PHOTO BY DANIEL LI PPITT A War Of Words Rabbi Arnie Sleutelberg and 50 others go to Israel to fight legislation that would bar non-Orthodox converts from making aliyah. EMILY SENDLER SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS abbi Arnie Sleutelberg of Troy's Congregation Shir Tikvah visited Israel in January with 50 other Re- form rabbis from around the country. Their purpose: to put a stop to legislation that would bar non- Orthodox Jewish converts from making aliyah under the Law of Return. "The proposed legislation would codify into law that non- Orthodox converts would not be considered Jewish by the State of Israel," said Rabbi Sleutel- berg. The measure was intro- duced by five Orthodox political parties. Still in committee, the propos- al may stay there for a while. Rabbi Sleutelberg said he got a sense from Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu that "they would try to postpone it as long as possible." Under the auspices of the As- sociation of Reform Zionists of America, 50 North American Re- form rabbis met formally with Mr. Netanyahu and Cabinet Minister Natan Sharansky. "I thought we would have a lit- tle more honesty from politicians concerning what is really in the best interest of Israeli citizens," said Rabbi Sleutelberg. In Israel with the sole purpose of dealing with the proposed legislation, the rabbis were met with political rhetoric, said Rabbi Sleutelberg. He said Is- raelis showed a "fundamental lack of understanding of the ben- efits of religious pluralism and the necessity for religious free- dom." Their reception in Israel was at times hostile. After finishing prayers at the Western Wall, a female colleague of the rabbi's was verbally attacked by an Or- thodok Jew because she was wearing a tallit. A photo of the in- THE BEST KEPT SECRET IN MICHIGAN Coupon Experience the luxury of owning a Kohler 3.5 gal. toilet. 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"I'm more committed than ever to strengthening the ties be- tween American Jews and Is- raelis. It's critically important that non-Orthodox Jews stake their claim on our homeland." The rabbi said this trip to Israel was the first in which he felt he was giving something back. "I hope and pray that the rip- ple effect of our work there will continue to intensify." El Coupon Any $100 Deductible On Collision Over $500 NOW, AREN'T YOU GLAD WE SHARED THE SECRET? VETERAN PLUMBING & SITPLIES posal, but because the religious right helped vote him into office it is unlikely any laws supported by the Reform move- ment will secure his help, said Rabbi Sleutelberg. "My sense is, he is dis- turbed, but bound by the coalition. "If Israel passes this legislation, it will be the only coun- try in the world to legalize that there are first and second classes of Jews. "Our message was clear: It's our coun- try, our homeland, too." 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