The current demands by Israeli Orthodox parties that the Law of Return be amended as a precondition to their participation in a new government coalition is “an affront to world Jewry” and “an act of utter irresponsibility,” according to a joint statement issued by 15 leaders of Reform and Conservative Judaism here yesterday, at a press conference at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America.
“This small minority has forced Knesset sanctions of religious codes which … has been exercised without concern for the negative influence this discrimination might have on the loyalties of diaspora Jewry, nor for its impact in destroying Israel’s democratic image. The current move to extend this discrimination into Israel’s civil law is an act of utter irresponsibility,” the statement said.
The National Religious Party and Aguda Israel have demanded that the controversial “Who is a Jew” amendment to the Law of Return be adopted by the next Knesset. This would define as a Jew any person born of a Jewish mother or converted by an Orthodox rabbi “according to halacha.”
The statement, signed by eight Conservative and seven Reform leaders, urged leaders in Israel to reject the demands by the Orthodox parties. The leaders here said the amendment would diminish the appeal of aliya and efforts to stimulate a flow of Western olim “exercising their own free will to participate in the upbuilding of Zion.”
CITES ROLE OF DIASPORA COMMUNITY
Rabbi Ira Youdovin, executive director of the Association of Reform Zionists of America (ARZA) rejected claims that the diaspora should keep out of internal Israeli politics. The diaspora community “has a right and obligation to deal with this kind of Israeli issue” since it only affects diaspora Jewry, according to Youdovin. He added that world Jewish leaders must get at “the roof of this time bomb that may drive a wedge between Israel and the diaspora.”
Among those signing the statement representing Conservative Judaism were: Rabbi Wolfe Kelman of the Rabbinical Assembly; Goldie Kweller of the Women’s League for Conservative Judaism; Simon Schwartz of the United Synagogue of America; Rabbi Mordecai Waxman of the World Council of Synagogues and Dr. Gerson Cohen of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America.
Among those representing Reform Judaism were Youdovin; Theodore Broido of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, Rabbi Amiel Wohl of the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR) and also Roger Herz and Philippa Strum of the American-Israeli Civil Liberties Coalition.
A telegram signed by the 15 Reform and Conservative Jewish leaders was also sent to Premier Menachem Begin of Israel expressing gratification “at the report that the proposal to amend the Law of Return will not be a precondition to an agreement for a coalition under your leadership. We commend those individuals and groups in Israel who, in support of the ideal of Jewish unity, avoided what might have been a dangerous and harmful development in Jewish life.”
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