Orthodox Jewish leaders in New York responded with surprise Monday to a report in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz that Orthodox Jewish circles in New York oppose the appointment of a woman as Israel’s consul general in New York.
According to Haaretz, Israel’s Foreign Ministry fears that such opposition can foil the appointment of Colette Avital to the post, which is presently held by Moshe Yegar.
Avital heads the Foreign Ministry’s information and media division. She was appointed this week as assistant director general of the foreign ministry. Avital is Foreign Minister Shimon Peres’ preferred candidate for the post of Israel’s consul general in New York.
“This is the first time I heard about it,” Rabbi Pinchas Stopler, executive vice president of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency when he was asked about the Haaretz report. He said that while he may have “some reservations” about appointing a woman to serve as Israel’s consul general, he certainly does not “oppose” it.
Rabbi Binyamin Walfish, executive vice president of the Rabbinical Council of America, and Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky, a spokesman for Agudas Chasidei Chabad (also known as the Chabad Lubavitch Movement), also said that they have not heard of any opposition to a woman as consul general here.
“Basically, I see no reason why a woman should not be Israel’s consul general in New York,” Krinsky said, adding, however, that he has to “find out” what halacha, Jewish law, rules in such a case.
Consul General Yegar told the JTA that he heard “some rumors” that some Orthodox Jews might oppose the appointment of a woman to represent Israel in the highest diplomatic post in New York. But, Yegar added, “Colette Avital is an excellent candidate for the post. And besides, appointments of the Foreign Ministry are the sole responsibility of the government of Israel and no one else.”
Yegar said that he expects to complete his tour of duty here within the next eight to 12 months.
(Tel Aviv correspondent Hugh Orgel also contributed to this story.)
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