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Last update - 11:48 05/06/2008 Secular Israelis wary of impact of non-Jewish olim By Anshel Pfeffer Tags: israel, judaism, immigration  About two-thirds of secular Israelis fear that accepting 300,000 non-Jewish immigrants could lead to assimilation, according to an Absorption Ministry survey. The study, the first to examine Israeli attitudes toward non-Jewish immigrants, reveals that 88 percent of secular people assume the immigrants were not motivated by Jewish concerns. Some 72 percent are concerned by these immigrants' tendency to remain in separate groups within society. More than half (54 percent) of secular Israelis said the immigration has caused social problems, and only 46 percent feel guilty that the immigrants are not better integrated in Israel. However, 61 percent believe that the immigrants have bolstered the Israeli economy, 82 percent would be glad to have non-Jewish neighbors, 77 percent see the immigrants as part of the Israeli nation and society, and 52 percent do not object to a family member marrying a non-Jewish immigrant. Advertisement At the same time, most of the public are interested in helping them convert to Judaism and 74 percent are in favor of Orthodox conversion. But the same number of people - unlike most Orthodox rabbis - believe that they should be allowed to convert to Judaism even if they don't intend to maintain a religious way of life. The survey reflects a more stringent attitude on the part of the religious public, 89 percent of whom fear that the non-Jewish immigration would lead to assimilation and only 54 percent of whom are willing to live next door to non-Jewish immigrants. Fifty-five percent of religious people do not accept conversion for any purpose other than observing a religious way of life. However, the survey also showed a greater willingness to help immigrants to convert among the religious public. Two-thirds agreed to accompany a family in the process of conversion, 85 percent agreed to host a person undergoing conversion for the Sabbath and 79 percent are ready to accept the would-be converts in their children's schools. The Absorption Ministry wishes to use these figures to revive the bruised and tattered state-sponsored conversion system following its recent setbacks, including the Prime Minister's Office's dismissal of Conversion Authority head Rabbi Haim Druckman, after the Supreme Rabbinic Court deemed illegitimate thousands of conversions Druckman performed directly or indirectly. Related articles: New plan to offer tax breaks to Western immigrants MKs launch caucus to aid immigration from the West Not in it for the money Bookmark to del.icio.us   Terrorist donuts U.S. Arabs irate over criticism of celebrity cook's kaffiyeh. All the way to hell Rosner's blog: It's Obama's good intentions that pro-Israel activists fear.   1.   So, you suddenly care??? Ah? 07:09  |  Northern 05/06/08   2.   missing the point, as usual 10:49  |  Jerusalemite 05/06/08   3.   Fake conversions disguise anti-semitism 10:52  |  Jewboy 05/06/08   4.   This is a bad joke 11:56  |  sh 05/06/08   5.   So, why do Jews treat themselves like a race? It`s a religion!!!! 13:29  |  POP 05/06/08   6.   #4 The property of the Palestinians was never 02:59  |  Rebekah S 06/06/08   7.   Answering POP 21:06  |  Czarkazem13 06/06/08   8.   Its not a race or a religion 5+7, its a cult 03:51  |  Rov 07/06/08   9.   Secular Israelis wary of non-Jewish Olim 09:10  |  martin list, m.d. 08/06/08

Read & React Shmuel Rosner: Obama and Jerusalem - did you really believe him? Responses: 28 U.S. proposes trilateral talks with Israel and PA Responses: 5 Defense sources:Talk of major IDF operation in Gaza is premature Responses: 4 Zvi Bar'el: Assad and Ahmadinejad - Kadima's winning candidates Send response More Headlines 07:18 U.S. proposes trilateral talks with Israel and PA 08:03 Hamas militant killed, another wounded by IDF fire in Gaza 08:36 Defense sources: Talk of major IDF operation in Gaza is premature 07:38 IAEA slams Mofaz remark that attack on Iran seems 'unavoidable' 08:39 Battered by rockets, Gaza-area kibbutz heads north for Shavuot 05:52 Remembering when our cause was just 08:32 ANALYSIS / Mofaz's Iran comments too high a price for party politics 07:58 Black Jewish filmmaker sets out to capture her identity 08:35 EU dignitaries hurt by IDF fire during West Bank protest 00:30 Clinton halts presidency bid, endorses Obama 08:34 Conditionally Jewish Previous Editions Select Day 06 jun 05 jun 04 jun 03 jun 02 jun 01 jun 30 may 29 may 28 may 27 may 26 may 25 may

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