Progressive Judaism Under Threat in Israel: An Urgent Call to Action

Written by Movement for Reform Judaism Thursday, 15 July 2010

On Monday 12th July, with no warning, a committee vote was held on the bill sponsored by Member of the Knesset David Rotem that poses a dangerous threat to the rights of Reform Jews and indeed all non-Orthodox Jews, who comprise the overwhelming majority of world Jewry.

Breaking News: The Rotem Conversion Bill will not go to vote this Wednesday due to overwhelming opposition.

The Rotem Conversion Bill: a dangerous threat to the rights of Reform Jews

In spite of the overwhelming opposition by a powerful majority of Jews worldwide, the new conversion bill - that moves full control over who is a Jew in Israel from the State to the Orthodox Chief Rabbinate - advanced through committee to a vote in the Knesset.

The passage of this bill threatens to change the definition of who is a Jew in Israel forever. If it is passed, the bill 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, putting non-Orthodox conversions performed abroad at risk, and greatly limiting the options available to Israelis and olim (immigrants to Israel) wishing to convert or in need of 'official' recognition.

If we don’t stop this new conversion bill now, we risk losing recognition in Israel of Reform and other non-Orthodox conversions forever.

There are millions of Jews in the Diaspora, and the current Israeli leadership needs to hear from all of us – and right away – if we are going to stop this.

Many people have already taken action as you can see in this statement from IRAC: the Israel Religious Action Center.

Background on the Rotem Conversion Bill

Click here to find out more about the Conversion Bill at the Union for Reform Judaism website.

Click here to find out more about the actions being taken by our North American colleagues.

According to this statement from the Prime Minister's Office, in the weekly cabinet meeting on 18th July, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he will oppose the proposed conversion bill as it could cause a split within 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 endeavor proves unsuccessful, then he will call upon the Likud faction and the factions of the other coalition partners to oppose the bill.

However, this is not guaranteed and it is still important to take action and voice your opposition to the bill.

What can I do?

1. Sign the petition

Sign the petition on the bill at the IRAC website. Click on 'Take Action' to access the petition.

2. Write to Prime Minister Netanyahu

Postal Address

The Honorable Benjamin Netanyahu
Prime Minister of Israel
Office of the Prime Minister
3 Kaplan St. Hakirya, Jerusalem 91950
Israel

Email Address

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Web Form

Post a message to Benjamin Netanyahu at the website of the Office of the Prime Minister.

To make an even bigger impact, copy and paste the text into your own email account and send it right now to the Prime Minister, and forward this urgent call to your friends and family.

Sample letter text:
Dear Prime Minister Netanyahu, I 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. 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 Diaspora and Israel communities, 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.

3. Keep up to date with the news from Israel

Arrest of Anat Hoffman

Anat Hoffman, Executive Director of the Israel Religious Action Center and one of the leaders of the Women of the Wall was arrested for holding a Sefer Torah during a Rosh Chodesh gathering at the Kotel or Western Wall on Monday 12th July.

Find out more about the story at the Haaretz website.

Click here to view video footage of the events at the Kotel.