The Rabbinical Alliance of America protested yesterday to Premier, Yitzhak Rabin and Religious Affairs Minister Yitzhak Raphael over the recent decision by Israel to grant recognition to Conservative rabbis to perform weddings in Israel.
In a strongly worded telegram signed by Rabbi Abraham B. Hecht, president of the Alliance, the Orthodox organization stated that the decision “is an exercise in folly for which the State will surely suffer domestically and even more tragically universally.” It also affirmed that “whatever credibility your government ever enjoyed” has been destroyed “by the reckless and irresponsible decision.” The Alliance’s telegram added:
“Orthodox rabbis and their constituents world wide are now being coerced into making a painful review of their relationship vis-a-vis financial and moral support of a State hell bent on destroying religion and religious life in its borders. Time will tell the consequences. The one thing of which you may be certain is that you are creating a chasm and gap between Israel and the diaspora which will soon become unbridgeable. You and your colleagues must carry the burden of the unfortunate condition you have created We appeal to you to immediately rescind your ruling and return religion in Israel to its status quo position.”
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.
