From who is a Jew to who is a rabbi

Rabbi Eric Yoffie is in Israel now and since he doesn't carry a cell phone I couldn't get hold of him. I told his assistant he should be ostracized for such a habit. I intend, however, to keep calling him "rabbi" as I couldn't find a good way to turn the cellular inconvenience into a relevant excuse for omitting his title.

Yoffie is the President of the Union for Reform Judaism. You might not think it's the greatest branch of Judaism. You might not think he is an important scholar. You might not think he can be your spiritual leader. You might not think he can decide halachic (Jewish law) questions. Nevertheless, he is the President of this organization, representing some 1.5 million North American Jews who view him as a rabbi. And you better learn to live with it since it is not going to change.

Moshe Katzav is also a president, representing an even bigger organization, the State of Israel. You might not think he is the right man at the right place. You might not think he can be your political leader. You might not think his office is the most relevant or necessary of them all. Nevertheless, he is the president of this state, representing some seven million Israelis who view him as the president. And those who didn't like the choice had to learn to live with it, as it was not going to change.

There's a bond between these two organizations. The Reform movement wants the best for Israel, supports it, and prays for its well being. You can take an issue with them for not doing enough to strengthen ties with the Jewish state, but you can't say they aren't trying. You can't say Yoffie is not trying. Israel is as important to him as anything. And he deserves some credit for it and some respect too. He could have chosen differently.

One can argue that the Reform movement needs Israel as every Jew does. It is a proven fact that Jewish identity is much stronger when a connection to Israel is established. But Israel also needs the support of the Reform movement. It is one of the most reliable sources of political support for Israel in America, and we all know how vital this could be.

Now, the president of Israel has a problem with the Reform movement. He is more of a traditional kind of Jew, and there's nothing wrong with it. What is more problematic is his decision not to address Rabbi Yoffie (or any other Reform rabbi) as "rabbi." My friend and colleague Shahar Ilan reported Thursday that Yoffie decided not to attend a reception at the President's Residence because of this.

Katzav's office didn't deny the report, and for good reason. In a television interview Katsav granted to Channel 1 on Rosh Hashanah Eve, he explained that he was brought up to address as "rabbi" only those ordained in accordance with the lifestyle he maintains and that the president is not obligated to recognize Reform rabbis until the State of Israel does so. What a lame excuse. What - as the ADL's Abe Foxman politely called it - an "ill advised" decision.

Foxman handed President Katzav a rope with which to climb down the tree, but the truth of the matter is that Katzav is personally responsible for this decision. Some of his advisers even suggested a change in position. The president, however, wouldn't budge. He was commended for it by the ultra-orthodox Israeli Knesset member, Rabbi Meir Porush, who is the wrong man to listen to on this issue as his strain of Orthodox Judaism doesn't understand the complexities of Diaspora life.

Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Weinreb, the leader of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, is the person Katzav should have consulted. No less Orthodox than Katzav, or Porush, Weinreb is a voice of reason. I called him Thursday on his cell (Yoffie - here's an example for you) thinking he might prefer not to be heard on such issue and was pleasantly disappointed. Katsav should address Yoffie as "Rabbi," he said without hesitation. "There are many matters that are in dispute between the [Orthodox] movement I represent and the Reform movement," Weinreb said, "but titles must not be an obstacle to cooperation between us."

Nor should it be an obstacle to cooperation and relations between the Reform movement and the State of Israel. These two have more than enough issues separating them. Some of them are serious issues - as is the question of who is a Jew? - for which you have very little common ground. Many of them relate to the way in which Israel has historically conducted its state-religion matters, for which step by step remedies are being found.

But straining relations even further over a title? Alienating 1.5 million Reform Jews over the inconvenience of Katzav? And what will Israel say when it needs the support of these Jews: "Hey, Mr. Yoffie, can you please give us a hand?"

The president of the Reform movement has responsibilities. "Reform Jews have to work on their relationship with Israel," I wrote in "The mystery of the fifth Jew" - an op-ed for Haaretz a while ago. And I think they should still work on these relations, even in a time of tension, even in the face of insult and alienation.

But responsibility in this case rests on the shoulders of the other, more important president. He should be the one making it clear, that as much as this might be difficult for him he is going to overcome it. For the sake of the good relations, for the sake of unity and brotherhood.

If he doesn't answer this call of duty, he doesn't deserve the courtesy of being visited by Yoffie, nor by any other American Jewish leader.