UBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" US Jews: Conversion bill 'disastrous' Wednesday, June 2, 2010       20 Sivan, 5770        -- create JPOST.COM your Home Page       -- --   Home | Headlines | Iranian Threat | Jewish World | idea | Trade | true Estate | Local Israel | Blogs | Arts & Culture | Français  | Classifieds  Israel | Middle East | International | Health & Sci-Tech | Features | go | Cafe Oleh | Magazine | Sports | Christian World | Subscribe | Services Archives JP Toolbar Christian World Youth Magazines RSS Feeds News Ticker More Services JPost Store Israel Hotels Vacation Rentals Philanthropy Green Israel Israel Real Estate Car Rentals Learn Hebrew Israel Guide JPost Mall Links aid Israeli Children Advertise on JPost Media Kit לימוד אנגלית Astrology Sitemap      Breaking News     JPost.com Jewish World Jewish News   .large_body p, .large_body span { font-size: 18px; } .small_body p, .small_body span { font-size: 12px; } US Jews: Conversion bill 'disastrous' By JONAH MANDEL 05/11/2010 03:18 Letter to PM warns plot will alienate many N. American Jews. Talkbacks (70)   US Jewry’s struggle against the Conversion Bill reached new heights as the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)calm an offensive against the proposed legislation in a strongly-worded letter to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. Endorsed by the heads of the Conservative, Reform and Reconstructionist movements, the letter, which reached  Netanyahu’s office on Monday, urged him to oppose “this perilous bill” that would be “disastrous to the unity of the Jewish people.” The JFNA is the most inclusive institution of Jewish life in North America, representing 157 federations and 400 smaller network populations. It does not normally acquire involved in matters of Israeli policy. Monday’s letter echoed a more benign announcement released by the Jewish American liberal groups at the beginning of the month, outlining their opposition to legislation that “has the potential to divide the Jewish population or to alienate Diaspora Jewry.” That announcement followed meetings with Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon and the bill’s sponsor, MK David Rotem (Israel Beiteinu). Ayalon and Rotem had travelled to the US in the wake of the JFNA’s appeal to the Israeli government “to enter into dialogue with Diaspora Jews before making any proposed changes to the Law of Return.” Ayalon and Rotem intended to convince Jewish leaders there that the bill would not impact their status or the rights of US converts to immigrate to Israel. “We were left with profound misgivings about the proposed Conversion Law,” Monday’s letter reads. “It is our strong belief... that this proposed legislation would not only fail to achieve [Rotem’s forecasted result of easing conversion for thousands of olim from the previous Soviet Union], yet will dangerously alter the Law of Return by consolidating conversion power in the hands of the Chief Rabbinate in ways that would be disastrous to the unity of the Jewish people, [by] explicitly [connecting] conversion to a single religious stream. It does not recognize conversion via the streams that represent 85% of Diaspora Jewry. This message is inconsistent with the democratic ideals on which the State of Israel was established.” Moreover, the letter continues, “it will undoubtedly alienate many North American Jews from Israel, widening an already precarious and growing rift that should concern us all... We are fully committed to a secure Israel... Yet, the proposed conversion law offends with its disregard for any religious authority outside the Chief Rabbinate. As strongly as we support Israel, we oppose this law. “Indeed, it is our very unwavering commitment to Israel as both a sovereign nation and a worldwide Jewish community that compels us to urge you, in the strongest terms, to oppose this dangerous bill, and we encourage you to employ your influence with your coalition partners to withdraw this bill,” it says. Asked what prompted his organization to issue such an unequivocal letter, JFNA communications director Dani Wassner told The Jerusalem Post that “the Law of Return is perhaps the one Israeli law where Diaspora Jewry can be considered constituents. It is a law that directly affects us. In addition, this is an issue that is extremely close to the heart of North American Jewry, and our movement would be remiss if we did not voice our concerns.” Wassner added, “Our letter to Netanyahu simply echoed the concerns we’ve made to Knesset members – including Ayalon in New York last week – that we continue to be part of this necessary dialogue and that this is a matter of utmost concern for Jews everywhere. Right now we are concerned that this bill could suddenly be raised again, and we judge it is imperative that a full discussion of the issues takes space, in consultation with Diaspora Jewry.” The Prime Minister’s Office stated Monday that as the letter had been received only that day, it would be inappropriate to offer a public comment on it before sending a reply to the JFNA. Rabbi Gilad Kariv, head of the Reform Movement in Israel, called the letter “testimony to the strong bond between Reform and Conservative Judaism, and the State of Israel and its citizens” and “evidence of the accurate concern that aggressive, unilateral legislation on conversions will bring about feelings of alienation and insult among millions of Jews in the Diaspora.” Kariv added, “We hope that the prime minister will hear the appeal of the Jewish leadership in the US, and clarify in his reply that he prefers the unity of the people over short-term coalition considerations.” Yizhar Hess, executive director of the Masorti (Conservative) Movement in Israel, said that “the prime minister must listen carefully to the voices emanating from North American Jewry. Reform and conservative Jews are the core leadership of all the organizations aiding Israel – AIPAC, Hadassah, the Jewish Federations. These are not just the best of Israel’s friends, they are real family. It is inconceivable that one day we ask their help, and the next – we spit in their faces. Netanyahu must declare that he is removing the conversion bill in its current form from the public agenda.” However the bill’s proponents seemed unfazed by the new scope of harsh opposition. “The conversion bill is meant to deal with a specific difficulty, which is the situation of some 350,000 non-Jews living here, many of whom would like to convert,help in the army, and are loyal to the state,” Ayalon told the Post on Monday. “We don’t want a situation where things could become more problematic; in the next generation or so, the numbers could rise significantly to one million or more,” he went on. “We believe that the interests of Israel as a whole do coincide with those of Jews worldwide,” Ayalon added. “We would like to continue the dialogue with our brothers and sisters in the Diaspora, and we will continue engaging with them on this and a number of other issues.” Rotem mused to the Post that “when everybody objects to a law, it means that it’s a excellent one.” He noted the atypical grouping of liberal Jewish congregations with local haredi parties in opposition to the bill. “My responsibility is to hundreds of thousands of Israeli citizens who want to convert to Judaism without unnecessary difficulties,” he said, and reiterated that “nothing in the law will harm the Jewish communities in the US in any way. The connection between Israel and US Jewry is as important to me as it is to them, but has no pertinence to this law.” Rotem asserted that “recognizing their conversions would just create other problems.”       Rate this article         Talkback Add a Talkback describe Abuse Read all Talkbacks 70. Reform politics Author:   Roberto State:   USA05/15/2010   02:53Reform movement loves this issue - uses ist as fundraiser and to rally the troops. fact is majority of world jews are not involved in jewish affairs and haven't heard an honest debate on the issue. If there's any alienation felt towards Israel it's caused by the sermons coming out of the mouths of many reform rabbis over the past 20 years...no different than Meretz. Why the conservative movement has aligned itself w/ the reform beats me, but it confirms their growing irrelevance - such a pity/far shout from the conservative movement I grew up in.

69. #60 Author:   Avrohom Country:   Israel05/14/2010   13:22The problem with your post is that you miss the point here. Torah defines who is a Jew. It has nothing to do with who does what action for whatever reason. The question at stake is one of being Jewish, not Jewish identity. In halacha, the fact someone drained swamps for 10 years in a row is not an issue and holds no sway in delaring a person Jewish or not. Torah creates Jews and Torah defines Jews. There is no such thing as a Jew without Torah creating and defining them. Mankind did not create the world and does not rule creation.

68. # 53 Author:   Avrohom Country:   Israel05/14/2010   05:10Regarding the people you mentioned, they are not Jewish unless they converted according to halacha or were born from halachically Jewish women. Period. Conversion bills pertain to halachically-oriented issues and are the correct things to enforce. The state of Israel addresses people in a non-halachic framework, and the people you speak about are accepted as if they are really Jewish. Your point you made is inaccurate.

67. who needs foes? Author:   rationalist Country:   05/14/2010   00:49We worry about Arab/Muslim enemies wanting to ruin us. Why should we when we are so good at demolishing ourselves? We should commemorate or at least the different ways to live as Jews, not alienate everyone who thinks slightly differently. Assortment IS the spice of Life. God knows there are not that many of us, a large part in one tiny country, we might as well stick together. Israel is being held hostage by a group with views as primitive as the mullahs in Iran. Unless something is done about it, it does not bode well for the future of the country.

66. Reform and Reconstructionist Whining Author:   zakane Country:   USA05/13/2010   19:28The biggest supporter of President Obama were memebers of the Reform and Reconstructionist movement. The only president, to pressure Israel to cease building in the country's capital since Jerusalem was so founded, was President Obama. That plus snubbing Prime Minister Natanyahu while winking at Iran while they develop nuclear weapons, makes him the biggest danger to Israel in their history. These self hating Jews have no one to blame but themselves! It is is no wonder that Israel wants to do what it can to hold them out.

65. Conversion Author:   Marvin Country:   United States05/13/2010   17:37Exclusion vs inclusion...we Jews have enough problems and do not need one segment dictating to another...especially if that segment is in the minority with undue influence.

64. conversion bill Author:   abe r. Country:   australia05/13/2010   15:59I remember seeing yiddish plays on television by sholem aleicham played by men in beards who spoke perfect yiddish.Only later did I find out that these convincing actors were poles mimicking jews.According to'modern' forms of judaism these actors could have qualified as jews.When we water down the basic tenants of judaism to accomodate modernism we destroy the sole of judaism and are left with an fragile shell.By the way #61 daniel from mexico the halutzim may not have been religious but they were halachic jews.

63. Converting in Israel Author:   A. S. Country:   Israel05/13/2010   15:21These American organizations simply want to be able to perform non-Halachic conversions in Israel, to "convert" Israeli citizens for the sake of their political agenda. Their converts (indeed a minority among the American converts) don't suffice, according to their opinion. Those American non-Halachic converts, notwithstanding, are entitled to Israeli citizenship, as this bill clearly says, which only makes legal what is normal today in Israel. No non-Halachic rule would be accepted in Israel. As a convert, I have to ask these foreign organizations to take care of their own businesses.

62. New Bill Author:   Jerome Stoll Country:   USA05/13/2010   07:23If this bill is past I will turn my back on the State of Israel forever.

61. THE PROBLEM Author:   MICHAEL GREENBERG Country:   CANADA05/12/2010   21:27THE TORAH does not recognize any authority by any "RABBINATE" --the STATE OF ISRAEL is viloating the TORAH (Deuteronomy 16:18)is investing ANY authority to make or interpret Jewish Law in ANY RABBINATE whether Orthodox or Conservative or Reform or whatever-- THE PEOPLE via its STATE government must set JUDGES and OFFICERS to interpert and make and enforce the LAW--it is not a RABBIS' top-down commandment but a People's bottu-up authority ..ISRAEL is by kow-towing to an eliteof self-proclaimed Torah "experts" instead of PROPERLY making the LAW from the Peoples' judges as TORAH instucts.

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