Reform head: U.S. Jews must not oppose compromise on Jerusalem

This rabbi is talking like iran's president M.ahmedinejad. If you give jerusalem to muslims Israel is nothing but dead. And If you reject Evangelical christinas support, then whom will you believe?.

KEEP JERUSALEM UNITED!! THE ARABS HAVE MEDINA AND MECCA.

How very sad to read that Rabbi Yoffie is leading his troops against the Jews who seek to defend the unity and integrity of Jerusalem. Rabbi Yoffie would be well advised to listen to Israel's enemies, the division of Jerusalem is just one step in the destruction of Israel. Will he support 3,000,000 "refugees" coming to Israel. History has shown the classical Reform Judaism failed to understand the Zionist dream. Is Rabbi Yoffie going back in time?

What is all this nonsense? Am I to understand that the "RIGHT" to act gay, and engage in debauchery, is somehow a greater obligation/right, than the DUTY to follow Hashem and not engage in this vile, filthy behavior. If one wants to engage in Sodomy, they should NOT claim that they are acting in accordance with Torah or Hashem. You are committing vile behavior, and you shall surely die. When the AZT and other drugs stop working, ASK YOURSELF how much better life would have been if you followed Hashem and Torah. EVEN IF gay THOUGHTS are normal, you must control your thoughts. No different than somone who wants to steal, hurt or rape---you control your behavior, and show your respect for yourself and Hashem. As for "rabbi" Yoffie, HOW CAN HE condemn gay conduct, when it infects his own children? He should be a towel attendant at a gay bathhouse, NOT the head of a claimed branch of Judaism.

I agree with #86. That's really sinking low. If you have to stoop to using bigotry as an argument for anything, then you must have very little of value to say. Orthodox Jews' bigotry against Jews who don't practice as they do is really ugly. So is Reform bigotry that says Orthodox Jews are just a bunch of nuts. According to some statements here, it seems Jerusalem is already divided - between different branches of Judaism.

There is no factual evidence on which to base the belief that Israel will get peace in exchange for dividing Jerusalem. Every single forfeiture of land to the Palestinians has resulted in more anti-Israel violence, not less. If Israelis are so delusional as to believe they can get peace by handing over part of Jerusalem, then it's up to Jews all over the world to stop them before they destroy themselves and deal a body blow to the entire Jewish People. The world expects Israel to sacrifice whatever it takes, and give these Arabs whatever they ask for. Israel can and must say "no" to dividing Jerusalem. For once, Israel, just say no!

I understand that very religous people dissagree with homosexuality. However the remarks made by this rabbi are quite harsh. According to him homosexuals are to be jailed! Indeed!

Are reform Rabbis Ashkenazi and Orthodox rabbis Sefardi? I am a little confused...

In 2003, Rabbi Yoffe allegedly molested a twelve year old boy whom he was giving bar-mitzva lessons to. In the boys house the Rabbi alegedly fondled the boys penis. There are rumors that this rabbi also might have felt under the shirt of a twelve year old girl he was giving lessons to.

Hey Mark, What your saying is nice. But as an American you must realize that a democracy has people from Germany Scotland, anglo-saxons Etc. But I am touched by your genorosity. If Israel wants Jerusalem then Israel would have to become a Kingdom. Which might not be so bad. By the way I LOVE episode V, GOOD JOB!

It looks like they disagree with you without understanding the entire problem. I may not agree with you, but you have a right to your position. On this subject I agree with you.

We should divide Jerusalem as soon as the mulims divide Mecca. Peace will NEVER be available as long as muslims indoctrinate their kids to hate. The RELIGION OF PUSS is NO partner for Peace. Yoffie cannot even keep his own kids from marrying goyim. HOW can he tell Jews what to do. If I ever forget thee, Jerusalem, may my right hand lose its cunning.

The writier who was concewrned with the number of muslimes in Jerusalem, and muslimes on welfare...the answer is EXPULSION of muslimes from Israel. They do not belong there. The muslimes want THREE WAYS to destroy Israel: 1--The League of Nations in 1920, gave the arabs a homeland---JORDAN 2--Israel's foolish, leftist, secualr leaders want to give away ISRAEL (Gaza, Golan, Judea, Samaria (and G-d forbid Jerusalem)) to the arabs 3--The arabs demand a RIGHT OF RETURN. If this doesn't destroy all of Israel---NOTHING WILL. BTW, NO JEWS are allowed to live in Jordan. WHY isn't that ever mentioned? None allowed in Saudi Arabia, etc. What is wrong with expelling ALL MUSLIMES from Israel. THAT is teh only route to peace. The ROADMAP is a disaster plan.

I had heard that the DEFORMED Jews require separate plates for pork and shellfish on Yom Kippur. Is it true that Yoffie has a gay child, and one married to a goy?

Most reform Jews are just lazy Jews. I used to be one, until I got sick of going to shul and reading from a prayer book that was MORE politically correct, gender-sensitive, and animal-rights oriented than it was pro-Jewish, pro-Torah, or pro-Hashem. Going to shul is NOT supposed to be a "spectator event"---a Broadway show with dimmed lights, an orchestra and a start tenor cantor. I could see that the reformed leaders used their cloak of Jewishness as a cover for their leftist, degenerate politics. Whether the issue was opposition to the US military, support of lesbianism or degenerate gay marriage, the lefties in reformed Judaism used their religions as a front. I will be glad when Yoffie is exposed as a homosexual and communist. I am glad that I dropped out of the reformed shul, and chose a REAL JEWISH ORTHODOX SHUL. Yoffie should go out, have a lobster and clam dinner, and shut up. He is vile filth, and NOT a Jew

Eric yoffie is no rabbi! He is a leader of leftists, who claim to be Jewish, but do not believe in Torah, Hashem, Halacha or anything but pastrami and cheese on rye bread. The man is really a front for the gay agenda and left wingers who hide behind a Torah (they don't hide behind tallisim---they don't wear them). Down the toilet with Judaism, as long as Yoffie claims leadership of the DEFORMED Jews. Yoffie---a modern Hellenist Jew

Jerusalem is not just a city, it is the heart and soul of the Jewish people. I am not an Israeli so I try to keep my nose out of Israeli politics. However, I cannot be silent about Jreusalem; it must remain untied.

Why should we listen to Yoffie? He has been making a lot of statements lately in order to get publicity for his movement, which he wants to make greater in Israel after it has failed in the US. So what if the Reforms have 1.5 million members in America? Most of them observe almost nothing Jewish, and most of their children are intermarried. Their grandchildren and great-grandchildren (if they have any) are often not even Jewish. My girlfriend used to live next door to a Reform "temple" and one day she saw a wedding taking place outdoors there. The groom was Jewish, the bride Catholic, and the Reform "rabbi" said HaMotzi over the wedding cake-and no one there even knew that it was the wrong blessing.Stay in America, Yoffie, we don't need you here.

We shouldn't pay attention to anything Yoffie says. His Reform movement cannot even keep their Jews Jewish, and the whole movement will die out soon due to intermarriage, same sex marriages, and just plain disinterest. The Reform have done enough damage in America; we don't need them or their ideas here.

We all know what happen when you mix Religion and politicks.Result:Disaster.

The peace of the grave does not interest us, but if our enemies want it badly enough I am sure we can work out a one way trip for them to "Paradise". Alternatively they can go back to butchering Hindus and only have to deal with "Their" wrath.

There is no "Peace Partner". There will never be a "Peace Partner". The very idea of Peace is Ludicrous and not just for Israel. Serbia will never be at peace. Cyprus will never be at peace. India will never be at peace. Ethiopia will never be at peace. Anyone who thinks there can be peace is welcome to put their head on the block first, when they are gone we will then concern ourselves with the reality, that this war can only end when Mecca Burns.

Jerusalem Must Not Be Lost, Not One Inch.

Recent polls show that about 90% of Israeli Jews oppose any concessions on Jerusalem. A majority of 56% oppose ceding any more of our land. Thus any attempt to divide Jerusalem would mean suppressing the opposition of the vast majority of Israeli Jews. That can't be done in a democratic society. In fact, it can't be done at all if the majority fights for it's rights. Any attempt to divide Jerusalem would be fascist.

There seems to be no shortage of Arab and Muslim capitals in the world so why do the Jews have to divide their one and only? It would seem to me that before partition and during the mandate that Britain received from the League of nations Britain handing the rights of the indigenous Arabs over to the Hashemite family from the Saudi peninsula. Amman is the capital of the so called "Palestinian" people and was so when Jordan annexed Jerusalem and the so called West Bank (Judea Samaria). If the Arabs thought of it as capital why is Amman the Palestinian people's capital? This is fitting that remains such in the future and room must be made to welcome the remaining Jordanian refugees that have been squatting illegally on Israeli land. Let us correct the error of 1921,1949 and 1967 that completed Israeli and Palestinian independence. Until Jordan is named Palestine there will be no peace, end the illegal Hashemite occupation of Jordan!

Yoffie really thinks that slicing up Israel or Jerusalem is OK? He thinks G-d will not notice? This kind of ignorance is what has brought disaster down of Abraham's children in the past. Maybe Yoffie has misplace his Hebrew Bible. Maybe he doesn't read it. Maybe he doesn't believe it. Maybe he shouldn't bother coming to Israel at all. "...must not oppose Israeli compromise"? Is he willing to compromise his place with the Eternal One? Looks like he already has. Selah!

The lack of popularity of the reform movement in Israel is that its basic premise is that Judiaism is a way of life based on culture and history not on divine revelations or Halachah. Almost every Jew in Israel lives a life of Jewish identity, celebrates Jewish holidays in one way or another, observes the Sabbath in one way or another, lights Hanukah candles, has or attends a Passover Seder,etc. In other words they are living Jewish history whether they go to an orthodox service based on Halachah and Torah or no service. Reform Judaism offers nothing different from what they already have, without needing to join a Temple.

He is one of the many reformed rabbis who don't know what they are talking about. They don't even remember previous concessions and accords that not only not benefited Israel, but cost hundreds of israeli lives!

Foreign consumers of English-language Israel news should be aware of the Jerusalem Post's policy of integrating its editorial position into its news reporting. For instance, it is a Post policy to single out Orthodox Jews and Judaism for ridicule and debasement and to simultaneously burnish and advocate on behalf of any other faith's beliefs and practitioners. Consider, for example, Matthew Wagner's December 20 news story entitled "The differing emphases of Judaism's 3 streams". According to the Post, the prime difference is that all streams of Judaism are thoughtful and introspective except for...you guessed it. I'm an Orthodox Jewish writer, and I don't hope to convince you of the correctness of my religion with this message. I do hope to raise your sensitivity to advocacy articles like Wagner's that regularly feature in the Post, so that your opinions about me won't be shaped or even influenced by the lampooning the Post keeps serving up on me--on its news pages. Thanks.

Reform Judaism are a contradiction in terms! There cannot be a reformed 'Rabbi'! You cannot re-state Judaism to fit YOUR anti-Torah or pseudo-Torah mis-framing of Judaism. Reformed Judaism was the PRECURSOR OF GERMAN JEW HATE! A reformed Rabbi has NO RELEVANCE TO THINGS JEWISH! YOU ARE BUT MERE PC POLITICIANS! MERE CAMILIONS! You are NOT TORAH SCHOLARS and HAVE NO RIGHT TO ACT AS IF YOU ARE! UNEDUCATED JEWS BELIEVE YOUR TRASH! and LOOK WHERE ISRAEL IS NOW!

Like their counterparts in Israel, "liberals" in the states have lost touch with reality. Their underlying belief that everyone is good, that everyone should just talk it out and sit around the campfire, sing kumbiya doing group therapy, all problems would be solved. Rabbi Roffe's naivete is not much different. By giving away the store upfront, with overt statements agreeing to divide Jerusaleum instead of making any land deal conditional on performance, Roffe ignores how Israel's enemies still continue to stratagize ways to destroy the Jewish state as their underlying goal. In the States, this apologist position was last evident in New York City. There, Jewish "liberals" use to excuse criminal behavior and focus more on the rights of the criminals than the impact the crimes had on the victims. There is indeed something "off" in the Jewish mindset--for those who always identify with the underdog, even if that position is dead wrong and hurts their fellow kinsman.

THIS WOMAN HAS LEARNED A FEW HEBREW WORDS. MAYBE SHOULD USE HER CORRECT ARAB/ISLAMIC NAME. OR CHANGE IT TO LO TOV.

"If there will be a concession at the end of the day, Israel will receive a tremendous benefit in return" Rabbi Eric Yoffie. Is this a question of 'Ask the Rabbi ? Or is't a question how much Israel worth ? Or is't a question that the Rabbi is treating the congregation like children ? Thank G-d the Rabbi didn't mentioned what this 'tremendous' worth ? And what are the limits of 'concession' that the Rabbi had in mind ? It would be very interesting and helpful if the Rabbi will come with some light; How much a Jewish State worth for him ? Or How much a half Jewish State worth in the open market ? At lest this way Israel would be benefited from his Rabbanic knowledge.

I WONDER IF THE HEAD OF THE US REFORM MOVEMNET IS JEWISH, HE DOES NOT SEEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT UNDEVIDED JERUSALEM IS WHAT HASHEM PROMISED THE JEWS. BUT OF COURSE, THE REFORM DOES NOT BELIEVE IN HASHEM.

And who hasn't Ovadiah Yosef insulted? Why should R. Yoffe debase himself and meet with a character who doesn't even recognize him as a rabbi? Ovadiah Yosef, for all his Torah scholarship, lacks much in the way of human decency. Motzi shem ra, malbin chavero ba-rabbim, youname it, he's done it. No great tzaddik, he.

American Jewry as a whole stood silent (out of fear) as European Jewry was at first turned away (remember the SS St. Louis?) and then slaughtered. Sure, there were those that raised their voices in protest, but too weakly. Don't put the blame only on Reform or Conservatice. Where was the Orthodox UnionU? Where was the Rabbinical Council of America? Where was Rabbi Lookstein? Where was Rackman? Where were the Soloveitchiks? Where was R. Moshe Feinstein? Where was R. Aharon Kotler?

Mr. Eric Yoffie and Seymour Reich are both unbelievers and a disgrace to the faithful and believing. I am a born again Christian and proud Zionist and can tell you matter of factly, that giving up part of Jerusalem will only hasten evil upon G_d's chosen people. Rather than give up any land, Israel should be looking to be inhabiting the land borders that He promised them long ago. To Israel's believing~ do not fear. He is faithful who has promised, who also will do it. DRS

It is you who should read history and the actions of Rabbi Wise during WWII. He did not pressure FDR to help save the Jews and wipe out the death camps in Europe. It was the "right wing" Jews who tried to pressure the U.S. government and the several hundred strong Orthodox Rabbis that marched on Washington to try and save their brothers/sisters in Europe.

also of the same mind regarding the exchange of territory between Israel and any future Palestinian Arab political entity in that the large concentrations of Palestinian Arabs who are citizens of the state of Israel in the regions of the 'Ara Valley, the Triangle and Jerusalem area should be exchanged so as to have these regions become part of the future Palestinian Arab entity and large Jewish populated blocs in the territories such as Ariel, Givat Zeev, Ma'ale Adumim and the Etzion Bloc should become part of the sovereign state of Israel.

What tremendous benefit will Israel receive in return? Will the concessions given to the Arabs include any non-Moslem holy places? Look at what is happening with the Temple Mount and Dayan's generousity. Let the Old City remain under Israeli control. Let Joffie live in Sderot for a while and enjoy the Gaza concessions. He's the one out of step.

I respect rabbis but this one insulted rabbi Yosef.

The Arab population of Israel is large enough without adding hundreds of thousands of Arabs in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. I want Israel to remain a State of the Jews (Judenstaat) with an overwhelming Jewish majority. This state will be endangered if Israel keeps areas with large Arab populations. for this reason, I think Israel should also consider exchanging areas within Israel proper with an entirely or almost entirely Arab population, such as the Bifg Triangle (Tireh, Taibeh, Qalansuwa) and Wadi Ara, with areas within the West Bank with an entirely, or almost entirely, Jewish population, such as Ma'aleh Edumim and the Etzion Bloc.

I'm trying not to be soo cynical, but it isn't too late at this moment to realize that Israel should know the limit of its expansionism policy. Stop it now, probably peace isn't too late to overcome by peacemakers on both side. May be.

True to their general positions, the Reform "leadership" takes a lefty position on Jerusalem, Israeli defense and USA military and security measures. You don't find many Reform rabbis voluntarily joining the Army or Marine chaplains corp despite the army's request. You don't see them pressing for ROTC in the so-called "elite" Universities. Israel should not follow their advice. They set a very poor example in the war on terror.

the future Arab political entity as follows: 1) Arab neighborhoods outside of the Old City should come under Arab sovereignty. 2) Jewish neighborhoods outside of the Old City should remain under Israeli sovereignty. 3) The Old City, all of it, and immdediate vicinity must reamin under Israeli sovereignty and administration. Note, Jerusalem has never been the capital city of any other state or any other people other than the state of Israel for the past 60 years and the Jewish people for the past 3,000 years. Also, Jerusalem is the most important site of the Jewish people and the Jewish religion. Jerusalem for Islam by contrast is of a secondary importance and only became so in order to negate its important to others.....!

Excuse me, but what united Jerusalem are we talking about? It doesn't exits now and it never existed. Jerusalem has always been a divided city. E.Jerusalemites have their own bus system, garbage collection, laws, citizen status etc. Please, give up this dumb American Jewish dream of a united Jerusalem and get real.

This guy is not the democratically elected leader of anybody. He is the appointed, salaried administrator of the HUC seminary in Cincinnati, Ohio (home to 0.4% of the US Jewish population). Not elected even by the members of the Reform sect, not representative. He was outvoted on this issue by a massive, landslide margin of 10-to-1 in the council of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations. So rather than accept the democratic outcome of the body to which he belongs, he tries to end-run the leadership body with his misleading press conferences and false guarantees of what Israel will "receive". The guy should have the honesty and decency to RESIGN from this leadership organization; then he can hold his press conferences and shoot his mouth off. Israel has its Yossi (Beilin), we have our Yoffi (Eric). Both speak for only tiny minorities, but pompously claim "leadership".

Jerusalem has a population of 724,000, of whom 65% are Jewish, 32% are Muslim, and 2% are Christian. This means that about 231,000 Muslim Arabs reside in Jerusalem. A high percentage of these receive National Insurance benefits, either because of their large families or vecause they are indigent. The Jerusalem Arab population is centered in various neighborhoods of East Jerusalem; there are practically no Arabs living in Westr Jerusalem or in the new Jewish neighborhoods built since the Six-Day War. Why, except for emotional reasons, do we need all these Arab neighborhoods with their indigenous and hostile populations? What good is there in increasing the Arab population of Israel, a population whose leadership is demanding rights as a national minority? Do we need to make these demands stronger by adding to the Arab ppulation? Therefore, I agree with Rabbi Eric Yoffe that Jerusalem must be divided (it aalready is), but for entirely different reasons.

Do you know any history. I mention one name: Stephen Wise. Read about him and then apologize for your ignorant post.

Israel is a Jewish Country not a Sabra Country. Rabbi Eric Yoffie does not speak for me he was not elected. NO to giving up Jerusalem No to One Sided Compromises No to being a puppet of the EU or the US.

Sounds like a Chelm joke

"[Seymour] Reich said the vote also "undermines the credibility of the Conference because it doesn't reflect the views of the American Jewish community, which -- while attached to Jerusalem -- is prepared to say everything is on the table." But supporters pointed to a recent American Jewish Committee poll showing a growing majority of American Jews - 58 percent - now oppose compromise on Jerusalem." - Jewish Week Unfortunately, the US Jewish leadership is dominated by rightwingers. When Olmert was Mayor of Jerusalem and an extreme rightwinger, the leadership supported him (see #31). Now that he is willing to compromise, they oppose him. If it were up to the Jewish leaders in the US, there would have been no Oslo. One great act by AIPAC was to help pass the "US embassy in Jerusalem" law, which was meant to undermine Oslo and was opposed by President Clinton and PM Rabin. The solution for Israel is to take the money but ignore the views of these leaders. Meet with them, make them feel important, then ignore their views. They will not suffer the consequences of their opinions, so they shouldn't be taken seriously.

To the attention of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations : You have no right to advise the Israeli government what decision to take on the issue of the united Jerusalem. It is their decision and only their decision to decide on this matter. How would you like the residents of Jerusalem to advise you that you have no right to live in the Bronx nor in Brooklyn.

Who is thjs person, he calls himself Rabbi, teacher, teaching what. I am a consevative, don't keep kosher, but for all the things I don't do there is one thing I will stand up for and that is Israel and Jerusalem. You can sau what you will on any subject but when it comes to defending Israel, against the hordes of enemies we all must stand as one. Not one inch, we tried that at the left liberal directions and we gave up Gaza and the West bank, they your friends destroyed Josheph's tomb. They have attacked and killed scores and rain down rockets daily. Don't you think its time to stand strong to hit them, keep on hitting them till they can't move and then hit them some more as an exampe of what they will get. You are the same type of self hating Jew who will vote for Obama or Clinton. Did you forget when Hilliary met with and embrced Suha Arrafat after she gave a speech of Jews using posion gas on the palestinians? If I forget thee O' Jerusalem ... Mean anything?

For many American Jews, Israel and normative Judaism are not important. Israel has lost its luster because of what can only be described as corruption. Normative Judaism is no longer attractive in either the U.S. or Israel. It has become a fossil of pre-enlightenment Judaism in Europe, one of the least creative periods in Jewish history. The solution, easier said than done, make Israel "a light unto the nations". Right now Israel is a copy of America's corrupt money culture. Even here, we are getting fed up with it.

At least the Reform use separate dishes for meat and dairy on Yom Kippur.

Frankly, I cannot understand why some of us are bothered about the position of the Reform Jewish movemwent on Jerusalem. Today, they're in favor of compromise. Next conference they'll be against compromise. The conference after that will support extending the Sabbath service by an additional 30 minutes and the subsequent conference will vote in favor of a new siddur (or prayer book).

The American Reform movement have their chutzpa to tell us what to do. They have zero respect for Israel, the holiness of Yerushaliem & Judiasm & should mind their our business. If they want a say, let them make Aliyah, providing they are really Jewish.

They come to my country and wish to compromise the safety of my capital.

The Forward (Jan. 12, 2001) reports that, "Mr. Lauder's appearance at the January 8 rally, where he was a featured speaker, followed a meeting in New York in which he tried?and failed?to win an endorsement of the rally from the organization that he leads, the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. Mr. Lauder took care at the rally to state that he was speaking only as an individual. Yet he went on to say that he `was representing millions of Jews throughout the world' who oppose Israeli compromise over the holy city. . Mr. Lauder's decision to speak after failing to win the conferences approval left many of the body's 55 members "disturbed and angered by what many are calling a slap in the face of the current Israeli government. Some said they especially were distressed by efforts of conference members to use the organization ...as a vehicle for attacking Israeli policy." Rabbi Eric Yoffie, president of the Reform movement's Union of American Hebrew Congregations, declared: "I`m very troubled by this. If the Conference comes to be seen in partisan terms, it's not going to be able to sustain itself." Hours before the Jerusalem rally, Jerusalem mayor Ehud Olmert told Israel Radio: "A vote was taken in the Conference of Presidents, and it was decided by majority vote not only to send Mr. Lauder here, but to authorize him to speak in the name of the Jewish organizations." In the Israeli press, major newspapers identified Lauder as chairman of the Conference of Presidents. Mayor Olmert, angered by Rabbi Yoffie"s criticism, told an Israeli radio interviewer that the Reform movement represented an "insignificant minority that is meaningless when it comes to Jerusalem" and said that "there are much more important movements among American Jewry." Rabbi Yoffie responded: "I am astonished that a politician of Mr. Olmert's stature doesn't know the basic facts about North American Jewish life. For the record: the Reform movement represents some 1.5 million Jews in North America, by far the largest group of any organized body of Jews on this continent."

Everything that Eric Yoffie has said lately has made me sick. His Reform "movement" in America will be non-existant in another generation or two due to assimilation, intermarriage, homo marriages, low birthrate,etc so he wants to move it here to Israel to keep it going. Most Jews in Israel,even the secular ones, do not want the Reform movement here and none of us want to hear his opinions about anything, especially about Jerusalem.

i assume it has to be a different one than my wife and i have?ours says all nations will come against jerusalem and then the Lord shall go forth and and fight against those nations(zechariah14:2-3)why would rabbi yoffie want to support our enemies and the Lords and end up in the losers circle ?

Here in America we proclaim that we want other countries to be democracies. To me, that means that they get to decide their own domestic and foreign policy. We have no right to demand that Israel do anything merely because it pleases us. Israel is a democracy, and the Knesset and the Israeli citizenry should have the right to decide when and if and to what extent they wish to cede portions of Jerusalem.

the original German reform erased any mention of Zion form their prayer books, they considered Berlin to be their Jerusalem. In the 20th century, reform opposed zionism and preferred assimilation. in the 1940s they buried their head in the american sand, and ignored the suffering of Jews in Europe. so it is no surprise they come up with this nonsense today. this is reform rabbis, i am not attacking members of the community.

Rabbi Joffie is on target, but fails to point out that Israeli failure at this final opportunity to make peace with the Palestinians and the Arab world will spell the end of Israel, an existential threat, and suicidal on the part of Israel. The current offer by the Arab League was offered because of the obvious spiral of the entire Middle East into Islamic radical instability, the focus of which is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In other words, THERE WILL BE NO PARTNER FOR PEACE IN THE FUTURE, BY THE VERY DEFINITION OF THE RADICALIZATION PROCCESS UNDER WAY. THE MOMENT IS NOW, AND THE TERMS ARE CLEAR IN THE SAUDI PLAN.

The reform claim, that their synagogues (if you can call them that) are their temples and replace THE TEMPLE that stood in Jerusalem. There leaders also say, "America is our Zion". Therefore Yoffie has no right to comment on Jerusalem, Zion or anything else Jewish.

A situation in which Israel controls and limits access to one of Islams holiest sites cannot stand. It becomes a "kick me" sign which Israel permanently affixes to its backside for as long as it takes to "liberate" the site. The Israeli Jews cannot expect to "win" every single issue and still have a place alongside democratic nations.

This epitomizes the Reform movement. It shows that it is not concerned about Judaism and is more concerned about the individual. The use of a religion as a vehicle for social togetherness is so hollow. Dividing Jerusalem, which could well mean giving up the Temple Mount, will be a massive blow to main stream Zionistic Jews. Like the bar mitzvah ceremonies that have become little to do with Judaism and all to do with the prince or princess Saturday morning show, the Reform places the emphasis on the short term. The movement has caused serious divisions between Jews and continues in it's ways to do all but bring together.

Rabbi Yoffie does not represent majority Jewish opinion. It was Jews like him that did not want Jews from the Holocaust coming to America

Firstly I wonder how many years he studied to get his Smicha. Secondly he and reform leader Olmert are fools, to put it mindly. They propose negotiating Jerusalem away, giving it to the arabs who couldn't win it in a war. America and Israel are unbelievable. California is already back in Mexican hands, thru immigration. next in Israel it will be the right of return. At least the Mexicans dont want to destroy America, but the arabs----.

our "outsider" chaver asks some of the right questions but in the interest of brevity let me comment on only a few: 1. the conference of Presidents is a wall to wall right to left body some of the organizations having larger memberships and constituencies then others, some more democratic in decision making then others. it was formed as an "american Jewish address" for the US government to talk with and focuses almost exclusively on Israel related issues. 2. Historically the body has given great latitude and deference to the position of the sitting Israeli government and kept criticism "behind closed doors". It was the religious and zionist right on the council that broke the taboo after Oslo and Hoenlein was openly atagonistic to Barak during his tenure as PM. 3. The Federations play a passive observer role on the conference leaving the CRC's represented by JCPA, the Jewish Council on Public Affairs to do their heavy lifting. (JCPA however can be refreshingly independent)

According to Yoffie, only those with any Jewish backbone have no right to express an opinion over one of the most important places and ideas in Judaism. Let everyone else in the world say and put Israel under duress, including Olmert. Only those who really care about Jerusalem should stand down. What's this guy's deal? This is the same type of most educated idiots that always steered Israel down the misguided blissful path of peace since 1992.

Actually, dd is what is usually called a dunce. Anyway, who exactly is he or she trying to persuade with such subtle and well-informed arguments?

The "reason" for Reform is that someone has to carry forward normative Judaism whilst the rebbes and so-called Torah sages engage in pilpul ad nauseum.

Unfortunately it is Yoffe who is being stupid and provocative. We know there is supposedly never a good moment to protest 'trial balloons' put up by those on the far-left calculating just how much further they can go in appeasing Arabs before they are shouted down by the otherwise silent majority. Reiterating the necessity for a united Jerusalem is absolutely necessary and totally appropriate at this time, and if the current widely-distrusted prime minister's notions are undermined, that may be the healthiest course for Israel's interests and Israeli democracy.

Why would anybody want to be a Reform Jew,and lead the Jews on the path of self-destruction,is beyond my understaning.I have lived already for a long time,but fail to see a reason for the Reform movement.

If Eric Yoffie is a rabbi than Yassir Arafat and Ismail Hanie are peace partners

Insider is a probably a EU and British Paid Peace Now Stooge.

Rabbi Eric Yoffie does not speak for me or other Jews most American Jews and World Wide Jews want a Jewish United Capital controlled by Israel. http://ralphsrant1.blogspot.com/

Conference of presidents should be congratulated for opposing Olmert not specifically on united Jeruslame but on his e tendancy to capitulate on everything-Jeruslame, Golan, west bank, right of return of some arabs, temple mount, Jordan valley everything. Olmert is Mr. Coward, who has told israelis that Israel is finished and tired. He has hurt Israel's spirit seriously. What comes around goes around. Retirement will not be easy for Olmert as his own people will reject him even in law practise and he will be viewed as a leper.

Well Mr. Insider, please tell us who you are if you know so much.

He who pays the piper calls the tune. If Olmert wants to decide on his own strategy he should tell these plutocrat neocons to go stuff themselves; until he has the courage to do that he had better behave himself and continue with his racist occupation and settlement expansion. The question is: why doesn't his poor wife do a Cecilia Sarkozy and leave him; how can she stand living with a US-Zionist poodle? (okay, so Cherie Blair did the same thing, but she had/has no principles, apart from money accumulation)

I am an outsider to Jewish politics in the USA. However, I am Jewish, proud and supporter, but does not "belong" to federations or other such organizations. Please, help me understand: 1- For how many Jews does the umbrella organization of presidents speak? What is the percentage represented vis-a-vis the estimated total number of Jewish people in the USA? 2- What is the breakdown in terms of political positions and how "rigid' are these positions among the "presidents"? 3- For how many Rabbi Yoffe speaks? Is the Reform movement homogeneous in its political views? aren't any discrepancies among Reform Jews? 4- How are "presidents" elected? Are these democratic elections? Who has the right to vote? how candidates are selected? 5- When it comes to matters around Jerusalem, did Rabbi Yoffe or any of the presidents serve in the IDF, worked and paid taxes in Israel, lived in Jerusalem or Israel for a substantive period? 6- Is donating money enough criteria to have a voice?

If the reform movemrnt really wants more than a marginal existence in Israel, may I suggest it stoptaking far left poitions on issues of life and death for the Jewish state.Yoffie's Position will helpthem build a vibrant movement in Rammalla and Gaza only!

The more clearly America's millions of Jews speak, the more strength Olmert will have in negotiating with Abbas. Each side has to consider its constituency.

All of us who have been involved in the organized Jewish community KNOW first hand the close relationship of Malcolm Hoenlein and Netanyu and Malcolm and the ZOA rightwing crowd for that matter. That we have all tolerated it for years is our shame and indicative of our institutional cowardice. That the Israeli and Jewish press don't blow his cover is either because he serves as useful right wing pressure on the US government or because the liberal Jewish majority are reluctant to take the issue on. Eric Yoffe is the leader of American Jewery's largest constituency -- lets see if he now follows up his words and vote with real action and demand a change in professional leadership. I hope so!

Who is this nincumpoop that wants to tell the conference of presidents of major jewish ordanizations that they have to support the corrupt olmert in attempting to even talk of seperating the holy city of Jerusalem.Rabbi E Yoffie must be a dunce to also not show his dissatisfaction with the corrupt olmert.The timeing was perfect to let Mrs C Rice that on Jerusalem there is nothing to talk.It must be expressly stated that Jerusalem stays the Capital of Israel and the holy city to all faiths in the world.Rabbi Yoffie can apologise for his concocted words.

If I understand the Reform movement;s position, it is OK to divide Jerusalem if it wins support for Olmert. Why is this also not a political statement?