Gerard Daniel, president of the World Union of Progressive Judaism, charged here that obstacles which have delayed completion of a new Reform synagogue in Tel Aviv were “politically motivated.” He said he would meet shortly with Tel Aviv Mayor Shlomo Lehot in an effort to have them removed.
Daniel told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency yesterday that the situation surrounding the Tel Aviv synagogue was one example why members of the Reform movement feel threatened by the atmosphere in the country where religious life is dominated by the Orthodox establishment. He warned that “Jews in the United States and other countries, who have positive feelings toward Israel may turn violently against Israel if the present situation continues.”
According to the Reform leader, Israelis were not sufficiently aware of the resentment, not only among American Jews but hundreds of thousands of Jews in other countries such as France and Argentina, caused by the strengthening of anti-Reform measures by the Orthodox establishment in Israel.
He said the synagogue project, in which the World Union of Progressive Judaism has already invested $80,000, was approved by the city planning and zoning commission in Tel Aviv and by the municipality which provided the land unconditionally. It is being held up by the district commission, he said.
SAYS HE IS NOT DISCOURAGED
But Daniel said he was not discouraged. He said he drew comfort from the fact that the religious parties in the government have not succeeded in passing the Who is a Jew amendment to the Law of Return. He noted further that the Supreme Court recently ordered the government to show cause why Reform rabbis in Israel should not be allowed to perform weddings.
But despite these hopeful developments, feelings among Jews in the U.S. and elsewhere are running high, Daniel said. “I hope the government will pay attention,” he said. The 1983 International Conference of the World Union of Progressive Judaism will be held in Jerusalem.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
