How does Israel’s laws on mamzer status affect the lives of children, mothers and fathers from both civil and religious perspectives? In a conference that was the first of its kind, CWJ’s think tank, The Tears of the Oppressed Forum, in conjunction with the Israel Democracy Institute, explored Israel’s mamzer problem with an eye toward on practical civil solutions.
The conference was held on March 30, 2022, at the Israel Democracy Institute.
Introduction
Adv. Shlomit Ravitsky Tur-Paz
Director of the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Center for Shared Society and Head of the Religion and State Program at the Center, Israel Democracy Institute
Opening Remarks
Prof. Suzie Navot
Vice President of Research, Israel Democracy Institute
Mamzer Status in Israel – English Subtitles
Rabbinic Pleader Rivkah Lubitch
Founder of the Tears of the Oppressed Forum, Center for Women’s Justice
How the mamzer problem haunts my life: A personal story – English Subtitles
Naama (pseudonym)
Naame is a client of CWJ whose life has been upended by the constant shadow of mamzer status hanging over her child’s head.
First Session: Mamzer Status, Jewish Law, the State, Family
Moderated by Prof. Daniel Statman
Mamzer rulings in the State Rabbinic Courts in this Generation: Tradition or Innovation?
Prof. Amihai Radzyner
Professor of Jewish Law and Legal History at the Faculty of Law of Bar-Ilan University
Title
Prof. Daniel Statman
Lecturer of philosophy at Haifa University, Senior Fellow of the Human Rights and Judaism Program at the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Center for Shared Society, Israel Democracy Institute
How the State Constructs Mamzer Status in Israel
Dr. Susan Weiss
Executive Director, Center for Women’s Justice
On Determining Parentage: Nature, Values and Law
Prof. Zvi Triger
Associate Professor of Law, The Haim Striks School of Law, The College of Management
First Session: Discussion, Questions and Answers
Moderated by Prof. Daniel Statman
Lecturer of philosophy at Haifa University, Senior Fellow of the Human Rights and Judaism Program at the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Center for Shared Society, Israel Democracy Institute
Second Session: Best Interests of the Child and Split Status
Moderated by Adv. Shlomit Ravitsky Tur-Paz
Introduction to Second Session
Adv. Shlomit Ravitsky Tur-Paz
Director of the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Center for Shared Society and Head of the Religion and State Program at the Center, Israel Democracy Institute
Opening Lecture
Justice Elyakim Rubinstein
Deputy President of the Israeli Supreme Court (Ret.)
Introducing the Panel on a Proposed Civil Paternity Law
Adv. Shlomit Ravitsky Tur-Paz
Director of the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Center for Shared Society and Head of the Religion and State Program at the Center, Israel Democracy Institute
Title
Adv. Nitzan Caspi Shilony
Director of the Legal Department, Center for Women’s Justice
Title
Adv. Yardena Kopf-Yosef Bodenheimer
Department of Mishpat Ivri, Legal Counseling and Legislation, Ministry of Justice
Title
Qadi Dr. Iyad Zahalka
Director of Israel’s State Sharia Courts
Title
Rabbi David Bigman
Head of Ma’ale Gilboa Yeshiva and Director of the International Beit Din
Second Session Discussion, Questions and Answers
Moderated by Adv. Shlomit Ravitsky Tur-Paz
Director of the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Center for Shared Society and Head of the Religion and State Program at the Center, Israel Democracy Institute