A bill to amend the Jewish state’s Cruelty to Animals Law and ban the import of dog, cat or rabbit fur — it passed in a Knesset committee last week — has pitted Haredim against animal activists, Israeli paper Yediot Ahronot reported.

Orthodox Knesset members and religious community activists, argue that the motion and talk of proposals for a ban of all fur from around the world, would severely hamper the local shtreimel (fur-trimmed hats worn by particular sects of ultra-Orthodox Jews) market, making it difficult for Haredim to maintain their traditional religious attire. Religious MKs, argue that they support the law, but are lobbying hard for a provision that would allow the import of fur specifically for religious purposes.

If the religious community fails, perhaps designing a faux-fur shtreimel will be one of the challenges on Israel’s first season of “Project Runway,” the Israeli franchise of the hit American fashion-design competition television series.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

The first episode of Israel’s “Project Runway” aired last week on the cable station HOT.

In the American version, they say, “One day you’re in, and the next day you’re out.” And in the Hebrew-language version, they say, “In Israel one day you dictate fashion, and the next you’re a fashion victim.”

The Forward is free to read, but it isn’t free to produce

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.

Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.

This is a great time to support independent Jewish journalism you rely on. Make a gift today!

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.

$90 $180

$360

Other amount