Federation Opposition
Rooted In Peoplehood
New York/JTA
T
he Jewish Federations of North America helped lead a wide-
ranging coalition this summer to prevent proposed legisla-
tion in Israel that would have proven highly detrimental to
Jewish solidarity worldwide.
The Jewish federations partnered with the
Jewish Agency for Israel and religious and
political leaders in Israel and the United States
to advocate against a bill by Knesset member
David Rotem of the Yisrael Beiteinu Party that
would have radically altered the status quo in
Israel relating to the Chief Rabbinate and the
Law of Return when it comes to conversions.
For the first time in Israel's history, the
bill would have given the haredi Orthodox-
controlled Rabbinate authority over all con-
Jerry
versions.
It also would have required that all
Silverman
converts,
including immigrants from North
Special
America,
accept
Halachah, or Jewish law.
Commentary
The Jewish federations and our partners
maintain this would have been unacceptable
to the large majority of Jews in North America and to most Jewish
federation supporters. Not only would these changes have potentially
affected the standing of non-Orthodox Jews in Israel, but such a law
would have sent a larger, destructive message: that the Jewish state is
home to only certain Jews and not all Jews.
We were deeply surprised and disappointed by this development,
especially after we applauded and supported Rotem's earlier proposed
legislation on conversions in Israel.
Rotem initially sought to give local rabbis in Israel authority over
conversions, a process that would have made it easier for many
Russian-born Israelis — constituents of his party — to convert to
Judaism. We welcomed such efforts and thus were taken aback when
the bill was changed, seemingly to appease certain political forces in
Israel.
Once the newer version of the bill was advanced, our coalition
would have been remiss not to get involved in order to speak out on
behalf of the vast majority of North American Jews.
Ultimately, the controversy over the bill produced a number of posi-
tive outcomes, including the creation of a wide-ranging partnership of
the Jewish federations, the Jewish Agency, the Reform and Conservative
movements, Orthodox voices and many Israeli political leaders.
We applaud Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his coura-
geous leadership on this issue and also thank the many other lead-
ers who spoke out so eloquently, including President Shimon Peres,
Defense Minister Ehud Barak of Labor and opposition leader Tzipi
Livni of the Kadima Party. They and many other voices banded with
us to seek a compromise that all sides could accept while preserving
the unity and solidarity of the Jewish people worldwide.
We advocated intensely and tirelessly, but always respectfully and
never negatively. We remain committed to that approach.
We are hopeful that all parties will seek to avoid negative and hurt-
ful rhetoric and follow the prime minister's lead of building a table of
dialogue around which we can all come together.
Our goal remains to support positive efforts on all sides to nego-
tiate an agreement, with legislation that benefits all of the Jewish
people around the world. ❑
Jerry Silverman is president and CEO of
the Jewish Federations of North America.
POINT from page 30
the Jewish Federations of North America. How can
its leaders justify spending funds raised for chari-
table purposes on an ideological issue, particularly
when it is so controversial?
Moreover, when they have not significantly consult-
ed the American Orthodox movements or their own
Orthodox contributors, how can they purport to be
representing the entire spectrum of American Jewry?
Even critical strategic threats to the State of Israel
have been ignored by opponents of the Rotem bill.
A Reform Jewish leader was quoted in the Jewish
Telegraphic Agency on July 26 as bemoaning the
fact that the controversy has "even reached the U.S.
Congress, causing dismay to all who love the Jewish
state."
The bill did not simply drift into the Capitol like
a feather borne by a random breeze. The Rotem bill
came to the attention of Congress because of the
determined lobbying efforts of its opponents — the
same people who now claim they are distressed by
the damage to U.S.-Israeli relations.
Yet despite the looming Iranian nuclear crisis
endangering the very existence of the State of Israel,
the bill's opponents jeopardized Israel's congressional
support, placing their movement's narrow concerns
above the security of the Jewish state.
Finally, let us consider what would happen if
efforts to change the status quo are successful. The
results would be catastrophic for Jewish unity.
Non-halachic conversions could throw into ques-
tion the Jewish lineage and hence the Jewish creden-
tials of non-Orthodox Jews. Orthodox Jews might be
forced to maintain their own lineage lists and marry
only within the Orthodox community.
This nightmare scenario is not far-fetched. It has
occurred several times in the course of Jewish history,
when deviant Jewish sects — which, not coinciden-
tally, have disappeared — strayed from traditional
practices relating to conversion, marriage and divorce.
All Jews are welcome in Israel: secular, Reform,
Conservative and Orthodox. They are our brothers
and sisters, and we will greet them with great joy.
As citizens, they would then legitimately be entitled
to struggle to enact their views into law.
Until such time, however, they should stop oppos-
ing the Rotem bill and allow it to pass in January.
Their opposition already has caused great damage to
tens of thousands of Russian Israelis who wish to
join the Jewish people. ❑
Shlomo Moshe Amar is the Sephardic chief rabbi of
Israel.
COUNTERPOINT from page 30
is perilous to create schisms that will alienate our
friends and split the Jewish people; and they should
be prepared to take responsibility for their own
actions.
We are stunned by the suggestion that Israel's
religious monopoly represents democratic prin-
ciples. Such a system exists nowhere else in the
democratic world. We appreciate Rabbi Amar's
commitment to his understanding of Jewish tradi-
tion; but we wonder why he lacks the confidence
to give Israelis free choice in religious matters. The
principle that should guide us is that the Jewish
state should support all religious streams equally or
none at all.
We have very different ideas on how to assure
Jewish unity. Israel's Supreme Court ruled in 1986
that Reform and Conservative conversions must
be recognized for the purposes of obtaining Israeli
citizenship. The decision noted that Israel was not
founded "in order to drive a wedge into the people
who dwell in Zion, and divide it into two peoples,
Jews and Israelis:' When the Jewish state takes an
inclusive approach to the Jewish people, unity will
become possible.
At this most sacred season, let us set aside the
ugliness that too often invades our hearts and let
us affirm the ties that bind us, Jew to Jew. ❑
Rabbi Eric Yoffie is president of the Union for Reform
Judaism. Rabbi Steven Wernick is executive vice presi-
dent and CEO of the United Synagogue of Conservative
Judaism.
Stretching from page 29
Israeli soldiers set foot on the Mavi Marmara, how-
ever, they were assaulted with clubs, axes and metal
rods. Only after these marines were beaten uncon-
scious, shot with their own weapons and thrown
overboard did the Israelis who followed begin to
defend themselves with firearms.
The Mavi Marmara was anything but a ship full
of peaceful activists wanting only to supply their
brethren in Gaza with aid. It was the platform of
a premeditated assault against Israeli soldiers,
carried out by self-confessed extremists. But why
didn't the media cover any of this?
Our generation is fortunate to reap the benefits
of lightning-fast communication and interna-
tional media. We are able to learn about — almost
instantaneously — the devastation that an earth-
quake inflicts on Haiti, the impact of a presidential
election in Australia or the inspiring play at a World
Cup match in South Africa. But with the privilege
of reporting comes an extraordinary responsibil-
ity, because even more influential than the truth is
what people perceive the truth to be.
❑
Michael Brodsky is a third-year history student at
Washington University in St Louis. He is spending this
academic year in the United Kingdom, studying at Keble
College, Oxford University. Michael is managing editor of
the Washington University Political Review, where this
piece was first published. He was born and raised in West
Bloomfield.
September 30 • 2010
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