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Union of Reform Judaism President Rabbi Eric Yoffie. (Archives)
Last update - 23:43 05/05/2008
Orthodox rabbi to oversee Reform conference in Jerusalem
By Shlomo Shamir, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Eric H. Yoffie, Jerusalem 

NEW YORK - Participants at the International Conference on Contemporary Reform Judaism, opening in Jerusalem Monday, will tackle such issues as the concept of homosexuality in Reform halakha (Jewish law), changes in synagogue ritual and the difficulties of integrating Reform Judaism into Israel.

Some 50 Jewish studies scholars from the United States and Israel are expected to attend the two-day conference, the first of its kind to be organized by a non-Reform body, the Van Leer Jerusalem Institute. It is also the first to take place outside of North America, the center for hundreds of Reform congregations and the source of influence of the movement's rabbis.

The conference agenda was overseen by Van Leer's chair of Jewish culture and identity department, Rabbi Prof. Naftali Rothenberg, the respected Orthodox rabbi of Har Adar.
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Officials involved in prioritizing the topics to be discussed emphasized the academic nature of the conference. However, prominent Reform movement supporters in New York maintained that the conference in Jerusalem will have practical implications for the movement's future standing in Israel.

The impression they gave was that this conference marks the beginning of a process of recognition for Reform Judaism in Israel - a process that bypasses the Orthodox rabbinic establishment in Israel, which utterly rejects the movement's presence in the country.

"The fact that important researchers and world-renowned scholars are attending a conference that is taking place in Jerusalem reflects the growing standing of the Reform movement in Israel," Rabbi Eric H.Yoffie, president of the Union for Reform Judaism, told Haaretz before leaving for Israel.

Yoffie said that the empowerment of Reform Judaism in the U.S. began after American-born rabbis took on leadership roles in the movement, "and a similar development is taking place now in Israel."

He added that Israel currently has 25 Reform congregations, and some 50 Reform rabbis who were raised and educated locally.

The conference will introduce new research dealing with a host of subjects, including the quest for liturgical authenticity in the Reform youth movement in Israel, Reform halakhic rulings in the life of a liberal Jewish community, the impact of feminism on the Reform movement, and homosexual marriage as a test case of halakhic discourse.

A few conference-goers, particularly from among the Israeli contingent, are expected to present research that includes criticism and reservations regarding the American Reform movement's inclusive acceptance of homosexuals and lesbians in the congregation and synagogue.

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      1.   oy vey 04:09  |  alan 24/12/07
      2.   Gee, its that easy..... 10:45  |  sptz 24/12/07
      3.   Not hypocrites? 10:45  |  Jason 24/12/07
      4.   Reform halakha??? 11:45  |  David G 24/12/07
      5.   Instead of dealing with internal Israel matters, Refom Judaism of 12:32  |  Ahai 24/12/07
      6.   send all the queers to zion 12:57  |  they deserve it 24/12/07
      7.   Someone at Haartez must be lineing their pockets with money 13:09  |  Jew 24/12/07
      8.   eric yoffe 13:36  |  Dave 24/12/07
      9.   religion religion religion 14:29  |  SJ 24/12/07
      10.   #2..think again 14:57  |  Benniehama 24/12/07
      11.   thanks God Reform Exist and finaly they are working in Israel 15:09  |  Alejandro 24/12/07
      12.   HORTODOX are Dangerous and Extremist , DONT TRUST THEM?!!! 15:12  |  Miguel 24/12/07
      13.   Deut.31:27 15:27  |  Joseph E . 24/12/07
      14.   Who are the Hortodox, exactly? 15:31  |  Bennieyama 24/12/07
      15.   13 JosephE 15:39  |  Bennieyama 24/12/07
      16.   All demographic studies prove reform to be on the way out 16:20  |  Meir Weinstein 24/12/07
      17.   16, true, except, but.... 16:32  |  uday 24/12/07
      18.   When we get tired of fighting eachother, can we please return to 16:42  |  Ludicrous 24/12/07
      19.   jewish education 16:44  |  michael 24/12/07
      20.   Orthodox Christians are more Jewish most times then the Reform 17:17  |  smarter then olmert 24/12/07
      21.   Re #16 I don`t fear diversity 17:23  |  Meir Weinstein 24/12/07
      22.   ALLOW THEM TO REGISTER 17:48  |  Jay A Friedman 24/12/07
      23.   isreali obsession with american jews 18:06  |  kvetch some more 24/12/07
      24.   # 15 Bennieyama 18:07  |  Joseph E . 24/12/07
      25.   Homosexuality and religion 18:29  |  Yaakov Sullivan 24/12/07
      26.   Reform back to the real thing 18:32  |  Shmuel 24/12/07
      27.   #23 TO MY ESTEEMED COLLEAGUE, KVETCH 18:34  |  Jay A Friedman 24/12/07
      28.   Orthodox christians are also idol worshippers. 18:45  |  Andrew 24/12/07
      29.   Reform are bigots 19:09  |  Yechiel 24/12/07
      30.   good news 19:13  |  raphael garcia stern 24/12/07
      31.   Yechiel 19:30  |  alan 24/12/07
      32.   #16 Reform is not thriving... 20:22  |  Ezra 24/12/07
      33.   Reform heresy: G-d doesn`t look into their pockets. Wow! 20:32  |  David 24/12/07
      34.   Let`s hope that someone.... 20:38  |  Webster 24/12/07
      35.   to yaakov S 21:03  |  Bennie 24/12/07
      36.   21 Meir weinstein 21:07  |  uday 24/12/07
      37.   32 ezra, your figures please check 21:17  |  uday 24/12/07
      38.   #9 SJ Not religion ,but people 21:41  |  Yaakov Sullivan 24/12/07
      39.   Eric Yoffie --- a TRAITOR to JUDAISM 21:47  |  Moshe Schwartz 24/12/07
      40.   Yoffie the jerk 21:59  |  Mordechai 24/12/07
      41.   Re Uday #36 22:00  |  Meir Weinstein 24/12/07
      42.   Re #32 Ezra 22:09  |  Meir Weinstein 24/12/07
      43.   we waited 3000 years 22:24  |  radical fairy 24/12/07
      44.   #9: Not very thoughtful about religion 22:56  |  Izik 24/12/07
      45.   41 Meir 23:22  |  Uday 24/12/07
      46.   to the fake yaakov sullivan 23:24  |  bennieyama 24/12/07
      47.   Knock It Off, Please 02:01  |  Hashem 25/12/07
      48.   Re#45 Uday 04:43  |  Meir Weinstein 25/12/07
      49.   We may comprehend the sources of Homos & Lesbos nature 07:28  |  Joseph E . 25/12/07
      50.   if these are scollars let them go to school and learn until they 10:13  |  moshe 25/12/07
      51.   Reforming Judaism is the last thing we need now pt-1. 22:09  |  Akram Zekaria 25/12/07
      52.   Reforming Judaism is the last thing we need now pt-2. 22:30  |  Akram Zekaria 25/12/07
      53.   Reform Movement 22:53  |  Honestyb4all 25/12/07
      54.   Re#53 Honestyb4all 23:33  |  Meir Weinstein 25/12/07
      55.   Joffe 08:26  |  Gay avek 27/12/07
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      57.   reform Jews are no less legitimate than todays orthodox 06:36  |  avramele 28/12/07
      58.   Sorry, Avramele---there IS a difference 03:07  |  Hymie Zoltsveis 29/12/07
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