David Rotem of the Yisrael Beiteinu Party has proposed a bill to the Israeli Parliament (Knesset) that would give new authority to the Orthodox Israeli Chief Rabbinate over conversions. It has raised serious concerns among the Conservative and Reform movements in Israel and in the Diaspora that conversions performed by them could be nullified and future ones no longer recognized. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) issued the following statement:
The Anti-Defamation League supports Prime Minister Netanyahu’s politically courageous decision to forcefully oppose the Rotem conversion bill being considered by the Knesset in the interest of maintaining unity among the Jewish people. The approach taken by the Prime Minister is in the best tradition of Jewish communal values and the inclusive and pluralistic ideals of Israeli democracy.
As a Jewish State, decisions regarding conversion do not just affect citizens of Israel, but Jews worldwide. Be it in fact, or in perception, the changes called for in the Rotem Bill have led many Jews in the Diaspora to feel disenfranchised from their historic homeland.
Israel’s founding Proclamation of Independence established a Jewish democratic, non-theocratic state which would “… uphold the full social and political equality of all its citizens, without distinction of religion, race or sex; (and) guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, education and culture …”.
From the very beginning of Israel’s existence as a modern state, the secular political authorities in the Israeli parliament and the secular judiciary have determined how religious law will be exercised over Israeli citizens. Legislation and judicial decisions have delegated authority to the official Orthodox Jewish Rabbinate in Israel over issues of personal status for Israeli Jews such as marriage, divorce and burial.
From time to time since the 1980s, there have been attempts to enact legislation to add the issue of conversion to the exclusive powers of the official Orthodox Rabbinate. In each instance, the issue has been defeated through the legislative process or abandoned by its political proponents. We hope this Knesset will follow that precedent.
# ADL leaders wrote President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu to congratulate them on a successful meeting. National Chair Robert G. Sugarman and National Director Abraham H. Foxman further thanked President Obama for his “strong affirmation of the importance and resiliency of the U.S.- Israel relationship. In particular, we note your clear reiteration of the basis of this relationship, as well as the recognition of Israel’s ‘unique security requirements. In particular, we note your clear reiteration of the basis of this relationship, as well as the recognition of Israel’s ‘unique security requirements.” To Prime Minister Netanyahu, the ADL leaders wrote that on his visit to the U.S., “you very ably presented Israel’s deep desire for peace, its strong commitment to direct negotiations with the Palestinians, and articulated Israel’s great security challenges from Iran and its proxies in Lebanon and Gaza.”
# ADL welcomed the announcement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that consideration of the Knesset bill on Jewish conversions in Israel would be suspended for six months in order to work out an acceptable compromise, and expressed appreciation for the Prime Minister’s principled opposition to the bill, which has engendered much concern among Diaspora Jewry.
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I am against most of what Obama stands for, but on this he is right. When we begin to disregard the basic principles of our constitution, we are handing the terrorists a major victory. We must understand that the vast majority of Muslims are good moral people. The extremists are the ones causing the damage and they are a disgrace to most Muslims. Christians have had their extremists as well…..think of the loonies who protest at soldiers funerals, the KKK, and other Christian Militant groups. It would be ashame to let these fringe groups define the Christian Identity. We should not let that happen to those of other religions either for it will, eventually, come full circle!!!
Obama is largely powerless to stop it though; if he had said he opposed it, many in NYC, especially in Manhattan (the opposition is primarily in the outer boroughs) would have seen it as an unwanted intrusion into local issues.
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