O < INFIGHTING page 3 statement that could or would cause the disenfranchisement of any segment ofJewry," he said. Rabbi Steven Weil, a member of the RCA and spiritual leader of Young Israel of Oak Park, says, "Rabbi Grossman really hit the nail on the head with that state- ment. These guys (the UORUSC) don't represent anybody." The other large Orthodox rab- binical group in this country, the Igud HaRabonim, would likely not agree as well, he says. The rabbis behind the state- ment "basically represent no one but themselves," says Rabbi Weil. "It's a small group of rabbis who do not represent the constituen- cies of congregations, who are ba- sically professional fighters, guys who are consistently looking for a cause or for an issue to raise and yell and scream about." Rabbi Irving Greenberg, founder of CLAL, the National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, says the statement is "definitely not the consensus of the Orthodox community. I think that most modern Orthodox Jews would be uncomfortable with the harshness of the language." But Rabbi Greenberg cautions that "it would be missing some of the complexity to act as if this is just a bunch of nuts or just a bunch of extremists. The very de- cision to take that resolution pub- The council reiterated that any Jew born to a Jewish mother, or "converted according to the laws of our people," is a full-fledged Jew. But, the statement added, 'That does not mean that we con- done the non-observance of our Torah. Nothing can replace the corpus of Jewish law that has been the guarantee of our ever- lasting people because it remains our covenant with God. Although most American Jews align with the Reform and Con- servative movements, they have few counterparts in Israel, where the population is divided between a secular majority and a large Or- thodox minority. Rabbi Herschel Finman, of Michigan Lubavitch, said, "I can- not agree with any type of a state- ment which would be so divisive among Jews." Lubavitch World Headquarters in Brooklyn issued a statement last week that the im- plication that all Jews are not "le- gitimate members of the Jewish people is absolutely abhorrent and is foreign to basic principles of Ju- daism." Rabbi Rafael Grossman, pres- ident of the Rabbinical Council of America (RCA), which represents more than 1,000 Orthodox rabbis, said the statement represented the beliefs of "a very distinct mi- nority" among the Orthodox. "I would not associate with a • • • • • • • • • • • When • • • • • • • • • you think of lic represents one of the side ef- fects of the growing insolence of the right overall, and of ultra-Or- thodoxy, and the weakening of modern Orthodoxy. Going public represents the growing dominance of the right in Orthodoxy." Conservative and Reform rab- bis in the metro Detroit area, as well as their constituents, were in- furiated by the statement. Congregation Shaarey Zedek's Rabbi Irwin Groner was "pro- foundly disturbed that a group of rabbis have attacked all the non- Orthodox religious movements. It is the sacred task of the rabbi to teach ahavat Yisrael, the love of the Jewish people, and respect for all who seek the way of faith." Rabbi Aaron Bergman of Con- gregation Beth Abraham Hillel Moses thought it was "unfortu- nate" for the New York Times to give the statement so much em- phasis. "A lot of this is politics dressed up as religion because in Israel there's no real separation of shul and state; recognition by the gov- ernment doesn't just mean they give us the stamp of approval — it translates into money, what sort of membership you can reach, access into Israeli society, bar- gaining tools in the Israeli gov- ernment." But Rabbi Bergman adds, "I believe that God is the fi- nal judge." ❑ Rabbinic Debate The Knesset gives preliminary approval to a bill barring Reform and Conservative conversions. But the next step may be compromise. LARRY DERFNER ISRAEL CORRESPONDENT 0 n the eve of Tuesday's Knesset vote on the Con- version Law, Jewish Agency Chairman Avra- ham Burg was on a mission to convince lawmakers from the ruling coalition parties to re- turn the proposal to the back burner. In the end, Mr. Burg stormed out of the meeting, say- ing loudly, 'This is a shame and disgrace!" Mr. Burg had given an im- passioned_specch about how the law would be a slap to Diaspo- ra Reform and Conservative Jews. The consequences, he warned, could be that these groups wouldhecome decided- ly less enthuSIOstic about con- tributing to IStiel. That's wheraitzhak Cohen, a first-time Icriesset member from the Sh4TSephardi Or- thodox) party*oke up: "You just care about getting money for the Jewish 'Agency's salaries and budgets," he told the Jew- ish Agency chairman. "You can't buy Judaism with mon- ey." In the end, backers of the Conversion Law won the day. By a vote of 51-32, the Knesset gave initial approval to the bill which invalidates conversions performed in Israel by non-Or- thodox rabbis. The vote came with the proviso that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's coali- tion would try to head off its final acceptance (requiring two more Knesset votes of ap- proval) by setting up a com- mittee that would seek a compromise solution. This, on condition that the Reform and Conservative movements held off on their attempt to get the Supreme Court to force recog- nition of their conversions in Is- rael. ❑ • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • _ • • • • • • • • • GIFTS SHERWOOD! • • • • I • • • • • • • • • • think of • • • • • Unique and unusual gifts for every occasion. Bridal Showers • Weddings • Anniversaries Birthdays • Holidays • Graduations All Gifts 30% Off (most mfrs) c C/D • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Plus Complimentary Gift Wrapping Shop Sherwood... it's always worth it! 6644 Orchard Lake Rd at Maple West Bloomfield • 810 855-1600 • • • • • Mon-Thur-Fri 10-9 Tue-Wed-Sat 10-6 Sun 12-5 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 8tuclog • • • S. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • O. • • • • • 20 In Store Specials Everyday Sunset Strip • 29536 Northwestern Hwy. Southfield • (810) 357-4000 HOUTS: Mon.-Sat 10-5 o Get Results... 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