Israel

Israel@jrf

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 12:59:39 -0400

We invite you to enrich your connection to Israel. This section provides resources for learning about current issues and contemporary culture, implementing programs in your community, traveling to Israel with other Reconstructionists and making personal connections with the people of Israel. Our aim is to provide educational opportunities and a Reconstructionist approach to important issues.

Check out resources about Israel from the Online Resource Center These resources include articles, lesson plans, bibliographies, Israeli Independence day rituals, community discussion guides and much much more!

Read updates on situation in Gaza: http://jrf.org/node/2755

Here are a few of our favorites:

Zionism And Communal Covenant: A Reconstructionist Approach To Essential Jewish Principals, an excerpt from the JRF Israel Policies Task Force Report (2004)
A Guide To Talking About Israel In Your Congregation
Reconstructionists Educators' Frequently Asked Questions On Israel

JRF Statement on the Israeli Rotem Conversion Bill Moving Forward

Victoria Cangelosi — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 09:12:01 -0400

July 20, 2010

Dear Friends,

Israeli Prime Minister Netenyahu has come out against bringing the Rotem conversion bill to the Knesset this session. While there is no absolute certainty the bill will not return in some form in the future, we wanted to express gratitude to all of you who sent e-mails, faxes, or made calls to lobby against this divisive bill. Working together with the Conservative and Reform movements, North American Federations, and as members of the World Union for Progressive Judaism, along with so many progressive Jewish organizations, we made our voices heard.

For more information about JRF's statements and positions on Israel, please visit http://jrf.org/israel/statement-and-resources.

On Conversion, Alienating Israel's Friends
PM says opposes conversion bill
Conversion bill debate heats up
URJ Resources on the Conversion bill
Conversion Bill Background from The Forward

July 16, 2010

Dear Rabbis, Cantors, Staff, Lay Leaders, and Members of JRF Communities,

We write to you again today following up on a similar e-mail a few weeks ago. This week, despite commitments to the contrary, the Israeli Knesset is considering legislation that would fundamentally change the Law of Conversion and further concentrate power with the Chief Rabbinate.

This decision, which affects the very definition of who is a Jew for all of Klal Yisrael, is being made by a few politicians who happen to be in power during the 18th Knesset. They are not at all in conversation with world Jewry, on whom this decision will have a major impact.

At your next Jewish gathering, take a look at the people around you: chances are good that you are sitting next to someone who would no longer be considered a Jew in Israel.

There are millions of Jews in North America and elsewhere outside of Israel. The current Israeli leadership needs to hear from all of you and right away if we are going to stop this. We ask you to send urgent messages of protest to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and to your ambassador from Israel.

We need the strength of your numbers to remind those who promote this bill that Israel and Judaism are not theirs alone.

It is critical that Prime Minister Netanyahu hear a loud and clear message from Diaspora Jewry that further alienation of non-Orthodox Jews goes against our deeply held beliefs in Klal Yisrael and creates a dangerous rift between Israel and world Jewry at a time when the relationship between North America and Israel is so vital.We urge you to contact the Prime Minister your Ambassador to Israel and share your concern over the future of religious freedom in Israel, the character of the Jewish State, and the relationship between Israel and the Diaspora. We also ask you to forward this urgent call to your friends and family.

Lshalom,

Robert A. Barkin, President

Dr. Carl Sheingold, Executive Vice President

Jewish Reconstructionist Federation Jewish Reconstructionist Federation

July 16, 2010

The Honorable Benjamin Netanyahu

Prime Minister of Israel
Office of the Prime Minister
Jerusalem, Israel

Dear Prime Minister Netanyahu,

We write to request your immediate intervention to prevent passage of the legislation being brought forward by MK David Rotem.

We are deeply concerned about the intention to grant the Chief Rabbinate sole control over conversion in Israel. Such legislation would be an open attack on the legitimacy of non-Orthodox Jewry, which composes the majority of world Jewry. In addition, passage of this bill would have the effect of altering the Law of Return, or, at the very least, cause undue hardship to anyone in Israel who come from Diaspora communities and seek to convert in Israel.

While we are supportive of efforts to create greater accessibility to conversion courts in Israel, the overall impact of the Rotem Bill will set back these efforts. Should this bill be enacted, it will exacerbate a widening gap between the Jewish communities in the Diaspora and in Israel, which we are working very hard to avoid.

Therefore, we believe it is imperative that you, as leader of Israel, and as one who cares deeply about the well-being of Klal Yisrael, intervene and urge immediate withdrawal of this bill.

Prime Minister Netanyahus office: Prime.Minister'sOffice@it.pmo.gov.il

U.S. Ambassador Michael Orens office: info@washington.mfa.gov.il

Canadian Ambassador Miriam Zivs office: info@ottawa.mfa.gov.il

For more information about JRF's statements and positions on Israel, please visit http://jrf.org/joint-statement-on-conversion-bill and http://jrf.org/israel/statement-and-resources.

JRF Resources on the Gaza Flotilla Incident

Victoria Cangelosi — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 14:54:25 -0400

Click here for Resources on the Gaza Flotilla Incident and the ongoing situation in Israel and Gaza

Joint Press Release: A Statement Critical of the Conversion Bill

Victoria Cangelosi — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 14:10:22 -0400

Read the July 17, 2010 Statement on the Conversion Bill from JRF

IN WAKE OF ROTEM/AYALON MEETINGS WITH JEWISH LEADERS IN NEW YORK
CONSERVATIVE, REFORM AND RECONSTRUCTIONIST MOVEMENTS
RELEASE STATEMENT CRITICAL OF THE CONVERSION BILL

Statement Reflects United Stance on Proposed Legislation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACTS:
Conservative: Shira Dicker at 917.403.3989, shira.dicker@sd-media.com
Reform: Kate Bigam at 202.398.2800, kbigam@rac.org
Reconstructionist: Yael Ridberg at 917.287.4207, yridberg@yahoo.com or Carl Sheingold at 215.885.5601, csheingold@jrf.org

April 30, 2010 (New York, NY) -- Israeli Knesset Member David Rotem, author of a proposed bill dealing with conversion in Israel, met this week with leaders of the North American Jewish community to discuss the bill’s possible ramifications. Following a series of discussions with Rotem, the Conservative, Reform and Reconstructionist movements together issued the following statement:

We are appreciative of the substantial amount of time MK David Rotem devoted to meetings with us, individually and collectively, during his visit to the United States to discuss the legislation he has sponsored in the Knesset dealing with conversion and the Law of Return. We also welcome Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Daniel Ayalon’s participation in many of our meetings.

It should, first, be emphasized that we deeply appreciate Mr. Rotem’s stated goal in advancing the legislation – to ameliorate the bottleneck in the conversion process that currently keeps as many as 350,000 thousand olim, or immigrants, from the former Soviet Union from converting to Judaism and thus becoming Israeli citizens. The laudable goal of attempting to hasten the process of obtaining citizenship for these individuals – who currently serve in the Israeli army and contribute positively to Israeli society – is one that deserves widespread attention and support. Together, we thank MK Rotem for his efforts in addressing this crisis.

MK Rotem believes his proposed legislation would rapidly open the door to a faster conversion process. We respectfully disagree. Not only would this legislation fail to achieve his forecasted result, the collateral damage to the 85% of world Jewry who are not Orthodox (and perhaps others who are) would be disastrous to the unity of the Jewish people in a number of ways.

The bill threatens to alter the Law of Return and consolidate conversion power into the hands of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, both of which could have devastating effects on the relationship between Israeli and Diaspora Jewry and thus on broader unity of the Jewish people. Such concentration of powers in favor of Ultra-Orthodox Jewry effectively negates the roles of the non-Orthodox movements both within Israel and abroad, sending the message that only the Orthodox have a place within our Homeland.

Specifically, the current formulations of Article 1 would legislate the role and status of the Chief Rabbinate in a way not previously written into law. Such legislation would turn back the clock on 20 years of hard-won accomplishments in the Israeli High Court and complicate future efforts to appeal to the Court, which has been the single mechanism to counter religious discrimination in Israel .

This bill returns us to the destructive “who is a Jew” question, that has previously threatened to divide world Jewry, as it does today. To explicitly connect conversion to a single religious stream, while making no mention of other streams of Judaism, is by definition to compromise and jeopardize the Law of Return, as it places the decision for “who is a Jew” in the hands of one group. Such an action is inconsistent with the democratic ideals on which the State of Israel was founded and relies, and would detrimentally affect the worldwide Jewish community.

Further compounding our concern is the fact that the bill mentions no alternative method of conversion via non-Orthodox streams. We – and more importantly, our Israeli colleagues and their lawyers – believe that this language, if adopted as written, would further marginalize and hamper the Masorti and Reform movements in Israel . This would be a tragic consequence as we offer vibrant religious alternatives to a nation of Jews religiously alienated by the increasingly extreme positions of a minority religious establishment. We firmly believe that any conversion legislation must explicitly address these concerns.

We are additionally troubled by language that provides that any person who entered Israel while ineligible to receive Israeli citizenship under the Law of Return will remain ineligible following conversion. Though MK Rotem says this language exists to outlaw the possibility of illegal immigrants undergoing conversion solely to obtain Israeli citizenship and remain in the country, the reality is that this deeply troubling clause differentiates between those who are born Jewish and those who choose to be Jewish, amending the Law of Return to exclude those who have made a conscious decision to join the Jewish community. For 2,000 years, Judaism has treated Jews-by-choice the same as Jews-by-birth. We are taught "as soon as a convert emerges from the mikvah (ritual bath) she or he is Jewish for all purposes." (Talmud, Yevamot 47b) We see no justification now for differentiating between groups of Jews or including an article with such severe ramifications in the framework of a law purportedly dealing with easing conversion procedures.

While we recognize the goals Mr. Rotem is working to achieve and deeply respect his efforts, we cannot lend our support to a bill that will have such devastating ramifications. This moment, when Israel faces a great many challenges, both at home and abroad, is no time to enact legislation that has the potential to divide the Jewish community or to alienate Diaspora Jewry.

Even as we expressed our concerns to Deputy Foreign Minister Ayalon and MK Rotem, we also emphasized our steadfast love and commitment to the people and State of Israel. It is in this spirit of unity that we stand shoulder to shoulder with our colleagues in the Masorti and Reform movements in Israel and with one another. Indeed, it is our unconditional love for Israel as both a sovereign nation and a worldwide Jewish community that calls us to urge, in the strongest possible terms, upon MK Rotem, the Yisrael Beitenu party, and Prime Minister Netanyahu to withdraw this bill and introduce legislation that resolves the urgent problems of the Russian immigrants without compromising either the core democratic values of the State nor the Law of Return.

For information about this joint statement of the leadership of the Conservative, Reform and Reconstructionist movements to the Rotem Conversion Bill, please contact the following:

Conservative: Shira Dicker at 917.403.3989, shira.dicker@sd-media.com
Reform: Kate Bigam at 202.398.2800, kbigam@rac.org
Reconstructionist: Yael Ridberg at 917.287.4207, yridberg@yahoo.com or Carl Sheingold at 215.885.5601, csheingold@jrf.org

See additional JRF statement on Pluralism

Article from April 28, 2010 JTA: http://www.jta.org/news/article/2010/04/28/2394537/impact-of-proposed-israeli-conversion-law-under-debate

Women of the Wall

Rabbi Shawn Zevit — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 07:56:58 -0500

HaKotel L’Kulam — The Western Wall Should Be For All

A Statement in Support of the “Women of the Wall”

Social action based on Jewish ethics is a central part of Reconstructionist community activity. In Israel and North America, Reconstructionists actively support The Women at the Wall, who advocate equal worship rights for men and women in Israel.

The Reconstructionist Movement supports the efforts of the Women of the Wall.

The Women of the Wall have held a monthly prayer group at the Western Wall (the Kotel) since 1988, in which Reconstructionist, Conservative, Reform and modern Orthodox women have participated. Today, the organization’s existence is being threatened by the Israeli government.

The right of women to wear tallitot (prayer shawls) at the Wall
The right of women to read from the Torah at the Wall
The right of women to raise their voices in prayer at the Wall
The right of women to blow a shofar at the appropriate time and season at the Wall

These women are not asking for an egalitarian section, they are seeking to pray as they see fit in the women’s section. As they stated in an open letter, “We do not hold egalitarian services…. Our rights can be realized in the women’s section at the Kotel ….” Ultimately, they were denied the right to pray as they wished within the women’s section by the Israeli Supreme Court. Due to the court’s ruling, Israeli police have prevented the “Women of the Wall” from holding organized prayer groups in the Women’s section of the Kotel’s public plaza.

On Nov. 18, 2009, Nofrat Frenkel was arrested for wearing a tallit and carrying a Sefer Torah during worship services at the Wall. On January 5th, 2010, Anat Hoffman, “Women of the Wall” leader and Israel Religious Action Center Director, was detained and fingerprinted. The police informed her that her offense was the same as Frenkel’s -- wearing a tallit and holding a Sefer Torah at the Western Wall. Anat Hoffman is a major figure within Progressive Judaism. Her arrest is a direct attack on all non-Orthodox movements. These troubling events drive a wedge between the Orthodox and Progressive Jewish communities at a time when working for unity within Israel and enhancing the connection between North American and other non-Israeli Jewish communities and Israel should be a primary concern. To put it simply, the Western Wall has become a religious site controlled by the ultra-Orthodox.

Within the Reconstructionist movement, every Jew has the right to read from a Torah, blow a shofar, wear a tallit and pray with full voice. The Western Wall is a location that holds special significance to almost all Jews. Because it is a historical site and not a synagogue, the Reconstructionist Movement does not feel that the norms of the ultra-Orthodox should prevail at the Western Wall. The Western Wall should be a place where all Jews can gather to pray. Currently, it is a haven for the ultra-Orthodox. The situation is worsening. It is time to take action.

We urge the municipality of Jerusalem, the State of Israel and its ambassadors to the United States and Canada to realize the gravity of this issue and take immediate steps to promote religious pluralism, provide equitable treatment to non-Orthodox streams of Jewish life and end the harassment of women seeking to pray with dignity at the Western Wall, which for many is a uniquely holy place.

As Reconstructionist Jews, we hope for a pluralistic Israeli society that welcomes all Jews. As Anat Hoffman writes, “Israel has shown that she can protect herself from armies and terrorists. Protecting herself from religious extremism may be Israel’s biggest challenge—a challenge that cannot and must not be ignored by those who care about Israel’s soul.” By standing with the “Women of the Wall,” we affirm our unity as a single world-wide Jewish community, the abiding importance of the city of Jerusalem in our lives, our connection with our sisters and brothers in the Land of Israel, and our responsibility to care for Israel’s soul.

In December of 2011, Women of the Wall Legal and Education Fund was launched: http://rebpam.com/WOW/wow.htm. We invite all Reconstructioinist colleagues to please join this urgent effort by lending your name and making a donation. To be listed as a supporter please email your title, name, organization, city and state to wowrabbis@gmail.com.

L'shalom,

Rabbi Menachem Creditor and Rabbi Pamela Frydman

International Co-Chairs, Rabbis for Women of the Wall

415-261-3404 (Pam) 339-206-2283 (Menachem)

wowrabbis@gmail.com

http://womenofthewall.org.il/solidarity/

For more information about the Nashot HaKotel/Women of the Wall, please visit

For rabbis to sign in support: http://womenofthewall.org.il/solidarity/take-a-stand/rabbis-take-a-stand

For cantors to sign in support: http://womenofthewall.org.il/solidarity/take-a-stand/cantors-take-a-stand

For members and lay leaders of Reconstructionist Congregations or Organizations: http://womenofthewall.org.il/solidarity/take-a-stand/organizations-take-a-stand

U.S. Ambassador Michael Oren
Embassy of Israel

3514 International Drive NW
Washington, DC 20008
E-mail: info@washington.mfa.gov.il

Canadian Ambassador Miriam Ziv

Embassy of Israel
50 O'Connor Street
Ottawa,Ontario K1P 6L2

E-mail: info@ottawa.mfa.gov.il

* Photos at top depict (left to right): 1. Men praying at the Wall; 2. The Women's Section at the Wall; 3. Pope Benedict XVI; 4. Hillary Clinton; 5. Nofrat Frenkel reading Torah; 6. Anat Hoffman and another woman in prayer shawls; and 7. Judith Kaplan Eisenstein, marking the 70th anniversary of her Bat Mitzvah ceremony.

Additional Resources

Women of the Wall blog

Women of the Wall Leader Interrogated by Police

Anat Hoffman Meets with IRAC's U.S. Partners

The goals of the “Women of the Wall” are simple –

RT article by Anna Bosewell- Levy

We are quoted here thanks to R. Jarah Greenfield

R. Rebecca Alpert's article

Israel resources and statements

General Links:

URJ's Women of the Wall page

A Joint statement by all branches of the Conservative Movement

CCAR response

Jerusalem Bombings, March 2011

Rabbi Shawn Zevit — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 16:22:20 -0400

With sadness we share the news of today’s bombing in Jerusalem, which has taken one life so far and injured many. We share the condemnation of the attacks and the prayers of healing for those injured, and of consolation to the families of those who have lost loved ones and pray the recent increase in violence and attacks will bring all parties back into peaceful dialogue and not instigate further loss of life.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/bomb-explodes-in-central-jerusalem-1-dead-more-than-30-hurt-1.351377

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/24/world/middleeast/24israel.html

http://www.jta.org/news/article/2011/03/23/3086527/bomb-explodes-in-central-jerusalem-amid-rocket-attacks-on-south

JCPA statement: http://engage.jewishpublicaffairs.org/p/salsa/web/blog/public/?blog_entry_KEY=1471

JFNA update: http://www.jewishfederations.org/page.aspx?id=239219

Statement by President Obama on Bombing in Jerusalem

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/03/23/statement-president-bombing-jerusalem

I condemn in the strongest possible terms the bombing in Jerusalem today, as well as the rockets and mortars fired from Gaza in recent days. Together with the American people, I offer my deepest condolences for those injured or killed. There is never any possible justification for terrorism. The United States calls on the groups responsible to end these attacks at once and we underscore that Israel, like all nations, has a right to self-defense. We also express our deepest condolences for the deaths of Palestinian civilians in Gaza yesterday. We stress the importance of calm and urge all parties to do everything in their power to prevent further violence and civilian casualties.

Want to go to Israel?

Victoria Cangelosi — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 09:27:47 -0500

Join the “Roots, Rocks & Writings” Israel Encounter this summer, from July 23rd-August 4th, sponsored by JRF Congregation Oseh Shalom and Rabbi Doug Heifetz.

Experience the Land of Israel as the ultimate guide to the Jewish past, and the texts of our ancestors as a guide to the Land. This trip is perfect for first-time Israel travelers and repeat visitors seeking to deepen their experience of Jewish history, texts and antiquities.

Pluralism Challenged in Israel- Act Now!

Rabbi Shawn Zevit — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:36:40 -0400

JRF joins with Reform Movement in Condemning Attacks against New Israel Fund

Rabbi Shawn Zevit — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:40:20 -0500

JRF joins with Reform Movement in Condemning Attacks against New Israel Fund

February 11, 2010 - In response to the recent attacks against the New Israel Fund, the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation joins with the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism in issuing the following statement:

"We express our alarm at the recent attacks in the Israeli media against the New Israel Fund (NIF). Together with so many in the U.S. and Israel, we know the New Israel Fund as a respected organization with a long, accomplished history of defending human rights, civil liberties, religious pluralism, and social justice. Its efforts have helped make Israel a more equal, more just, more fair and more compassionate society.

In their twisted attribution of blame for the Goldstone Report to the NIF, these attackers are trying to delegitimize the New Israel Fund in much the same way that the Goldstone Report is being used to delegitimize Israel in the eyes of the world. It is ironic, to say the least, that those pointing to the danger of the Goldstone Report are using the same tactics of half-truths, hyperbole and sweeping generalizations they criticize in it to delegitimize the New Israel Fund.

NIF's support and training for those in Israel who fight for women's rights, civil rights, religious rights, consumer rights, environmental protection and civil liberties should be a source of pride for all those committed to Israel's social well-being. This effort to tarnish this respected organization with guilt by association ill-serves the interests and values of Israel and the Jewish People."

JRF Statement and Resources in Response to Events in the Middle East

Lisa Tuttle — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 12:36:33 -0500

Welcome to the JRF Statements and Resources page for events in the Middle East.

JRF has added a diverse array of resources to the rich collection of materials relating to Israel already on the website. We hope these resources will assist in understanding the issues and in promoting dialogue within your communities.

Please note that every heading is a clickable link to the resource.

Israel Resources from the JRF Resources Library / www.jrf.org/israel-resources - This broad collection of articles, bibliographies, lesson plans, activities, divrei Torah, and frequently asked questions is a rich resource for congregations in approaching the topic of Israel.
A Guide to Talking about Israel in Your Congregation – Rabbi Toba Spitzer, rabbi at Congregation Dorshei Tzedek in West Newton, MA, created this discussion guide with the goal of having open and honest discussion within our JRF communities.
Keeping Informed about Israel - A fairly comprehensive list of media, government and non-profit sources of information about Israel on the internet.
The Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) / www.jewishpublicaffairs.org - JRF is a national member of the JCPA, whose mission is to serve as the representative voice of the organized American Jewish community in addressing the principal mandate of the Jewish community relations field, expressed in three interrelated goals: To safeguard the rights of Jews in the U.S. and around the world; to dedicate itself to the safety and security of the state of Israel; to protect, preserve and promote a just American society, one that is democratic and pluralistic, one that furthers harmonious interreligious, interethnic interracial and other intergroup relations. The JCPA statement on the Gaza crisis and multiple resources are available on its website.
United Jewish Communities (UJC) – UJC represents and serves 157 Jewish federations and 400 independent Jewish communities across North America. It reflects the values of social justice and human rights that define the Jewish people. Here the UJC/Federation system responds to the Gaza situation.
Israel Advocacy Initiative (IAI) - The Israel Advocacy Initiative (IAI) is a joint project of the UJC and JCPA created to work with communities to build grassroots support for Israel. The IAI assists communities in outreach to key non-Jewish leaders, meeting challenges on campus, and effectively communicating messages through the media. Resources include an Internet rumors and hoaxes archive, Middle East media watch, and weekly Middle East briefing.
IAI Crisis in Gaza statements - As part of its Israel Advocacy Initiative, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, of which JRF is a member, and the UJC offer a broad listing of statements from elected officials and organizations in response to the crisis.
Keeping Informed about Israel – From the JRF website, this is a fairly comprehensive list of media, government and non-profit sources of information about Israel on the internet.
PowerPoint presentation on Gaza - A three-minute educational slide show on Hamas, Gaza and Israel published by the JCRC of Greater Boston.
Prayer for the State of Israel – Read the Reconstructionist Tefilah Limdinat Yisra’el / Prayer for the State of Israel from Kol Haneshamah: Shabbat Vehagim Sabbath and Festival Prayerbook (pp. 420-421) in both English and Hebrew.
Sampling of JRF Statements on Israel – Read a sampling of statements from The Reconstructionist in 1948, the Federation of Reconstructionists Congregations and Havurot (FRCH) in 1988, and by JRF in 2000.
Oznia Teen Israel Blog - Written by high school students, for high school students, Oznia is a collective of young bloggers and activists, dedicated to gathering exciting, engaging and challenging nuggets about Israel and Zionism. The name “Oznia” is Hebrew for “earbud” and expresses our goal of getting students “plugged in” to the amazing diversity and complexity of Israel. Oznia: A Blog of Israel Things, is a project seeded by the AVI CHAI Foundation.
MAKOM Interactive Israel Website - Ha’aretz and the Jewish Agency for Israel have teamed up to build an interactive website for all ages through a new program called MAKOM: Israel excites, alienates and compels. How are we as Jews implicated in Israel's achievements, mistakes, and challenges? MAKOM invites you to join an ongoing conversation about hugging and wrestling with Israel. It includes message boards, surveys, articles, videos, and more.

Statement on Pluralism and Conversion Bill in Israel

http://jrf.org/node/2583

http://jrf.org/joint-statement-on-conversion-bill

Read the JRF Statement on the Gaza Flotilla Incident

A Statement from the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation [January 16, 2009]

We are deeply saddened that violence has once again engulfed Israelis and Palestinians. We share in the fear and loss experienced by Israelis caught in rocket fire from Hamas and are also concerned with the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. We stand with the people of Israel in this time of crisis and support the right of Israel to do everything necessary to protect its population. We support all efforts to negotiate a meaningful, lasting resolution of the current conflict that will provide true security for Israel’s citizens. We decry criticisms of Israel that devolve into hate speech and anti-Semitic attacks on the Jewish people and on Israel’s right to exist.

While the ultimate resolution of the current conflict depends on the decisions of Israel and of Hamas, this crisis is an opportunity to become educated about the history of the Israel-Palestinian conflict; to work to maintain open and respectful debate of the issues; and to support humanitarian efforts that aid victims on both sides – Israeli citizens living in communities in the south and the civilians of Gaza caught in the cross fire. Our thoughts are also with IDF soldiers risking their lives for Israel.

We reaffirm our call for a just and lasting peace that will protect Israel’s right to a secure existence and that will also fulfill the national aspirations of the Palestinian people.

See also Joint Statement on conversion bill: http://jrf.org/joint-statement-on-conversion-bill

Dear Rabbis, Cantors, Staff, Lay Leaders, and Members of JRF Communities,

We write to you today because of a very serious threat to religious pluralism in Israel, resulting from a rapidly developing parliamentary situation there. As many of you probably already know, the Knesset may vote very soon on legislation that would make important negative changes to the laws governing conversions in Israel and to the Law of Return.

This new legislation would roll back the clock on all the achievements we have made for Reconstructionist, Reform and Conservative conversion rights in Israel: not only losing recognition for Reconstructionist, Reform and Conservative conversions in Israel, but even completely redefining who is a Jew. From now on the power to perform conversions would rest solely with the Chief Rabbinate – which only recognizes Orthodox conversions.

This decision, which affects the very definition of who is a Jew for all of Klal Yisrael, is being made by a few politicians who happen to be in power during the 18th Knesset. They are not at all in conversation with world Jewry, on whom this decision will have a major impact.

At your next Jewish gathering, take a look at the people around you: chances are good that you are sitting next to someone who would no longer be considered a Jew in Israel.

There are millions of Jews in North America and elsewhere outside of Israel. The current Israeli leadership needs to hear from all of you – and right away – if we are going to stop this. We ask you to send urgent messages of protest to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and to your ambassador from Israel.

We need the strength of your numbers to remind those who promote this bill that Israel and Judaism are not theirs alone.

Please sign the Israel Religious Action Center’s petition at: http://www.irac.org/petitionsign.aspx. Also, please send the following letter right now to the Prime Minister and your ambassador, and forward this urgent call to your friends and family.

L’shalom,

   Robert A. Barkin                                                                      Dr. Carl Sheingold
   President                                                                                Executive Vice President
   Jewish Reconstructionist Federation                                          Jewish Reconstructionist Federation

The Honorable Benjamin Netanyahu
Prime Minister of Israel
Office of the Prime Minister
Jerusalem, Israel

Dear Prime Minister Netanyahu,

We write to request your immediate intervention to prevent passage of the legislation being brought forward by MK David Rotem.

We are deeply concerned about the intention to grant the Chief Rabbinate sole control over conversion in Israel. Such legislation would be an open attack on the legitimacy of non-Orthodox Jewry, which composes the majority of world Jewry. In addition, passage of this bill would have the effect of altering the Law of Return, or, at the very least, cause undue hardship to anyone in Israel who come from Diaspora communities and seek to convert in Israel.

While we are supportive of efforts to create greater accessibility to conversion courts in Israel, the overall impact of the Rotem Bill will set back these efforts. Should this bill be enacted, it will exacerbate a widening gap between the Jewish communities in the Diaspora and in Israel, which we are working very hard to avoid.

Therefore, we believe it is imperative that you, as leader of Israel, and as one who cares deeply about the well-being of Klal Yisrael, intervene and urge immediate withdrawal of this bill.

Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office: Prime.Minister'sOffice@it.pmo.gov.il

U.S. Ambassador Michael Oren’s office: info@washington.mfa.gov.il

Canadian Ambassador Miriam Ziv’s office: info@ottawa.mfa.gov.il