Yedidia Stern, at The Blogs

Apply for a Blog

Oct 20, 2023, 11:50 AM

The Genesis War

A convoy of military vehicles seen at an open field near the Israeli-Gaza border, in southern Israel, October 15, 2023. (Yossi Zamir/Flash90)

This war requires a name rooted in Jewishness – and, after victory, one that calls us to correct course and start again from the beginning

Sep 14, 2023, 7:38 AM

Restoring the covenant of fate

In order to renew trust in the future of our democracy, Israel must regulate the distribution of powers among the branches of government

Mar 28, 2023, 2:36 PM

A miraculous display of civil heroism

Israelis protest outside the Knesset government’s planned judicial overhaul, in Jerusalem on March 27, 2023 (Erik Marmor/ Flash90)

The political center is taking to the streets to fight for values and interests that transcend identity group politics

Mar 19, 2023, 3:04 PM

The People’s Framework or civil war

As we stand at the edge of the abyss – a constitutional crisis literally embodying the idea that “might is right” – the president of Israel decided, this past Wednesday, to place the People’s Framework on the national table....

Feb 12, 2023, 2:02 PM

Dialogue should prevent Israel’s slide into civil war

Protesters estimated by organizers to number 145,000 rally in central Tel Aviv, on February 11, 2023, against controversial legal reforms being touted by the country's far-right government. (Screenshot of drone footage; used in accordance with clause 27a of the copyright law)

If legal experts with differing opinions could just hash everything out, we might see real, consensus-based reform

Sep 25, 2022, 4:39 PM

Rosh Hashanah or January 1?

Rosh Hashanah 'foods' for a sweet new year: honey, apples, and pomegranate. (Liron Almog/Flash90)

This season of Jewish holidays goes a long way to preserve our Jewish identity, protecting us from the pervasive divisiveness and assimilation in Israeli society

Jan 5, 2022, 3:43 PM

The Haredi leadership: Crime and its punishment

'We believe victims' fliers placed on billboards of a Haredi neighborhood on December 31, 2021. (Courtesy)

The ultra-Orthodox self-segregate from Israeli society, but the Walder affair is revealing major cracks in the 'wall of holiness.' A day of reckoning is coming

Sep 1, 2021, 3:48 PM

The (non-)draft law for Haredim

Ultra-Orthodox men walk outside the IDF recruitment office in Jerusalem, on December 5, 2019. (Olivier FitoussiFlash90)

Lowering the draft age for the ultra-Orthodox to let them leave the army at the usual age sounds like a good idea, but it might just bring down this people's army

Aug 8, 2021, 3:50 PM

Artem – brother or other?

Artem Dolgopyat of Israel celebrates after winning the gold medal on the floor exercise in the artistic gymnastics men's final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, on August 1, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/ Natacha Pisarenko)

Israel must find a way to allow marriage for all and the best option is to set up a civil union track that doesn't undercut the Rabbinate's halachic authority

Jul 19, 2021, 2:06 PM

High Court gender segregation ruling provides for ‘A Room of Their Own’

Illustrative: Ultra-Orthodox young women who are part of the Adva program that aims to train them with skills for the high-tech sector. (Courtesy)

In agreeing to limited separation in academia, the Court rejected the extreme positions of both the Haredim and those who oppose them

Load more

About Me

Yedidia Stern is the president of the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI) and a professor of law (emeritus) at Bar-Ilan University.