If there's no Reform movement in Israel, there's no Reform movement

1.

I thought it was one of the boldest statements I've heard from a Jewish Reform leader in a very long time. On Saturday morning, Rabbi Eric Yoffie of United Reform Judaism delivers his address to the Reform biennial (my previous notes from San Diego can be read here). Here's what he had to say about his movement and Israel:

"If we fail to create a significant presence in Israel, this failure casts doubt on our authenticity as a religious movement. In other words, if we do not become a force in Israel in the next generation, we will have consigned ourselves to the margins of Jewish history."

2.

I thought it was bold. Shockingly bold, but the crowd of close to 5,000 seemed unmoved. Maybe they were tired after almost an hour of Yoffie talk. Maybe they were thinking about the meal that is awaiting those who can survive the long service and sermon. Maybe the moment was too short for one to really understand the significance of such a statement. "We will have consigned ourselves to the margins of Jewish history." This is as explicit as one can get.

In short, this is the message: If there's no Reform movement in Israel, there's no Reform movement.

3.

Yoffie said he is optimistic. "It should be said that Reform successes in Israel give us every confidence that this will not happen," he said. By "this" he meant being pushed aside to the margins of Jewish history.

But what Reform success does he talk about? Yoffie, like everybody else, knows that the Reform movement has yet to establish a significant, influential presence in Israel. Some communities are successful and active, and some synagogues are doing quite well. But this is still a long way from becoming "a force."

So Yoffie didn't just do one thing, but rather two; He set the bar very high (force) and made the price of failure as costly as possible (margins).

4.

The Reform movement has many justified grievances when it comes to Israel and its policies. Yoffie himself was subjected to insult not long ago, when the former president of Israel stupidly refused to call him a "rabbi."

Here is what I wrote at the time:

"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."

5.

I have no illusions. Yoffie didn't do it because I thought it was necessary. He did it because he believes it. But if you want responsibility "in the face of insult and alienation," you should have listened to these words:

"To those who are unhappy with this or that policy of the State of Israel, I say: Get in line. We know from long experience that Israeli politicians can be every bit as incompetent as our own. . . the message is that our connection to Israel is unconditional, nonnegotiable and utterly independent of any particular government or policy."

6.

The Reform movement has a long history of complicated relations with Israel, but the leadership seems to be making an effort to right the ship. This past Thursday, Rabbi Daniel Freedlander presented the numbers: Reform Jews care for Israel less than their brothers and sisters from other, more traditional branches. In the latest AJC survey, the numbers were similar. "Increasing alienation is not our problem alone," Yoffie said, "but it is more prevalent in our ranks than among our more traditional brothers and sisters - and it speaks to our failure to teach some very important lessons to the members of our synagogues."

7.

The problem has been identified and acknowledged. All that's missing is a good plan.