the conversion bill and issue is only one of many issues which brought about a deep aversion against our political culture. It is the deep rooted unethical behaviour of politicians and other elected community leaders , the none existing moral standards of a number of bankers and business tycoons,of a number of police men and judges,of journalists and government employees,of rabbis and their corrupt kashrut practices and self proclaimed religious gurus which have the ear of our politicians and leaders. Its a swamp,a murky,stinking swamp we are swimming in and no way out it seems. Our claim to be a light to all nations became a joke. yes ,we are a high tech power house,but thats it. What is with our education system,our health system, our social system?What became of our political visons? What does the future hold for our kids?More of this "swimming in the swamp" as playing tools for our leadership? We need a complete overhaul of the way we elect our representatives and how they will be responsible to us, the people.! Sometimes it comes to mind that this will happen only if we ,the people stage a "coup d'etat".But we are tired,much too tired and we leave this too easily to "fishy" characters who rely on our stupidity.

Is like a fish with gills on dry land...doomed to die.

For me, as well as many Israelis, the number one priority is security. Without security, nothing else has much meaning. Number 2, is financial well being. After security, I want to be in a nation environment that allows me feel well and stable, and allows me to grow. Number 3 position is social well being, that each individual should be able to choose his/her own life style in Israel and enjoy it to the fullest. But let us set priories and not forget that we have an enemy that if it could would slit out throats while raping our daughters. We had enough with Oslo BS and Sharon's pullout, number one is security!

The misuse of the press by the so called more than one way to be a Jew Reminds me of high school journalism.

For me the first issue ,as well as many israelis, the number one priority is to end the Palestian-israel issue. Israel has to become a state,with clearly defined and agreed borders. The security issue is a direct result of the advancement of above issue and so is the social issue. Less spending on security means increased spending for health,education and social issues.

so much about what is commonly thought to be religion. Perhaps Shabbat and kashrut are much simpler than they are made out to be.

finally the beginning of something serious to discuss about contemporary judaisms. in israel. and abroad. who knows but what the numbers may crunch to the equivalent of the combined arab parties' alleged 11 seats. enjoy.

The article is very interesting, and especially the comment from Aaron wondering if these are ex-Orthodox or ex-secular. It's also no surprise that politicians will start to see them and try to appeal to them. But now, 2015, two months till elections, there is NO party to represent these people. Those that are politically liberal will find a left party, those conservative will find a right party, and the whole will be submerged in the electorate. Exactly the same thing shows in US elections; Jews vote based on politics, not religion, witness liberal NE yankee Jews voting for 0bama.

Simple nonsence. The only Israeli students that ever attended a Reform/Concervative shull are those who first lived in America!