U.S. Rabbis Warn Israel Against ‘threat’ of Conservative Movement

A delegation of American Orthodox rabbis ended a month-long visit today to Israel with a warning against the Conservative synagogue movement which, they said, “constitutes a serious threat to Israeli Jewry. “

The six leaders of the Union of Orthodox Rabbis of the United States and Canada also expressed “deep shock” about the activities of Christian missionaries in Israel, and called on the Government and Parliament to adopt appropriate measures against “the danger. “

The rabbis hailed the “goodwill and readiness for cooperation” they said they found in all quarters to strengthen Judaism and religion in Israel. They expressed gratification about the progress they found in many areas of Israel life, particularly in the absorption of immigrants and in the development of yeshivot. At the same time they deplored the fact that “thousands” could not be admitted to such schools because of inadequate accommodations. They said they would seek to arouse American Jewry to the “dire need” for additional yeshivot facilities.

The delegation was comprised of Rabbis Yaacov Kaminsky and David Lifshitz of the UOR presidium; Rabbi Simcha Elberg, chairman of the executive; Rabbi Isaac Small, UOR vice-president; Rabbi Solomon Riechman, former executive chairman; and Rabbi Avigdor Siperstein, executive member.