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Union of Reform Judaism President Rabbi Eric Yoffie. (BauBau Archives)
Last update - 13:15 17/02/2008
U.S. Reform leader says supports concessions on Jerusalem
By Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Ehud Olmert 

The president of the Union for Reform Judaism, Rabbi Eric Yoffie, promised Prime Minister Ehud Olmert last week that his movement would support the government if a peace treaty with the Palestinians is reached, including concessions in Jerusalem. Rabbi Yoffie told Haaretz that if the Israeli right wing mobilizes its supporters in the United States against such an agreement, the Reform Movement would respond in kind.

The issue of the involvement of Jews from outside Israel in the debate over the diplomatic process, especially over the question of the future of Jerusalem, was raised following the Annapolis summit three months ago. The American Orthodox Union angered Prime Minister Olmert by calling upon him not to consider concessions in Jerusalem, and the coalition of right-wing groups that formed to fight Olmert's plans expressed its intention to enlist the support of world Jewry in its campaign.

Tensions were further heightened last month when World Jewish Congress president Ronald Lauder published an open letter calling upon Olmert to take the views of the Diaspora into consideration before deciding Jerusalem's future. Following the letter, Olmert canceled his participation in the WJC board of governors meeting in Jerusalem.
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Rabbi Yoffie met with Olmert last Wednesday with the expressed intent of offering his movement's support to the government over the negotiations. Following the meeting, he told Haaretz that, "If the outline of a peace treaty that has been put forward, that seems moderate and reasonable, we in the Reform movement and the overwhelming majority of American Jews will support it."

Yoffie said that he understood that there is no choice but to include the future of Jerusalem in these negotiations and, "If the government of Israel were to reach an agreement in which real peace would be achieved also by concessions in Jerusalem, I am confident that American Jews would support it. Of course though, this is the sole decision of the government of Israel."

Yoffie said that despite their statements, he doesn't believe that the right-wing elements in U.S. Jewry would mount a serious public opposition. "Such an agreement would also be a major part of American foreign policy and they wouldn't dare to try and derail it," he said. "But if they do try, we would also mobilize our people against them."

Yoffie also criticized Malcolm Hoenlein, the head of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, for expressing concerns at a press conference on Tuesday in Jerusalem over the atmosphere surrounding the U.S. presidential campaign of Senator Barack Obama. "All the talk about change, but without defining what that change should be, is an opening for all kind of mischief," was one of the things Hoenlein said.

"Words like these can easily be interpreted as a position in favor or against one of the candidates and we have to be careful to treat all the candidates in the same respectable way," noted Yoffie.

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      1.   Reform is not judaism it has taken a religion of its own 06:17  |  Joe Barnathan 17/02/08
      2.   another looser...Jerusalem is not up for discussion 06:21  |  cyril 17/02/08
      3.   Reform moverment has no connection to Jerusalam and Judaism! 06:28  |  Safta 17/02/08
      4.   Proof of the evils of Reform "Judaism" 07:19  |  Ruth Broch 17/02/08
      5.   "We would mobilize our people against them" SAD 07:23  |  Virginia 17/02/08
      6.   All the reformed support give aways even without peace 07:28  |  Binyamin Dissen 17/02/08
      7.   And for the Life of me, I don`t understand... 07:50  |  Virginia 17/02/08
      8.   RABBI ERIC YOFEE 07:53  |  JOSEPH 17/02/08
      9.   A Mistake 08:01  |  Daniel 17/02/08
      10.   Proof Al haMinim has still to be said 08:07  |  Ezra 17/02/08
      11.   thank you for your support, rabbi eric yoffie! 08:07  |  eric 17/02/08
      12.   What do you expect from them? 08:14  |  Saba Avraham 17/02/08
      13.   The Great Lie about Jerusalem. 08:38  |  Jean Van Daem 17/02/08
      14.   It`s about time Jewish Americans expressed MODERATE views 08:47  |  Joe 17/02/08
      15.   Conservative Jews are in the same basket with the Orthodox. 08:58  |  akiva (zionist) 17/02/08
      16.   Eric Yafe and Reform Activists 09:07  |  Joe 17/02/08
      17.   Rabbi Eric Yoffe 09:09  |  Gerald Zang 17/02/08
      18.   So called "Rabbi" Eric Yoffie has no right to speak for American 09:09  |  Chaim 17/02/08
      19.   Jerusalem and world peace 10:22  |  Bandar Michaels 17/02/08
      20.   Rabbi Yoffie for Prime Minister of Israel 10:31  |  Mohammed Ahmed Walid 17/02/08
      21.   Good to hear "moderate" Jewish voices in the U.S....... 10:51  |  Swiss (Dino) 17/02/08
      22.   Ask Jerusalem`s Arabs 10:58  |  Joe 17/02/08
      23.   Thanks rabbi Yoffie! 11:02  |  Leser 17/02/08
      24.   Reform Aliyah? 11:05  |  Sherlock Holmes 17/02/08
      25.   Reform is nor judaism 11:05  |  Ralph 17/02/08
      26.   who cares 11:50  |  Dave 17/02/08
      27.   # 18 think again, chaim 11:50  |  eric 17/02/08
      28.   Israel Is Roadblock Against Terrorism , Terror Like Concessions 12:01  |  Joseph . E 17/02/08
      29.   Based on Reform Position on Jerusalem , You Now Understand Peres 12:05  |  Joseph . E 17/02/08
      30.   Funny, some posters here think a moderate Jew is not.... 12:21  |  Swiss (Dino) 17/02/08
      31.   reform 12:28  |  mark 17/02/08
      32.   I am a Reform Jew and I do NOT AGREE 12:34  |  Ben Turk 17/02/08
      33.   If Jerusalem And Temple Mount Are Ceded To Islam 12:48  |  Joseph . E 17/02/08
      34.   #4 RUTH, AMEN LADY AMEN!!!!!!!! 12:48  |  Petra 17/02/08
      35.   1/2 OF MECCA IN EXCHANGE? 12:51  |  Petra 17/02/08
      36.   Bargaining on Erez Israel is blasphemous 13:05  |  AliciaYasmeen 17/02/08
      37.   Reform Aliyah? 13:12  |  Yaakov 17/02/08
      38.   mark 13:14  |  Yaakov 17/02/08
      39.   Ralph...again 13:15  |  Yaakov 17/02/08
      40.   Do not read "Reform"; rather, read "DEFORM"... 13:28  |  Alan Schleider 17/02/08
      41.   Who listens to rabbis of any type? 13:36  |  Sidney 17/02/08
      42.   Concessions, by whom, for whom...why.? 13:36  |  Stephen. 17/02/08
      43.   Better that the liberal Jews of USA 13:37  |  Nechama 17/02/08
      44.   reforms all except his own orthodox salary 13:39  |  nach 17/02/08
      45.   HE DESERVE A RESPECT, PLEASE COME TO INDONESIA 13:52  |  indrajaya 17/02/08
      46.   who is this Yoffie to give away anything?? 13:55  |  rob 17/02/08
      47.   He doesn`t speak for THIS Reform Jew! 13:59  |  Yossi 17/02/08
      48.   Reform - always weak on Israel 13:59  |  fred 17/02/08
      49.   To Ruth and Petra 14:22  |  David James Vickery 17/02/08
      50.   Joe #14 14:25  |  Dr. David Feigenbaum 17/02/08
      51.   Reform weighs in...at last 14:29  |  Ussishkin 17/02/08
      52.   U.S. Reform leader.......... 14:40  |  Sam Popack 17/02/08
      53.   U.S. Reform Leader Supports Concessions 14:42  |  JordanisPalestine 17/02/08
      54.   This so-called Rabbi does not need holy places 15:00  |  Avi 17/02/08
      55.   `Reform` leader? 15:14  |  Brod 17/02/08
      56.   he is entitled to his opinion 15:34  |  jewishbrotherhood 17/02/08
      57.   Let the Pros do the job there trained for 15:36  |  Gideon Reader 17/02/08
      58.   Kudos to Rabbu Yoffe 15:55  |  Rabbi Toni Jutner 17/02/08
      59.   LOOK LOOK LOOK - 41 sydney, FINALLY a voice of reason 15:59  |  Moishe 17/02/08
      60.   Many Pray to a Tribal God 16:05  |  Brian Freund 17/02/08
      61.   Kol Hakvod L` Rabbi Eric Yoffie 16:12  |  Smadar 17/02/08
      62.   # 58 - Wouldn`t want to be in his Congregation!!!! 16:52  |  Virginia 17/02/08
      63.   Searching for reason, 59 caught my attention, had to read 41. And 17:38  |  Virginia 17/02/08
      64.   There is cheap sharing and smart sharing 17:40  |  AliciaYasmeen 17/02/08
      65.   Yoffie speaks for a tiny tiny myopic minority 17:41  |  dav zee 17/02/08
      66.   #64-----A Considered Point---My Response To You 18:09  |  Brian Freund 17/02/08
      67.   How could Palestinians peacefully Share Jerusalem? Simple. 18:13  |  Virginia 17/02/08
      68.   Putting two together does not = sharing. All must learn to 18:16  |  Virginia 17/02/08
      69.   Either all or none speak for Israeli policies 18:31  |  David 17/02/08
      70.   Joe (Boloney) Barnathon 18:35  |  Stephen Connor 17/02/08
      71.