ments of the govern-
ment would say, 'Maybe
we can't go forward, but
we also can't go back-
ward' — that's a more
optimistic scenario,"
Rabbi Yoffie said.
Despite the potential
setbacks, U.S. Reform
leaders noted that they
continue to invest heavi-
ly in developing their
institutions in Israel.
Rabbi Hirsch said a
new Reform congrega-
tion has just been built
in the Tel Aviv suburb of
Ra'anana, and the World
Union for Progressive
Judaism dedicated a new
$15 million world head-
quarters in Jerusalem last
October.
Under the Barak gov-
ernment, the liberal streams made some
gains:
• An agreement was struck allowing
non-Orthodox egalitarian prayer servic-
es at a section of Jerusalem's Western
Wall known as Robinson's Arch.
• For the first time, the Education
Ministry provided government fund-
ing for some non-Orthodox education
programs.
• Conservative and Reform delegates

were appointed to reli-
to be high priority," Rosenblum said.
gious councils, although
"My expectation is that Sharon is
Orthodox representa-
not going to move much one way or
tives subsequently boy-
another on the current religious status
cotted the sessions.
quo, since a move in either direction
In coming months, the will be very divisive." He added Shas
Israeli Supreme Court is
probably will focus more on securing
expected to
funding for its schools and
Shas Party
issue a land-
social institutions than on
Chairm an Eli
mark ruling
broader religious issues.
Yishai was named to
determining
Despite the fears for
head the powerful
whether the
Israeli pluralism, one mem-
Interior Ministry.
state will rec-
ber of the new government
A photo of Shas
ognize non-
says he will push for com-
founder Rabbi
Orthodox
promise on such issues.
Ouadai a Yosef is
conversions
Rabbi Michael Melchior,
behind Yishai.
performed in
Barak's Orthodox minister
Israel.
of Israeli society and world
Non-Orthodox lead-
Jewish communities, will cover the
ers fear that if the high
same territory as deputy minister of
court rules in favor of
foreign affairs for Sharon.
the liberal streams, the
Rabbi Melchior said retaining the
government will seek to Diaspora portfolio was an "absolute
pass a law circumvent-
precondition" for his decision to take
ing the ruling.
the job.
Jonathan Rosenblum, director of the
"I hope the new administration will
Israel office of Am Echad, an Orthodox see as one of its prime targets to
advocacy group, said he does not expect strengthen the relationship with world
the new government to reverse its deci-
Jewry, and obviously you cannot do
sion on Robinson's Arch, though it may that by creating new conflicts and
try to backtrack on consular marriages.
wars," Rabbi Melchior said.
"Sharon's first concern is going to be
He said Sharon told him one priori-
national unity within Israel, and I sus-
ty is building a strong relationship
pect that means most elements of a
with Diaspora Jewry and its leaders.
civic or secular revolution are not going To that end, Rabbi Melchior hopes he

will be able "to try and solve these
issues quietly." Given the bitter history
between Shas and Labor in the Barak
government, it is unclear what balance
they will strike on religious issues
under Sharon.
However, there are signs that some
Labor figures are reaching out to Shas,
seeking to build new alliances follow-
ing Labor's loss of the premiership.
Ultimately, much will depend on
Sharon's determination to confront Shas
on religious issues — as well as on
Diaspora Jewry's will to pursue pluralism
issues when Israel needs to close ranks to
deal with the Palestinian conflict.
According to David Clayman, direc-
tor of the Israel office of the American
Jewish Congress, Shas actually may
have less power than is perceived, since
it is wary of overplaying its hand and
bringing down the government.
Even if Shas pursues a controversial
religious agenda, Clayman said,
Diaspora Jews will be much too
focused on Israel's security and "are
not going to be thinking about the
religious issues too much.
"For a lot of American Jews, except
for the professional Jews," religious
issues are "becoming old stuff,"
Clayman said. ❑

vide $7 million for the think tank, with
another $1 million requested from the
Foreign Ministry, according to reports.
When news got out earlier this
month of Emet's formation, it touched
off consternation in the Jewish state.
Some Foreign Ministry officials
grumbled that American Jews were
poaching on their turf Not surprisingly,
they would prefer that any extra money
be funneled to the ministry's efforts.
Both right and left also have con-
cerns about Emet.
Israel's left appears concerned that
hawkish American Jews will use Emet
to push a hard-line approach to the
peace process.
On the other hand, some right-
wingers were rankled by the hiring of
Itamar Rabinovich — a former Israeli
ambassador to the United States who is
closely associated with the peace process
— to head up Emet's Tel Aviv office.
Rabinovich is still searching for a direc-
tor for Emet's U.S. office, and a govern-
ing board is now being assembled.
Some right-wingers fear Emet will
promote the idea that peace talks
should resume under new Prime
Minister Ariel Sharon where they left

off under Barak — with President
Clinton's proposals, which included
the division of Jerusalem.
Both Clinton and Barak pro-
nounced those offers dead after the
Palestinians rejected them and the
Israeli and American leaders left office.
Steinhardt and Bronfman referred
all queries to Abramson, who refused
to comment.
A spokesman for the Abramson
Foundation, Joe Yohlin, said "any spec-
ulation" about the think tank would be
premature." It is unclear exactly what
the Emet will do, and the principals'
reluctance to talk has raised eyebrows.

knows the American media market
better than American Jews.
"Even if your product or service is
good, you still need advertising to let
the world know it," said Morton
Klein, president of the hawkish
Zionist Organization of America.
Klein said there is a need for an out-
fit like Emet, but objects to the choice
of Rabinovich.
On the other side of the political
spectrum, Rabbi Eric Yoffie, president
of the Reform movement's Union of
American Hebrew Congregations, also
indicated his support for an organiza-
tion like Emet.
But he wondered whether Emet
would discredit itself by defending
Israel in every circumstance.
What if Israeli soldiers commit atroci-
ties, for example, or if Sharon decides to
expand Jewish settlements, which much
of the world considers provocative?
"Effective public relations will say, 'This
is a mistake, we accept it, we don't try
to excuse it, but we have to look at the
broader message,"' Rabbi Yoffie said.
"Will this group be able to say this,
or will it offer a public relations that
will be rigid and propagandistic?" ❑

Some Questions

Now that the dust has settled a bit,
some Israeli diplomats have taken a
more sober approach.
"Whoever is willing to put their
efforts into" hasbarah, "to improve the
general understanding of what the sit-
uation is all about, is welcome," said
one diplomatic source in Jerusalem,
who did not want to be identified.
"Sometimes when there are more
doing it, there's competition," the

source said. "But the principle of coop-
eration and sharing the burden is much
more important than who is doing
what to the other." If there's one thing
American Jewish leaders agree on, it's
that Israel needs help with its hasbarah.
The Palestinians gained the high
ground early in the conflict, painting
themselves as oppressed, rock-throw-
ing victims of brutal and heavily
armed Israeli troops.
It took a little while for the
Palestinians' self-portrayal as "peaceful
protesters" to be exposed as a partial
truth. But although the media now
reports more accurately on Palestinian
tactics, Jewish observers lament that
Israel has not capitalized further on
Arafat's diplomatic intransigence and
his resort to violence and terror.
Opinions differ as to why the
Foreign Ministry has had difficulty
getting Israel's view across. Some say
it's arrogance or incompetence, that
Israel places a low priority on hasbarah
or that it's hampered by endemic anti-
Israel bias in the media.
Others say Israel simply doesn't
understand what messages will move
an American audience — and no one

— JTA staff writer Julie Wiener in New
York contributed to this report.

3116
2001

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