The National Religious Party is expected to join Premier Yitzhak Rabin’s coalition government, possibly before the end of this week. NRP Secretary General Zvi Bernstein intimated as much today when he said there would be some action following the return of Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi Shlomo Goren from the U.S. where he has been visiting for the past three weeks. He is due back on Tuesday.
Rabbi Goren is understood to have agreed to a temporary formula for resolving the Who is a Jew issue — one acceptable to the Labor Party and with which Labor’s present coalition partners. Mapam, the Independent Liberal Party and the Civil Rights Party, presumably could “live.” NRP circles believe that Rabbi Goren succeeded in persuading the American Mizrachi leader, Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik, of Boston, to accept the formula.
In a taped interview with Kol Israel radio, broadcast here today. Rabbi Goren insisted that Rabbi Soloveitchik was in no way involved. “The subject will be decided in Israel, not in America,” he said. He accused the Israeli press of making too much of what Rabbi Soloveitchik allegedly said on the matter. “I met with him (Soloveitchik) three times for three long discussions but he did not advise me as to the NRP attitude toward the coalition. It is in Israel that things will be decided.” Rabbi Goren said. Approves Formula Defining Conversion
The formula that Rabbi Goren has reportedly approved defines conversions as those made “according to Jewish tradition through the generations.” This skirts the Orthodox demand that the Law of Return be amended to specify that only conversions according to halacha (religious law) are recognized in Israel — meaning only conversions performed by Orthodox rabbis. Rabbi Goren is expected to convene the Chief Rabbinate Council as soon as he returns to consider the proposal. It is generally acknowledged here that the Chief Rabbinate usually goes along with whatever Rabbi Goren approves.
This has raised Labor Party hopes that the NRP will add its 10 Knesset votes to the government coalition which has had great difficulty functioning on its narrow majority of one.
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