The heads of the rabbinic and congregational wings of American Conservative and Reform Judaism issued a statement sharply denouncing as “intemperate and distorted” allegations by Orthodox Jewish leaders which attacked attempts by these branches to aid the development of non-Orthodox Judaism in the State of Israel.
The statement also took issue with the remarks of Dr. Zerah Wahrhaftig, the Israeli Minister of Religion, who stated at last week’s convention of the Rabbinical Council of America, an Orthodox rabbinic association, that “complete, uninhibited and unrestrained religious liberty exists in Israel.” The response of the Conservative and Reform leaders called Dr. Wahrhaftig’s assertion “a complete, uninhibited and unrestrained figment of his imagination.”
“The simple truth,” the statement said, “is that religion in Israel is totally controlled by the Orthodox rabbinate. Non-Orthodox rabbis are denied the right to conduct weddings, officiate at funerals or grant divorces and have been harassed by the Orthodox rabbinate in Israel at every step in their efforts to establish non-Orthodox synagogues anywhere in Israel.” The joint statement said that non-Orthodox Judaism is growing steadily in Israel, as large numbers of Israelis seek more visible options than a choice between rigid Orthodoxy and nothing.”
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