Netanyahu brokers deal to block new legislation on conversions to Judaism
Cabinet and Jewish movements agree to freeze controversial bill that would give Chief Rabbinate a monopoly on Jewish conversions in Israel.
By Barak Ravid and Jonathan Lis Tags: Israel news Benjamin NetanyahuThe government on Thursday reached a deal to suspend planned legislation that would hand the Chief Rabbinate a monopoly on overseeing conversions to Judaism in Israel.
Acting on instructions from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Cabinet Secretary Zvi Hauser reached an agreement with Israel Reform and Masorti (traditional) Jewish movements, persuading them to drop a petition to the High Court in exchange for a six-month freeze on enacting the law in the Knesset.
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday July 4, 2010. |
| Photo by: Flash90 |
Netanyahu had instructed Hauser to "find any means to maintain the unity of the Jewish nation," said the Prime Minister's spokesman, Nir Hefetz.
During the freeze, a committee led by the chairman of the Jewish Agency, Natan Sharansky, will work with the Reform and Masorti movements to draft an alternative to current proposals, put forward by the right-wing Yisrael Beiteinu party, which have angered non-Orthodox Jews at home and abroad.
Netanyahu lauded the compromise: "Change in the law on conversions in Israel must be carried out through broad agreement to prevent a split within the Jewish nation," he said.
"Unity is in the foremost interest of the State of Israel and the Jewish nation, and I intend to defend that principle with determination."
Mark Pelavin, director of the Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism said the cabinet's decision was "a positive development, but we must see if this time will be used to find the compromise or it's just a delay and kicking a ball down the road."
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Namely, of a Jewish mother? Who are you Bibi, Knesset, Reformers, to dictate otherwise??
to hold the Jewish People together, and this is what you do? Have you no shame whatsoever?
In a few generations, orthodox Jews will no longer be able to marry reform ones because of doubt on their Jewishness due to false conversions.
Unity of a civilized nation in the 21st century has nothing to do with religions, even less with a single one. Curious unity which excludes a quarter of citizens.
Bibi is not totally insane.
This problem has not disappeared. It in all probability will appear again and again until the Rabbinate understands that the West as a whole refuses to accept a one track approach to Judasim.
... nipping-in-the-bud is urgently called for...
However Netanyahu knew if the high court got involved it would be counterproductive. In six months thousands more of reform Jews will become extinct
Let's wait and see what the alternative will be...