New reforms look to chip away Israeli chief rabbis’ power

By TIA GOLDENBERG
Associated Press

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel’s new government has taken aim at the country’s powerful rabbinical authorities with a pair of religious reforms that would chip away at the tight grip of the country’s chief rabbinate on many aspects of daily life. The changes have sparked protests and outrage from religious leaders. They underscore the deep divide between Israel’s observant and secular communities. The reforms, which address rules on kosher food and conversions to Judaism, make only modest changes to current practices. But they have nonetheless sparked protests and outrage from religious leaders, underscoring the rabbis’ power and the deep divide between Israel’s observant and secular communities.