. That is why many Jews do not trust them.

If the talkbackers who were so willing to trash Neeman had paid attention, and actually read the item they would learn that the Justice Minister suggested that some aspects of Halacha might applied to commercial matters. Debt collection, partnerships, and other related issues. Legal procedures, too. For example, except for specific cases, testimony from State Witnesses is not admissable. That means the authorities cannot use suspicious characters, offer them something or other to "tell the judge" what they know about somebody they are interested in sending to jail. It also means that in some instances it levels the playfield for the Buzaglos the nation who don't have the means to pay for their justice, the way the Asiron ha-Elyon can. So . . . it seems the only problem is that the wheeler dealers may find it harder to make hay in the law courts.

Fanaticism and ignorance are found everywhere, esp. in the new-found freedoms the world enjoys. Many comments below reflect this truth. In the US, in a court of SECULAR LAW, one must place their hand on a Bible and declare their intention to the tell the truth. The entire system of law in the US is BASED ON BIBLICAL PRECEPTS!!! I find it humorous and disgusting that people would be so 'scared' by this rabbi's intelligent comprehension of what organization is and what is best suited for its preservation. Perkei Avot is without a doubt, the incomparable genius of law which the Gemarra explores and explains better than any known laws, anywhere on the planet. Insurance companies, hospitals, businesses, regulation orgs (the SEC) are operated on Biblical precepts anyhow, as is the unified code of commerce world-wide based on 'fair weights and measures'. Ignorance in the secular world abounds on this issue as is clear in how people are so prejudice against religion in this world.

Just remember someones terrorist might be another one's freedom fighter, its a question of your standing point and believes.

This is not a new subject. We have been doing this for a couple of centuries in the US. People like Falwell and Hagy proclaiming the supremacy of Christian doctrine (their own narrow interpretation), Newt Gingrich and Mike Huckabee claiming the founding fathers intended a Christian nation (They prefer to ignore Thomas Jefferson - too liberal for their taste), while us liberals continue to defend the freedom of religious expression. Is the freedom NOT to have any religious belief equivalent in stature to the freedom to any particular belief. Hannity says no and I say Hannity is a nice guy but not the sharpest pencil in the box (more of a crayon actually). Some of these people need to have some philosophical discipline, require them to define terms and maintain some consistency. Their so called moral relativism is akin to philosophical convenience. Peace. Stephen

What ever happened to the Queen of Heaven? Jeremiah 7:17-18; Jeremiah 44:17. We may ignore all those references to Asherah poles. God and his wife stopped hanging out with folks a long time back. Judaism, and God, isn't what Moses was peddling, and hasn't been for a long, long time.

So now israel has it "Sharia" law!!

The Torah is very strict. Hashem created the world w/Din, that is severe justice. But then He saw that mankind could not deal w/it, as we see reflected here in these comments. So Hashem tempered His law w/mercy. In other words, if He counted our failings, who could stand? I think I came into the world asking "Why?", anyway, because I couldn't accept a lot of the behaviour which is based on interpretation, often biased against women, and which could be modified because this not a thousand years ago. Though it is said:"Hok ve lo yaavor", there is a limit. Women often do all the work, intellectual as well as physical, while the men reap the benefits, the salaries, and the credit. This is tantamount to slavery, "Maror", and the greatest thing that happened to the Jews, was Tziat Mitzrayim, that we were delivered from slavery.

"Capital punishment in Halacha ended in the Year 70." - Joe Tell that to Baruch Goldstein's victims. . . They will be pleased.

"Jewish are and were persecuted around the world by fundamentalists and nationalists." Why do you think that Jewish fundamentalists and nationalists are any different than any other fundamentalists and nationalsits? Are Zionists a benevolent species? Any difference between an Israeli nationalist today and a German nationalist in the 1930's, or a Soviet nationalist in the 1920's? Or any other "security" service anywhere at any time? More important for you, Are Israelis any safer today than they were last year? Will they somehow be safer next year? Do you really think that you have somehow escaped persecution? Persecution is the most devilish crime of the human race! Contrary to what you may choose to believe, Jews do not have an exclusive handle on persecution. Ask any Palestinian.

If it were not for Jewish Law there would be no Jews today, no state, nothing.

Major difference is than non-Jews under Halacha are not treated as sixth-class citizens/immigrants--a fact of which my own native land has had plenty of bitter experience (600 years of Muslim rule produced much regress and a few monuments/mausolea, compared to 200 years of British rule producing at least some progress--in infrastructure, disciplined military, education, foundation of democracy--albeit unintentionally).

Finally someone worth being and elevating the joke secular Israeli government.

Capital cases can only be heard by a Sanhedrin that sits in the Temple precincts, i.e. in Messianic times. Capital punishment in Halacha ended in the Year 70.

Someone once said: "There is not a conservatice among us who was not a wild-eyed liberal in his youth. The older a man gets, the more conservative he becomes. The extreme of conservatism is fundamentalism, which upholds its own view of tradtion. A healthy society admits the liberal, sometimes rash, modernity of youth, contrasts it with the conservatism of age, and benefits from the creative dynamic between them. I thiink the Justice Minister has perhaps gone the whole route and wants everyone in the world to do things his way.

......The reason for the huge mess in Israel is the fact that there is NO such a thing as a constitution......and the call themselves a democracy ?

In Jewish law, women can't vote, can't serve in government, or be witnesses. Inheritance laws are unfavorable to women as well. Birth control must be approved by a rabbi. Women in Israel do have what to be afraid of.

Another example of the Heredi Taliban taking more control and leading Israel down the path to destruction.

... why the rest of the world should refuse to recognise Israel as a Jewish state. So, in the view of the 'Justice' minister: "Israel is a Jewish state" means "we will bestow upon the citizens of Israel the laws of the Torah and we will turn Halakha into the binding law of the nation". Specially for the Arabs, I suppose. And Bibi expects the rest of the world to support that?

I love the idea! The Torah asks us to be honest. Therefore the government will now resign, the Rabbinate will do the same, etc. etc and we will have only honest people in the various charges. this sounds like Messianic times, but not Israel of today.

1.THE TORAH itself NEVER gave "rabbis" the authority to interpet and "make" laws... 2. Halacha is a repsitory of rabbinic decisions----yes it gave us a Jewish tradition of laws BUT these can be challenegd by both the State AND The AM YISROEL...The Torah gave the authority to interpret and "judge" law first to a Council of tribal elders put forth freom the 12 tribes for that purpose---they wer not exprtsin law or rabbis--but people the ribes thought were best to do this task.. SIMILARLY ISRAEL the STATE representing the PEOPLE could put forth a Council made up of people from a cross-section of Israeli SOCIETY who could decide on these laws --on controversil issues they could hold referedums to vote on the proper interprestations. For example: 1. The milk+meat together prohibition(Halachic law ,NOT necessarily Torah law which is very specific to kid goat in its own mother's milk,and not to other combinations. 2.Definition of M'lechet AVODAH -did Halakah go too far?

speaking as a diaspora orthodox Jew I can't think of a much worse idea. Historically halakha was never used as a practical legal system to run a state and there would be numerous problems More fundamentally, this would mean Israel turning away from the approach of finding a modus operandi between being a secular, liberal democracy and Jewish law where these appear to conflict A far better approach was taken by the second Chief Rabbi of Israel, Isaac Herzog, who as far as I can see based his approach on adopting a "common sense" approach of accommodation of secular liberal democracy within halakha rather than vice-versa. To paraphrase Joseph Heller, where are the Rav Herzog's of yesteryear? We need them depserately to bring some much needed common sense and reality back into these issues

If you want to know, this is a great reference: http://www.torahsearch.com/page.cfm/2384 "We are commanded to hang a male idolator or blasphemer after he is executed" (Deut. 21:22).

The 3 laws of Fundamentaliam: 1. A religious movement which indulges in politics will dissolve in its own miasma. 2. A religious leader who resorts to force disenchants his following, disenfranchises himself, and passes into obcurity without comment. 3. Religion and politics do not mix. If you believe it is only a matter of time, then you have given up already and no doubt deserve the consequences of your own inaction. Auf wiedersehen.

Go to 1350 BCE. Do not pass Go. Do not collect NIS 100.

When politics and religion mix, you are headed for disaster and Israel will impolde

Does your supermarket have a parking lot?

"Well, there`s no question that the Minister`s suggestion will be welcomed by approximately 15% of the population, but what about the remaining 85%?" - Nachum Ben Daniel The do not matter. What do you think, that Israel is a democracy? Israel voted for creeping theocracy the last decade.

Come to the USA where rab and reb mean two different things.

It worked for a while, till Bishops and Cardinals became the nobility. then It came crashing down around their ears (16th century). Now the nobility of the past have returned to their original task: teaching the faith. Rabbis are fallible human beings like anyone else. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absoluely. Better Halacha should have an alternative (secular law). It reminds ambitious Rabbis that they are not G_d, keeps them on their toes. Secular power vs. moral power = good balance for any society.

not as big a mess as modern btitain michael.you now have a fiscal deficit of 200 billion pounds.

I know this guy with a secular mentality who got a work contract in Saudi Arabia... On Fridays, he had to either go to the prayers or hide in his own house so that no one sees him and inform the authorities. he would never show up on windows or the balcony, elsewhere he will got punished. Now i can imagine Israel with its religious laws: on Shabat, I will have to close my curtains so that no one sees me when i turn on the light or watch television,, otherwise I am punished..hehehee, could anyone please tell me the difference between Saudi Arabia and the new Israel????

Those laws don't apply today, even if Jewish law were reinstated. We cannot have those laws until the messiah comes and the temple in Jerusalem is rebuilt.

They haven't stopped changing since. The Sadducees of the Greco Roman era believed in a literal translation of Torah; the Pharisees did not. From the ranks of the Pharisees came the Rabbis and it was they who decided that the Torah should be a living document and set about interpreting it in their own light, and the light of the day. Hence, no longer would the Torah mean an eye for an eye, and the death penalties handed out so freely in the old book of *instruction* would now be meted out sparingly if ever. Those innovative thinkers of their day never lived to see the Torah become ossified in medieval times and it fell to ranks of reformers in the 19thC to further interpret the Torah laws in the light of changed circumstances. Ne'eman wants to go back, not forwards. Reversing the process that allowed Israel to come to fruition.

Now there is a NY community that operates, as much as US law will permit, as a halachic entity. Women are not permitted to drive because they were not wagon drivers in the shtetle. Buses have a mechitzah and education is frowned on as being narishkeit. Will appliances need to be turned off and can toilets be flushed on shabbos?

These Israeli ministries really have a job cut out for them with all of this doublespeak, backtracking and redefining of statements emanating from their ministers. They already have halacha controlling matters of marriage, divorce birth, conversion and burial. There are strong proponents of reestablishing the Sanhedrin which would reinstitute the death penalty and affect the lives of non-Jews living in Eretz Yisrael. Maybe they will get around to solving the dilemma of the agunah with a solution other than beating of the recalcitrant husband.

Anyone thinking we would continue to live in this secular paradise of mildly Zionist denial of a democracy should wake up and smell the incense from inside the 3rd Temple. With this so-called Justice Minister's beliefs, we are at the dawn of a Theocratic Israel. It will be ruled by the men of orthodoxy and their fanatical fundamentalist supporters in the West Bank - like Daniel Pinner to whom we were introduced last week, the charming Daniella Weiss, and the welcoming Elyakim Ha'Etzni, the criminal Baruch Marzel, his partner in ideology Feiglin and their torch bearer, Dr Baruch Goldstein. Such people mourn him and I have not spent one moment in grief, so much as in pain that those who call themselves Jews in the state of Israel spawned such a man and such followers. And there we were bemoaning the decline of our political class. Once the 3rd Temple is established it is doubtful whether Netanyahu and Liebermann will be Jewish enough to gain entrance. This is the beginning of our end.

The Archbishop supports giving Sharia courts the same status as Jewish courts in the UK. These may be used by those who volunteer to accept their decisions and the decision of the court then has the backing of the normal UK courts, in a very similar way to a breach of contract dispute. Of course, they deal only with minor civil cases such as disputes over property.

God, Israel is turning to become the new Hamas such as in Gaza.. i don't see any difference between Hamas trying to impose Shari'a law in "slightly a shy matter" but its going there..and Israel trying to implement its Halacha... Welcome Israel to the team (Saudi Arabia,Iran,Hamasistan) Move on Secular People, you will be in trouble if you dont

First of all get it right. The AB of C said he could envisage SOME aspects of Sharia law being used for Muslims, such as in cases of divorce. He didn't call for its introduction. Secondly, this isn't a powerful government minister talking (with another powerful government minister in the applauding crowd). This is the Archbishop of Canterbury. Not even the Church of England listens to him much. The Synod of the C of E has the power, what there is of it, and there's not the least possible chance that a conservative body like that would support any form of sharia.

Well, there's no question that the Minister's suggestion will be welcomed by approximately 15% of the population, but what about the remaining 85%?

Why should Iran be alone in living the past?

It's always nice to see an Israeli official that is so out of touch with reality that both sides of the political spectrum can agree. These right wing religious fanatics are quite common in Israel. Unlike their American Christian counterparts, they can rise up the political scale and become spokesmen for the state. I will take Arnold any day. He is not as good an actor as Bibi abd his crew, but he is certainly more honest and sincere (and sane).

"That which is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow. That is the whole Torah; the rest is the explanation; go and learn."

1. Justice Minister should be immediately fired for breaching his fiduciary duty. 2. The population which contributed almost nothing to creation and sustaining the State of Israel should not be given the power over all Jewish People in Israel as well over Israeli non Jews. Ever.

This is what Hamas wants. Just using a different set of religious laws. And it sounds like certain US "Chrstians" who were influential in the Bush Administration. They want "Christian law" (which is their interpretation of the Bible) as the supreme law of the land in the US.

THE QUICKER YOU GET RID OF THIS MINISTER THE BETTER FOR ALL HE COMES FROM THE STONE AGE!

could be the beginning of the end. zealots will rule.prepare for a mega massada.

Jerusalem Post "According to the report, Neeman repeatedly used the phrase "restoring former glory," which has become associated with Shas." Now that's also scary. Firstly, any time people start talking about restoring former glory, you know you're in trouble. It's usually the prerorogative of dangerously deluded nationalists. Mussolini, Milosevic etc. etc. all wanted to restore their people's former glory. I mean just imagine if a UK politician said he wanted to restore the British Empire's former glory. A few nuts over here would cheer and the rest of the world would groan and start expecting trouble. Secondly, ancient Israel just wasn't all that glorious. It was a small country frequently torn apart by civil wars and just as frequently conquered by its more succesful neighbours. Archaeologically nothing very impressive has survived and its only well-known today because Constantine happened to make Christianity the Roman Empire's religion.

is stoning also required? justice minister should visit iran to find out how rabbis/mullahs run a modern state.

If Israel started implementing backward 2000 year old laws it would lose all support, people like it because it is a secular state.

.Who said that the law of the Torah as interpreted by the rabbis is really the law given by God?The rabbis themselves.If you talk to a rabbi about theft,and says to him theft is immoral and should be punished,if the theft benefited a religious institution or person,he will reply:"What is theft"? .Go to a judge,explain the case and ask him:'What is theft"?And you receive the right answer:theft is taking possession of something that doesn't belong to you. .That is why I prefer the secular law

and a big step back to the medieval times. i just hope the people of israel will not let this happen.

Relax, people. Halacha has no resemblance to shaaria and it's cutting-off-the-hands-of-robbers morality. Most of halachic law as they pertain to civil matters is indistinguishable from current legal norms. He's not talking about separating men and women on buses which has nothing to do with halacha. Most of the posters here who profess to be so scared, have no knowledge whatsoever about real halacha and how halacha would decide civil matters. If they did, they'd just shrug their shoulders.

with the call for Sharia law to be incorporated in Britain.What next?Special punishment for girls who do not do as they are told? That's scary.!

....and see all non-religious israelis leave the country. Then we will all see how long the state stands without them.

Enlighten me, Mr. Dissen. What are those "obvious" answers to Imma Tova's questions?

Whether or not orthodox judaism views women as second class citizens is not the point, the point is that this is not a theocracy. Whether or not state sanctioned Jewish law will be any different than any other theocracy is equally moot. The very expression "TRUE Judaism" is endlessly problematic, because we all believe in a different interpretation of Judaism and its laws. Israel is a country with numerous diverse groups and individuals, and as a democratic state the government has a responsibility to respect the needs and rights of all of those groups. Anything less would be uncivilized...

Re we going to start stonging people who says the name of G-D like in ''monthy python''? or stone those who serves meals and work at sabbath? of whipping the adultery woman! woman who talked with a guy? re we going to aputate the hands of a thief?? these re why we dont get along with iran and saudia! and yes we jews invented those penalties which after passed to the islam law! but it doesnt matter who invented it matters who still applies those barbaric penalties and barbaric repressive laws to the people! i dont think those penalties will reborn in jewish state! but maybe prison to the woman who cheats her wife and woman who speaks to a man can be applied and to those who work at sabbath! even these laws are scary and its enough for the collapse of israel! Religious law is insane! cuz there re seculars living in isr too. or as some say infidels? what happened to my great country? why suddenly everyone gone insane?! what happened to the country of Begin and Ben Gurion, Hertzel?

This is an official holding a high position in Israel, and it should make one wonder that with this type of mentality, what kind of "justice" does he meter out at present. As it is, Livni is under an illusion that Israel is a democratic society. A democracy is one where a country is the state of ALL its citizens, but as we know, that is not the way in works in Israel.

Why are our corrupt, greedy politicians not brave enough to affront those religious people in order to protect the secular majority of it's population. Those people only expect tolerance toward them, but they've got no tolerance for others and their decision of way of live. Yeah, go ahead, let's give them more platform, and in a long term we manage it to destroy our home a third time!

13:17 EU ministers discuss plan to recognize Jerusalem as Israeli, Palestinian capital (AP) --------------------------------------------- jerusalem cannot be israeli capital. it can be palestinian and jewish and arab and christian capital but cannot be israeli capital. israel has completely no rights to come any way near jerusalem.

And this fundamentalist is the Justice Minister? Is this Saudi Arabia?

22 If a man be found lying with a woman married to a husband, then they shall both of them die, the man that lay with the woman, and the woman; so shalt thou put away the evil from Israel. 23 If there be a damsel that is a virgin betrothed unto a man, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her; 24 then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die: the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbour's wife; so thou shalt put away the evil from the midst of thee.

The worst part of it: Israeli politicians can say whatever they want, and NEVER pay a price for it. This goes especially for racists like Eli Yishay and his friends from Shas. In a normal country, things like this would end his career. Time to renew the passport?

Israel cannot afford to distance itself from whatever the rest of the civilized World agrees on to a degree. However, you have to decide what that degree is yourselves. That part is true. In some cases, it is obvious that terrorists have used our common weaknesses in order to penetrate us for the purposes of setting up cells. But for some things that make Jews look ridiculously bad in the eyes of the World, those things must be taken to account. Israel should be able to keep some Jewish things but other things should be set aside. It's sort of like some laws over here that were written over a hundred years ago and still in the books. Maybe like making sure you don't park your horses in front of city hall? Well most of us don't ride horses now. We use cars. See?

I can respect those who do not wish to adhere to Jewish law, it is after all their free choice. But to draw comparisons with the Taliban and other evil regimes is absurd. Judaisim does not in any way shape or form view women as second class nor treat them as such. Anyone who has any understanding of Judaism or Jewish law would know this already. Please please dont let a very small (yet at times highly publicized minority) taint your view of TRUE Judaism. Remember however Secular you think you are the ONLY reason we are living, loving and fighting for Israel in the first place is because of our belief in the Torah (otherwise why dont we simply go live in Uganda??)

Anne, Torah law is as "legal" as it is ethical. In the the legal system as it stands in Israel the authorities can bring in someone with a criminal background, someone, say who embezzled a million, who knows about the crimes of a person they wish to prosecute. Yeah, a State's Witness who comes to plea away his sentence in return for information. In Halacha, there is no such thing as State's Witness, or plea bargaining, or any other of foilshtick that the civil courts have been know to use. You will find that many of the "injustices" of the Israeli criminal justice system do not exist in Halacha for, yes, ethical reasons.

The Jerusalem Post has a slightly different translation but the message is pretty much the same. True the ministry spokesman had to rush out a statement that the minister is not instantly calling for the replacement of existing law, but it's fairly clear that the justice minister is, indeed, calling for a much larger role for religion in Israel's legal system. That's what he said. That's what he means. That's scary.

are different things for good reason. Just like I don't want to be ruled by reverends, the pope or mullah's I wouldn't want to be ruled by rabbi's either.

and it does make a lot of sense to me. What would otherwise be the point of self-defining itself as a Jewish state ? Now consider this : A real Jewish State with Jewish Law where a majority of Jews worldwide will not want to live ... PS : I don't know if it helps but I believe that God (whatever that means) did not give us laws but love ...

shall we ever continue the discussion of "who is a jew", do we really want a state that is in fact similar to that of our neighbors? Is this the way to integrate into the region? The State of Israel needs actually a constitution, a strict secular law for all the citizens, granting freedom of religion, but no influence on politics

I don't think there was any suggestion of the Law covering what goes on in your home. Those who support his view refer to the courts and legal principles or Jewish civil law. No one is suggesting the police check whether you keep Shabbos, kashrus or taharas mishpacha in the privacy of your home. It might, however, encourge Jewish owned businesses not to open on Shabbos or sell chometz on Pesach.

"The Torah has the complete solution to all of the questions we are dealing with". Neeman. "Islam is the solution" Muslim Brotherhood slogan. "Israel should restore former glory" Shas slogan repeatedly used by Neeman in his speech. "We call upon all Muslims to adhere to the teachings of Islam in all domains in order to regain their former glory" Salafist website.

He might as well introduce the sharia law!! this man is insane and a danger to democracy; words coming from a supposed academic.....what a shame! I'll move to Iran if it happens!

The Torah makes it very clear that non-Jews will always share the Land Israel just as they share the G-d of Israel. This is why it says, 'There shall be one Law in the land for the native born and the stranger', and this is why in the Temple in Jerusalem there was a Courtyard of the Gentiles, allowing them to take part in the Temple worship. The main limitation would be on graven images or idols that are considered a desecration of the Holy Land.

We have reached a strage of kulturkampf wherein Halacha and Torah are equated with bigoted fanatics, the 2% who bring Yiddishkeit into disrepute. Torah and Halacha is a broad stream of values and Law that are part of the Western World. Israeli Law is a combination of Turkish, British and Jewish Law. Israel is no longer Turkish or British, so why not strengthen the emphasis on a liberal, democratic application of Jewish legal principles ? What is the point of building a Jewish state if it is no different from any other state ?

Greeeeeeat!!!!!!!!!!!!! Biggest thanks, dear minister :o))))) So, "israel is only democracy on Near East", speaking somebody about Israel. But - when will be there jewish ECCLESIASTICAL law as only law system, it will happen Israel as Saudi Arabia or Afghanistan!!!!! Moslem sharia, jewish sharia - identical medieval brutal systems. No democracy, no liberty, no culture, no education, no women law, no minority laws. Where is Israel going?

They haven't stopped changing since. The Sadducees of the Greco Roman era believed in a literal translation of Torah; the Pharisees did not. From the ranks of the Pharisees came the Rabbis and it was they who decided that the Torah should be a living document and set about interpreting it in their own light, and the light of the day. Hence, no longer would the Torah mean an eye for an eye, and the death penalties handed out so freely in the old book of *instruction* would now be meted out sparingly if ever. Those innovative thinkers of their day never lived to see the Torah become ossified in medieval times and it fell to ranks of reformers in the 19thC to further interpret the Torah laws in the light of changed circumstances. Ne'eman wants to go back, not forwards. Reversing the process that allowed Israel to come to fruition.

but he is wrong.we cannot have a state based on religion.we live by the tenets of our faith but can go no further. what is in our hearts stays with us and must not be politicised.

In the evolution of mankind the separation of state and religion is a civilisatory step forward. It does not interfere in the personal beliefs or faiths of any citizen. If you step back to archaic law forms, relevant for societies of the past, you can see the results:aiatollahs, whahabis, antisemitical catholic sects, extreme rabbies etc.Israel is the most daring and revolutionary project for the jews in the past 2000 years. Please do not spoil or destroy it with a ghetto mentality!

The question is not if I can leave...my status here is based on my relationship with my wife. When our bond is not recognized; what than? I could leave to any European country, except Holland where I'm from, cause of the immigration laws on my wife...But if I want to stay?

show me how they took this out of context: "Step by step, we will bestow upon the citizens of Israel the laws of the Torah and we will turn Halakha into the binding law of the nation,"

Maybe its time to change Israel's voting system from pr to first past the post? Wouldn't it be better for the majority of Israelis who are secular and therefore avoid being subjected to religious minority values?

The Jewish Taliban are coming, welcome back to the Middle Ages.

And not just the majority secular Jews either,normal middle of the road Orthodox as well,leaving a tiny fraction of the Jews in Israel. Who needs Hezballah/Mullahs/Hamas?

First of all, according to Jewish law, non-Jews can live here. Second of all, nobody will force you or your wife to remain.

I cannot care less which law you follow but please allow me the following comparison: Taliban = Sharia Zionists = Jewish law. Fanatics on both sides celebrate!

If so, please provide the appropriate responsa... I am so curious. We choose to live by certain halachic standards, but it is not for the state to compel its citizens to conform to our personal religious beliefs. To do so would put us in the same category as a fundamentalist Islamic regime.

Israel will be an Iran-style theocracy one day. Just you wait.

He wasn't saying actually chaning any laws. He was talking about spiritually. What a non issue. I can't believe the people on here actually thinking some laws would be changed. Wake up. His office issued a statement clarifying it to the people that are so dense.

I'm a jew in the ethnical sense. (Search for the definition of ethnic). Jewish are and were persecuted around the world by fundamentalists and nationalists. Now part of us (the jews) are started to be victims of religious fundamentalism from other jews too inside Israel. Any democratic government would force to inmediately quit to any minister that would make any such dangerous statement. A passive attitude against this verbal crime against the basics of a democratic system is a clear sign of radicalization.

The truth of the matter is, that if Israel would implement Jewish law into poractice, the entire strength of the Jewish world would increase and ultimatly unite like never before. The real reason others fear jewish law in Israel is because it will unite the Jews and thus take away any power the secular have. It makes no sense that a state built on miracles does not live in a Torah abiding society. Today, tomorrow, sooner or later it will happen because it is the destiny of the Jewish people. However, my biggest fear is that the politicians of Jewish law will be as corrupt as politicians of secular law. You can take the man out of evil, but you can not take evil out of man. P.S I am not religious nor orthodox. I am secular.

Half the country will emmigrate if the Democratic system collapses. How would you feel if that happened?

is it a democratic secular state or a theocracy like iran? this is outrageous! religious law is old and cannot be applied in a free equal and a modern society! the justice minister is nuts! what kind of a justice minister says this kind of things except for in Iran, Saudi Arabia... re these considered good examples in isral??? If i was the PM i would have fired him immediately! this is against all value of the state of israel an if applied will bring the collapse of the state!

Halacha is, indeed, a legal system that is based on traditional Jewish values, but it is no less valid, as a legal system. It is not uncommon for some Israelis to sign waivers allowing their cases to Rabbinic courts in cases regarding contracts, and other economic issues. When that happens, if the Halacha calls for a contractor to pay out damages to someone over an issue regarding a flat, its the law. And, Surpisingly enough, women have more rights that they imagine. I fear, the Yevseks prefer to lead the Israeli Jewish public out of studying their own traditions, and prefer to have us become "like all the nations". We fear what we don't know, with many Israelis buffaloed into staying away the Jewish bookshelf by "lies their ultra-secularists told them.

Torah is more like a lawbook than the religious "quide"? Where is the religous spirit of the soul? In the Bible?

I'm married to a Jew, but I'm not. So am I going to be expelled, stoned or is anybody going to circumcise me? The Halakha doesn't recognize our marriage (we married elsewhere) so I guess so, any experts? This is the justice ministerso it's not a joke and for sure not funny.

Sharia, the religious law of Islam. As Islam makes no distinction between religion and life, Islamic law covers not only ritual but many aspects of life. Result "Chaos" . Halakha the religious law of religious Jews. God help Israel if this law should come about.

If visiting Israel will soon entail not being allowed a chocolate milk with my chicken sandwich without risking 40 lashes, I may start visiting elsewhere. But can we have a red light district in Sodom? I mean, Sodom is still Sodom.

Finally! Our Secular government has had a fair share of trying to work... it has done as much as it can, and now it is time to step aside for a chalich government. Chalich government would be the best thing for Israel, and in particular, for international acceptance. It would not allow for the corrupt secular government we see today, but pave the way for a modern spiritual peace seeking government that can revolutionise the world!

I think this is a great idea - and it really would help a lot of Israel's problems. I don't believe that it would forbid people to drive on shabbat - It would be interesting to see how they would like to implement this.

my real halichic name,avraham yekutiel ben eliyahu,did not fit into the assimilated space allocated for names,more important: will i be entitled to more than one spouse,as are my yeminite jewish brothers?I believe and pray that the banks will cease to levy lending interest from the tribe of avraham avinu.God bless neeman,brilliant thinking,right on brother.

Now the entire ME is trenched with fundamentalists ideas and values. First Iran's Mullahs, then Egypt, Algeria, Syria, Jordan, and Palestinians Muslim Brotherhoods. Now Iraq's Mullahs and Israel's Halakha. Beware the women and other minorities of the ME.

If G-D came down and told you himself to follow the laws of the Torah then there would be no one in this world who would say no to G-D. The problem begins when our Secular brothers don't believe G-D gave the Torah. Second point: I believe the statement was for the laws of the State and not on individuals.

Quite scary. But I guess it is a natural consequence of building a state on religious/ethnic foundations. The need for a secular and truly democratic state with equal rights for everyone becomes more urgent for every day.

And you're not complaining about it. Beyond that, Jewish law isn't like Sharia at all. For instance, to actually implement the death penalty is almost impossible.

I find it preposterous that a man of Neeman's intelligence and involvement in the real world literally means what he is saying here. It would be wonderful if he would give an example of how this dream of his would find real form in day to day life. Is this just another sad case of religious people paying dangerous lip service (or worse) subjugating there own mind to a frame of reference has nothing to do with actual implementation. This only creates new demons that endanger the possibility of a creative dynamics between tradition and modernity, between rational universal values and individual/ethnic/national identity and culture.

I need more information about exactly what Ne'eman said at the conference, before rendering any definitive response. As a religiously observant Jew (both of us) I would look favorably on having halakha play a more important (though I'm not sure it should be a "dominant" and certainly NOT a veto) in Israeli law. We are --if the Zionist ideals still hold--a Jewish state. We should, therefore, look to our sources for inspiration in designing and managing the country. None of this should preclude having "outside" influences, be it already entrenched legal traditions like Ottoman and British or current legal thinking affect the Israeli judiciary system.

It's not.

Ne'eman trying to undermine the modern judicial system and rule of law, Lieberman trying to discredit the police and state prosecution. Who let these people get in to such powerful positions? Israel is not just teetering on the edge of a banana state, but the shtetle too. A wierd combination, but seemingly just around the corner.

If you truly were religious you would have not asked the questions, as the answers are obvious to anyone with even a little knowledge of Judaism.

Since you feel Jewish law should be in force in a Jewish state, I assume you would approve of Jews living in a Muslim state being forced to live under sharia.

what happens to me? I live in israel, dont drive on shabbat, dont cook or light fire but watch TV and am very happy with my middle ground. Is Israel going to force religious law upon me? if so, i'm not staying, i'm too much of a free spirit that believes in freedom of expression for all, which is partly why live in Israel for those values it has.

Sorry but you cannot impose religious laws on non bellivers. If someone wishes to be religious thats his or her choice but Israel is the only so calle democracy in the middle east and hopefully will remain so. Will we be stoning women who are accused by men of having an affair? This is not Tehran neither will it be. Seperate state and religion.

In the UK we haven't had government ministers threatening us with the laws of God and the Bible since the 17th century - and that caused a Civil War. Might be time for secular Israelis to start asking some SERIOUS questions here.

life will look like in saudia.... and with this demographic reality it is just a matter of time...

I think all of us would have serious concerns... would I be allowed to drive? wear flip flops? go to university? Which halachic interpretations would be used? Neturei Karta? R. Moshe Feintstein? This is obscene, and for the record, I am religious.

I'm just thinking how I'd feel if the British Minister of Justice stood up before a crowd of applauding fundamentalists and said 'Step by step, we will bestow upon the citizens of the United Kingdom the laws of God, and we will turn the Bible into the binding law of the nation". Yep, I'd be scared.

Jewish state. Jewish law. There's no excuse to use foreign law and foreign values in the Jewish state.

The day they close the supermarket on shabbat, I'm outta here...

IF THIS COMES TO PASS I AM PACKING MY BAGS AND RECOMEND ALL THE OTHER SECULAR WOMEN TO DO THE SAME.