"In recent decades, we have made meaningful progress in addressing cases of #getrefusal, where a husband refuses to grant his wife the #Jewish #writ of #divorce that will set her free. The time it takes for the #rabbinical courts to obligate a get has shortened dramatically, and sanctions against recalcitrant husbands are imposed more frequently. The courts have become more efficient and have refined their procedures, so that we are now able to resolve the vast majority of cases within two years.

Yet, paradoxically, even as the system has improved in handling cases of get-refusal, it has lagged in addressing the plight of “classic” agunot: women whose husbands have disappeared, fled the country, or are mentally unfit to grant a get. When there is no one to pressure, no one to sanction, the system stands nearly frozen."

https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-887740

"Up in North #London is a neighbourhood which has become known as London's '#Jewishquarter'. Nearly half of people living in #GoldersGreen, in #Barnet, identify as being #Jewish.

Jewish people began to settle in Golders Green after the underground station was built there in 1907. There was an influx of #refugees in the 1930s, as people fled from #Nazi persecution.

The area has become known as London's 'Jewish quarter' as it is filled #Kosher food shops, restaurants and over 30 #synagogues where people come together to practice #Judaism. There are also 30 #JewishSchools in Golders Green, where younger generations learn #Hebrew, #Yiddish and other languages.

Many Jewish people keep kosher and to the laws of the #Shabbat. Kosher food, which sticks to strict preparation rules. can be difficult to find in some areas. But not in Golders Green, where there are around 50 kosher eateries under #rabbinical supervision."

https://www.mylondon.news/news/north-london-news/gallery/pictures-show-daily-life-inside-33315166

"#Rabbis and #rabbinical #students in the #UnitedStates are more #diverse than ever today, with increasing numbers of #women and #LGBTQ+ people. Women from earlier generations who became rabbis marvel at the greater opportunities available for those pursuing #clergy roles.

“Women have transformed #Judaism,” said Geller, #rabbi emerita of Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills, California. “All the different kinds of movements have really noticed that Judaism needs to change because women’s voices were ignored in the past.”

#Orthodox branches of Judaism generally don't allow women to be rabbis, with some exceptions. But #Reform and #Conservative, the largest movements in the #US, permit it, as does the growing nondenominational branch.

Nationwide, the #Jewish community has become more diverse, so it makes sense that the #rabbinate would be as well, said Janet Krasner Aronson, interim director of the Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies at Brandeis University."

https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/ranks-us-rabbis-grow-diverse-rising-numbers-women-129749476

Woah... unexpected.

"The #Conservativemovement, one of the major #Jewish denominations, is formally apologizing for decades of discouraging #intermarriage and committing itself to a new approach centered on engagement.

The shift marks a significant change in tone for a movement that long treated intermarriage as a threat to #Jewishcontinuity, even as its longstanding ban on clergy officiating at such weddings remains in place.

Leaders of the movement announced the shift in a report released Thursday by a working group representing the denomination’s three main arms: the United #Synagogue of Conservative #Judaism, the #Rabbinical Assembly and the #Cantors Assembly."

https://forward.com/fast-forward/791836/judaisms-conservative-movement-apologizes-for-decades-of-discouraging-intermarriage-signals-new-approach/

#History-making #trans #rabbi wants young people to find #joy and ‘#spiritual #connection’

When he came out during his #rabbinical #studies, #ElliotKukla was told he would “never get a #job as a #rabbi”. Now, as a #spiritualleader, he wants #trans and #nonbinary #youth to feel the same #joy and ‘#spiritualconnection’ to their #identities as he did.

#Women #Transgender #LGBTQ #LGBTQIA #SexualOrientation #GenderIdentity #Spirituality #Religion

https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/08/06/trans-non-binary-rabbi-elliot-kukla-lgbtq-youth/

#169 #liberal #US Jewish #leaders #sign #letter expressing #concern over #Israeli #government - #Times #of #Israel

Backers, who include ex-executives at #rabbinical #seminaries, #Jewish #Federations, #AIPAC, #Conference of #Presidents, warn against #false #antisemitism #accusations at #coalition #critics

https://www.timesofisrael.com/169-liberal-us-jewish-leaders-sign-letter-expressing-concern-over-israeli-government/