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The Leader of the Conservative Judaism Movement Compares Israeli Religious Authorities to Iran and Saudi Arabia – The Jewish World – Haaretz – Israel News
The major 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 officiating an unorthodox marriage and the pbadage of the nation-state by the Knesset law, which, among other things, has degraded 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 the withdrawal of my colleague from Haifa, his arrest and convocation to a non-Orthodox marriage and the adoption of the nation-state law, I do not believe we can speak of a "gap" between Israel and the diaspora, "writes Wernick in a letter to the Israeli government." It's 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 happens next," he asked, "will the police apply the rabbinate's rules of modesty, the rules of Kashrut, the rules of Shabbat?" Wernick also addressed the pbadage of the nation-state law by asking, "If you are an Israeli Arab today, you definitely feel delegated as a citizen of the 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."
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A few hours after sending the letter, Wernick writes on Facebook that if the comparison between Iran and Saudi Arabia was made "at the height of the emotion," he believes that "the risk of theocracy in Israel is not just hyperbolic ". He also congratulated Israeli President Reuven Rivlin for hosting Rabbi Hayun during an event marking the fast day of Tisha B'Av at the official residence of the president.
The US Jewish Committee, which earlier this week expressed support for Israel's response to Hamas rocket launches from Gaza, also expressed concern over the incident in which Rabbi Dubi Hayun was brought to be questioned. "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 organization also issued a statement against the nation-state law, stating that she 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 from its official language status of Israel to another, which has a special status.
"Secondly, the clause in the bill saying" 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 the initially proposed endorsement of support for exclusively Jewish communities in Israel. "
The Anti-Defamation League also spoke out against the controversial law, stating that "although there are provisions with which we agree – especially with regard to the symbols of state like hymn, flag and capital Jerusalem ". the state of Israel is open to Jewish immigration – we are disturbed 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. "
"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 respect for the world." 39, a Jewish and democratic state envisioned by the founders of Israel. "
