Saturday, November 15, 1997

Non-Orthodox Jews want more religious latitude in Israel

By Jim Jones

Knight-Ridder Newspapers

"Don't Write Off 4 Million Jews" was the message on a lapel button worn by Reform Jews at the recent national convention of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations in Dallas.

The button slogan echoed the major theme at the national convention, in which speakers declared that America's 4 million non-Orthodox Jews won't allow ultra-Orthodox rabbis in Israel to freeze them out of religious and secular affairs in Israel.

"Make no mistake; we are in Israel to stay," said Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie, president of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations. "We are not going to let the fanatics burn us out, desecrate us out, vilify us out, or vandalize us out - and neither will they legislate us out."

Yoffie's ire was directed at recent controversial legislation in Israel - currently put on hold because of protests - that would prohibit recognition of religious conversions to the Reform and Conservative branches of Judaism in Israel.

The legislation is an attempt to negate an earlier decision by Israel's highest court stating that Reform and Conservative Jewish conversions that take place in Israel must be recognized.

Another divisive bill introduced in the Knesset, also pending, would allow only Orthodox Jews to serve on councils that govern religious activities in Israeli towns and cities. Another Israeli law allows only Orthodox rabbis to perform weddings in Israel. Only Orthodox schools receive government support.

"The upsetting thing is that the ultra-Orthodox are trying to say Israel is not for all Jews," said Emily Grotta, a spokeswoman for the Union of American Hebrew Congregations.

Although Orthodox Jews are dominant among practicing Jews in Israel and control religious life, the vast majority of Jews in that country consider themselves "secular," Grotta said.

In America, about 90 percent of Judaism's adherents identify with Reform, Conservative and other non-Orthodox movements, she said, quoting statistics of Jewish organizations.

Delegates listening to the speeches often dressed Texas-style, many wearing straw cowboy hats and red and white western vests, some sporting sheriff's badges, over their conventional attire.

One of the most intriguing speakers was Rabbi Arthur Hertzberg, a Conservative rabbi and authority on Zionism who is visiting professor at New York University.

He indulged in a bit of street rhetoric in urging conventioneers to reject efforts by Orthodox leaders to judge the legitimacy of Conservative and Reform Jews.

"It's none of their damn business," he said. "I do not grant them the right for one single solitary moment to presume that they have a monopoly on the truth of Judaism."

Hertzberg said the only solution to Israel's religious problems is to adopt American-style freedom of religion.

"We must have separation of synagogue and state," he said.

A resolution approved at the weeklong Dallas meeting urged Israel's government "to end the religious monopoly" of Orthodox rabbis in Israel.

Despite serious concerns, speakers - including former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres - urged American Jews not to withdraw their moral and financial support from Israel, which they consider their spiritual homeland.

Another distinguished speaker, Eliahu Ben Elissar, Israel's ambassador to the United States, supported religious freedom and challenged American Jews to continue their struggle to be a part of Israel's religious life.

"Israel belongs to all the Jewish people of the world," said Elissar. "A Jew is a Jew is a Jew."

(Jim Jones is religion editor of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Write to him at: the Star-Telegram, P.O. Box 1870, Fort Worth, TX 76101.)

(c) 1997, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

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