LEADERSHIP BRIEFING
JFNA WELCOMES SIX-MONTH DELAY ON CONVERSION BILL ISSUE
July 22, 2010
The Jewish Federations of North America hailed a new agreement today to delay by six months any conversion bill in Israel, in exchange for a moratorium on any legislation by the liberal religious streams. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has shown strong leadership in opposing the conversion bill as being damaging to the unity of the Jewish People. JFNA thanked Netanyahu for his advocacy on this issue. The prime minister has appointed Jewish Agency for Israel Chair of the Executive Natan Sharansky to lead a dialogue of all concerned parties in the Diaspora and Israel to reach a compromise during the six-month freeze. JFNA’s President and CEO Jerry Silverman welcomed the agreement as "significant." "We truly support this process of a dialogue table, which allows the participants time to discuss this important issue appropriately and reach a solution that protects the bonds between Israel and the Diaspora," Silverman said. "We are also thrilled that Natan Sharansky will be leading the process." Silverman said the Jewish Federations appreciated the work of the entire advocacy coalition opposing the bill, ensuring it would not reach the Knesset floor for a reading this week. Leading the coalition partnership was JFNA, JAFI, the Conservative and Reform movements, Orthodox rabbis and a range of Israeli legislators. According to the agreement delaying the bill for another six months, the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism (the Israel arm of the Reform movement) and the Masorti Movement (the Israel arm of the Conservative movement) will freeze any pending legislation in Israel’s high courts dealing with religious issues. In return, Avigdor Lieberman, head of the Yisrael Beitenu Party, which raised the conversion issue, agreed not to advance any conversion legislation for that period. Ynet, the website of Israel’s daily newspaper Yediot Aharonot, first reported the late-breaking agreement. To reach the Ynet story, click here: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3924029,00.html.
As you know, our Jewish Federation has been working closely with Jewish Federations of North America, the Jewish Agency for Israel, the Board of Rabbis of Greater Phoenix, and religious movements throughout the country to voice opposition to the conversion bill. Yesterday we achieved an important breakthrough with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu now indicating he will oppose the bill of MK David Rotem in its present form. The Prime Minister’s Office released the following statement from him:
"In the weekly cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he will oppose the conversion bill as it would cause a split in the Jewish people. The Prime Minister said he will try to reach an agreement to have the proposed bill removed from the Knesset’s agenda, but if that proves unsuccessful, then he will call upon the Likud faction and the factions of the coalition partners to oppose the bill."
We encourage you to send letters to the Prime Minister thanking him for his leadership and commitment to preserving the unity of the Jewish people.
The essence of the bill – allowing potential converts to choose from among the country’s municipal rabbis – is a welcome and important initiative. The difficulty is with amendments to the original bill that would for the first time exclude vast segments of world Jewry by establishing a religious standard for conversion in Israeli civil legislation. In addition, the bill that was presented to the Knesset Law Committee last week included a clause that denies the right to Israeli citizenship for non-Jews who convert to Judaism in Israel.
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As you may know, this week the Israeli Knesset is considering legislation that would fundamentally change the Law of Conversion and further concentrate power with the Chief Rabbinate. The bill would give the Chief Rabbinate exclusive oversight of all conversion matters. This would put at risk all conversions performed by non-orthodox rabbis as well as many performed by Orthodox rabbis. This would also greatly limit the options available to Israelis and immigrants to Israel wishing to convert or in need of "official" recognition.
These efforts are the latest phase of an initiative that began this winter when MK David Rotem proposed revising the Law of Return. Though the change was initially aimed at giving local Israeli Rabbis greater authority, it carried the potential effect of threatening to delegitimize those who converted to Judaism under the auspices of any group other than the ultra-orthodox.
This past Sunday, MK David Rotem advanced a newer version with stronger language giving the Chief Rabbinate full control over conversions in Israel and urging that any convert "accepts the yoke of mitzvoth according to halacha." This means that conversions from Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist and many Orthodox rabbis would not be accepted. The Knesset Law Committee approved the bill on first reading, sending it to the full Knesset plenum where it would require three readings and approval before becoming law.
The Jewish Federations of North America along with many of the religious movements are now mounting a major advocacy campaign to prevent the measure from advancing. This advocacy involves daily strategy meetings, attending the Knesset committee session, meeting with Knesset members including David Rotem and speaking out publicly through Israeli and international media. It also means urging Prime Minister Netanyahu and members of his Likud party to speak out publicly against the proposal. The Prime Minister and his party need to hear a forceful and clear message from Diaspora Jewry that this bill creates a dangerous rift between Israel and world Jewry at a time when the relationship between North America and Israel is so vital.
Jewish Agency for Israel Chair Natan Sharansky, who was given permission to address the Knesset Law Committee, stressed how critical it is that world Jewry feel connected to Israel and that this bill drives a wedge through that relationship. In fact, he stated that the bill "literally declares war on the Jewish people." Those of you who attended this year's Mega Event were able to see a video from Natan Sharansky where he stressed the partnership between our Jewish community and Israel. These beliefs are core to his being and hopefully will resonate with those who are trying to push through this controversial bill.
We are deeply concerned about the negative impact this legislation would have not only throughout the Diaspora but in the Phoenix Jewish community as well. As a result, we are asking that you immediately send a letter to Prime Minister Netanyahu asking him to prevent passage of MK David Rotem's Conversion Bill. Click "here" for the text of a suggested letter you can use.
The strong connection between Israel and world Jewry is essential to the wellbeing and survival of the Jewish people and now is not the time for this relationship to be compromised or possibly severed.
We deeply appreciate your support in this matter as well as all of your efforts in building a strong and vital Jewish community locally, in Israel and around the world. Please feel free to forward this message to anyone that you think would be willing to help.
Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix
Board of Rabbis of Greater Phoenix
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