Early Zionism sought to reform the “Ghetto Jew” into the secular Zionist militant. But now the new Israeli government not only wants to push society to the right, but to dismantle its secularism as well.

Two years ago, there would have been no problems whatsoever in Rabbi Elimelech Firer’s medical benefit at the Bronfman Center, the Palace of Culture in Tel Aviv. But this time, it was hard to notice there were no female singers, who apparently represent a danger to orthodox men. The gala has been called off after unprecedented protest.