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The leading Jewish groups in the United States on Thursday criticized two developments that made headlines in Israel: the police interrogation of a conservative rabbi in Haifa for celebrating a non-Orthodox marriage and the pbadage of the Knesset state bill "which downgraded the status of the Arabic language in Israel.
The combination of the two events that occurred on the same day created a sense of crisis and despair among liberal Zionists in the United States. This sentiment was most firmly expressed by Rabbi Steven Wernick, Chief Executive Officer of the Unified Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, the umbrella organization of the conservative movement in North America.
"After my colleague from Haifa came out of bed, arrested and summoned for officiating at a non-Orthodox wedding (threatened with 2 years in prison), and the pbading of national law I do not think we can talk about a "gap" between Israel and the diaspora, "writes Wernick in a letter to the Israeli government." It is now a "canyon". "
"These are the actions of Iran and Saudi Arabia," writes Wernick, a rare choice of words for the leader of a movement that, overall, is considered very favorable to Israel. "What's next," he asked, "the police will apply the rabbinate's rules of modesty – Kashrut rules – Shabbat rules?". Wernick also touched on the pbadage of the "State of the Nations Bill" by asking, "If you are an Israeli Arab today, you definitely feel de-dignitized as a citizen of the United States." State.
Wernick added that "Israel loses its soul and weakens its democracy and its Jewish character, its lighthouse of light on the nations is now dark, even though I have trouble seeing it."
The American Jewish Committee, which earlier this week expressed support for Israel's reaction to Hamas rocket launches from Gaza, also expressed concern over the incident in which the Rabbi Dubi Hayun was brought to be interrogated. "We are deeply concerned by reports that conservative rabbi Dubi Hayun was interrogated after organizing a wedding in Israel," the organization said. "Rabbi Hayun is a long-time friend of AJC and the recipient of the 2017 AJC Unity Award."
The same organization also issued a statement against the nation state bill, stating that it was "deeply disappointed" with its adoption. According to AJJ, "two elements of this new Basic Law jeopardize the commitment of the founders of Israel to build a country both Jewish and democratic: first, the measure degrades Arabic's status as an official language has "special status".
Second, the clause in the bill stating that "the state considers the development of the Jewish colony as a national value and will act to encourage and promote its establishment and consolidation" could be interpreted as a euphemism for Initial approval of support for exclusively Jewish communities in Israel. "
The Anti Defamation League also ruled against this controversial bill, stating that "as long as there are provisions with which we agree, including in this regard which concerns the state symbols like hymn, flag and capital Jerusalem ". The State of Israel is open to Jewish immigration – we are troubled by the fact that the law, which celebrates the basic Jewish nature of the state, raises important issues the long-term commitment of the government to its pluralistic identity and democratic nature.
Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism, said: "It is a sad and useless day for Israeli democracy: the damage that will be caused by this new law of Nation-state to the legitimacy of the Zionist vision. to the values of the state of Israel as a democratic and Jewish nation is huge. "
He added: "It is unfortunate that the government of Israel has not reacted to the protests of Israel and the global Jewish community rooted in love for Israel, Zionism and the world. respect for the Jewish and democratic state envisioned by the founders of Israel. "
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