The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America will move its 2008 convention to Jerusalem.
The O.U. was scheduled to return its biennial to the Israeli capital in 2010, but changed next year’s location from New York in large part because it has been at the forefront of the coalition organized to prevent Jerusalem from being divided in Israel’s talks with the Palestinians.
“It was clear to us that since New York was chosen as the site of the 2008 Convention, much had happened regarding the possible division of Jerusalem that made it imperative for the O.U. to be there in great numbers,†O.U. President Stephen Savitsky and Executive Vice President Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb announced in a statement.
The convention will take place Nov. 23-30.
“We will reaffirm that Jerusalem was given to the Jewish people by God as its eternal center of spiritual life, and after 2,000 years of exile, we must not give up any part of it in search of a hastily arranged ‘peace,’ ” the statement said. “And we will be there as an act of solidarity with the people of Jerusalem as they face uncertain prospects for the status of the city.â€
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