If Nitzan Horowitz wins Tel Aviv’s municipal election in October, the city will be able to mark a double first.

“Feminism is seen as a dirty word within the Jewish community and I want this to change.” That is the view of Melissa Leigh, co-chair of the new Union of Jewish Students Women’s Network.

Jewish same-sex parents have hit back at Liberal Democrat minister Sarah Teather’s claim that gay marriage will make family life more unstable.

Gay Liberal and Reform couples are already making plans for wedding ceremonies after the House of Commons this week approved the Same-Sex Marriage Bill.

The two movements have already said they will conduct same-sex weddings if they are made legal.

A senior modern Orthodox rabbi has said that the violation of Shabbat is worse than homosexuality.

Rabbi Dr Aharon Lichtenstein made the statement that recognised homosexual feelings, according to a report on Ynet news.

A wry smile might have crossed the lips of anyone who read the JC letters page last week. Not often do you find the chairman of the Reform movement jumping to the defence of the Chief Rabbi, after he had been attacked for opposing government plans to introduce civil marriage for gay and lesbian couples.