American Jewish leaders are congratulating the Knesset for upholding religious pluralism and avoiding a possible rupture between Israel and Diaspora Jewry.
The messages, on behalf of major organizations, refer to the Knesset’s votes Wednesday defeating two controversial bills which would have given the Orthodox Chief Rabbinate exclusive right to approve conversions performed abroad. The practical effects of those measures would have been to invalidate conversions by non-Orthodox rabbis and, by implication, question the legitimacy of the non-Orthodox branches of Judaism in Israel.
Theodore Mann, president of the American Jewish Congress, said: “We are gratified that the Knesset has defeated the latest effort of extremist religious parties in Israel to amend the Law of Return so that Jews converted by non-Orthodox rabbis would no longer receive recognition in the Jewish State. The latest rejection of this pernicious and offensive proposal, which has been introduced repeatedly in the Knesset, is an affirmation of the historic unity of the Jewish people in Israel and the Diaspora.”
Theodore Ellenoff, national president of the American Jewish Committee, also hailed the Knesset’s action. “By firmly rejecting these measures, the Knesset of Israel has reaffirmed the pluralistic character of Jewish life and has strengthened the unity and solidarity of support for Israel among Jews of the United States and other Diaspora communities.” he said. Franklin Kreutzer, international president of the United Synagogue of America, the association of Conservative congregations in North America and Mexico, said his movement is “grateful to the Knesset for supporting Diaspora Jewry’s legitimacy and upholding the current Law of Return.”
Kreutzer added, “Conservative Jews love Israel and want to be given first-class religious and secular citizenship…Conservative Jews will interpret this favorable vote of the Knesset as a sign of acceptance and welcome and we will attend the World Zionist Congress.(in Jerusalem next December) with renewed zeal and commitment.”
Simon Schwartz, president of Mercaz, the Zionist movement of Conservative Jews in the U.S., said the vote “reflected an understanding in the Knesset that these matters do affect Diaspora Jewry. It would be unconscionable to deprive Jews of the Diaspora, particularly non-Orthodox Jews, of their rights in Israel and outside,” Schwartz said.
Evelyn Auerbach, president of the Womens League of Conservative Judaism, said “We are heartened that the Knesset saw fit to honor its commitment to the unity of the Jewish people, the welfare of Israel and the Diaspora. We will continue to monitor any attempts to erode the legitimacy of the Conservative Masorli movement as well as the principle of religious pluralism.”
Rabbi Daniel Syme, vice president of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (UAHC), the congregational organization of Reform Judaism, said “The Knesset has once again acted in the best interests of Israel and of the Jewish people as a whole in rejecting pieces of legislation that would have shattered Jewish unity.
“We call again upon Orthodox, Conservative and Reconstructionist Jews throughout the world to join with us in the Reform movement in confronting common problems as one Jewish community. To do otherwise is to insure continued tension, growing bitterness and a diversion from the central agenda of the Jewish people.”
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
