Irrelevant Jews
Someone has to explain to the Jews of the world that they can start thumbing their noses at Israel's laws and certificates. This is because an impressive circumvention of religious conversion is underway as the government and Knesset become more and more separatist and fundamentalist.
By Avirama GolanThe current Knesset is striding toward winning the title of "the people who have done the greatest damage to Israeli society since the founding of the state." Its members pass an abundance of strange and hasty laws, and though most are not enforced, the very fact of their legislation ruins everything that moves.
Take the new conversion bill. One bright hot morning, MK David Rotem (Yisrael Beiteinu ), after a few phone calls and failed attempts at compromise, passes a bill that returns the authority to convert to the Chief Rabbinate.
Candidates for conversion, he has made clear, will be able to choose "soft" neighborhood rabbis who will not make trouble. This will shorten the excruciating obstacle course hundreds of thousands of immigrants have to go through on their way to becoming Jews.
This of course, is an old-new trick. Just like the previous trick - which allows non-Jews under rabbinical law to marry only one another - it provides an instant solution to the racist friction between Yisrael Beiteinu's not-Jewish-under-rabbinical-law voters and the party's Jewish-under-rabbinical-law voters, who don't want the former as neighbors in their West Bank settlement.
And of course this solution, like its predecessor, creates more problems than it solves. It is not by chance that American Jews - most of whom are Conservative, Reform and secular - feel cheated. In their eyes Israel is declaring that a Jew, especially anyone entitled to Israeli citizenship under the Law of Return, is now exclusively someone whom the Orthodox Chief Rabbinate, which toadies to the ultra-Orthodox "Torah sages," has decided was born a kosher Jew or has "converted in accordance with rabbinical law" in its version.
The Jews of the Untied States are so angry that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apparently will have to smooth some edges and arrange a compromise between them and his coalition, which has again decided to act silly while he snoozed. But even if the new law becomes a dead letter, the damage has been done. Israel has once again been revealed as a closed and racist community that turns its back not only on the world but also on Diaspora Jewry by allowing its character to be shaped by an extremist and marginal group within the broad sea of Judaism throughout the generations.
Someone has to explain to the Jews of the world that they can start thumbing their noses at Israel's laws and certificates. This is because an impressive circumvention of religious conversion is underway as the government and Knesset become more and more separatist and fundamentalist. It's what Prof. Asher Cohen has defined as "sociological conversion." Professors Zvi Zohar and Avi Sagi have described it as a process with its beginnings in the words of Ruth the Moabite: "Thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God."
In this process, joining the social and communal identity takes precedence over joining the cultural-religious identity. Individuals (Jethro, Ruth, Rabbi Meir, Rabbi Akiva ) and groups (Edomites, Romans, Khazars, Berbers ) have always joined the Jewish people and assimilated into it in a process totally unrelated to the Orthodox establishment's torture and brainwashing.
This is also the case today. Half-Jews and non-Jews, children of immigrants and children of migrants, children of South Lebanon Army fighters and children of collaborators - all of them light candles and bless the challah at their kindergartens at the kabbalat Shabbat, the ritual that ushers in the Sabbath. They eat matza alongside bread and pita during Passover, decorate their Christmas trees, enlist in the Israel Defense Forces and fight in Israel's wars. Society is indeed crumbling into sectors, and the desire to preserve the original culture and language is more fervent than ever. But the Israeli-Jewish identity is strong, and immigrants have a great desire to become part of society.
This complex reality is determining new, open and broad definitions of what it is to be Jewish and to be Israeli. Between these definitions and those of the rabbinate's ethnic purists gapes a deep abyss.
This is exactly what is worrying Orthodoxy, which is refusing to give up its strangling hegemony. It is getting weaker as hundreds of thousands of citizens refuse to play in its court. They aren't converting, marrying, divorcing and dying according to its rules. And right now a purportedly secular party comes along and in complete alienation from the local and international situation reappoints the rabbis as the sentries of a Judaism whose definitions no one in the world accepts, with the exception of those knowingly coerced into it here.
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grow up israel
Is your mother Jewish? Is her mother Jewish? Was her mother Jewish?
A "post-Zionist" who would gladly give away Jerusalem to her enemies is worried about U.S Zionism? Thanks for the laugh.
Fabulous counter punch. Yes indeedy, the betrayal of intellect is eyepopping.
When 'Christian' Zionist fundamentalist are your last and only supporters, then you really are in serious trouble. You do know what they have planned for you??? Their Rapture requires Jewish blood!!! Last one out on the plane, close the door! Irish atheist.
When 'Christian' Zionist fundamentalist are your last and only supporters, then you really are in serious trouble. You do know what they have planned for you??? Their Rapture requires Jewish blood!!! Last one out on the plane, close the door! Irish atheist.
As someone who is born to a Jewish mother, circumcised, barmitzva-ed and received a private Jewish-Zionist education, yet who is also an atheist and anti-Zionist, am I still technically Jewish? And am I more Jewish than Reform and Conservative converts who believe in the Old Testament god and in Israel and observe at least some Jewish laws?
If you would really be "out" of Judaism, you would be neutral, and not waste your time in writing to Israeli newspapers. Anti-Zionism is also an infatuation. You don't write to newspapers in every country don't you?
We don't have powerful lobbies from every country who fight tooth and nail to influence our domestic and foreign politics, limit our right to free speech, and receive millions and billions of aid paid by our taxes.
The "dream" by Israel's founders was of a secular Jewish state for Jewish ethnics, not by religious standards. So, Daryl, would be a Jews and therefor eligible for an Israeli citizenship. Also, there is an issue of what Zionism actually is. Is it just supporting the right for Israel to exist, or is it supporting a segregated system under the guise that Jews can never live with goyim without being oppressed. I support Israel (as in right to exist), but I don't support policies of segregation. So what does that make me?
The "dream" by Israel's founders was of a secular Jewish state for Jewish ethnics, not by religious standards. So, Daryl, would be a Jews and therefor eligible for an Israeli citizenship. Also, there is an issue of what Zionism actually is. Is it just supporting the right for Israel to exist, or is it supporting a segregated system under the guise that Jews can never live with goyim without being oppressed. I support Israel (as in right to exist), but I don't support policies of segregation. So what does that make me?
India and other countries do have lobbies (actually even contacted Israel for advice). Also, it's not true aide. Actually our tax dollars go to U.S. arms manufactures via "loans" the U.S. gives to Israel, but Israel has to spend it on U.S. weaponry. In other words our tax dollars are going straight to corporations that we are helping keep alive whether we want to or not.
Is it almost funny irony or sad commentary that this bill is pushed to a vote during the month of Av? The Talmud teaches that senseless hatred of one group of Jews for others caused the destruction of the Temple, which we mourn this month. Not having learned the lessons from our textsy, the Chief Rabbinate and its MK suporters chose the perfect time to attempt to repeat one of the grave erroros of Jewish history.
from Israel by voting for Obama and supporting division of Jerusalem.
from Israel by voting for Obama and supporting division of Jerusalem.
Don't blame Obama on all Jews in US. Don't know if you're familiar with our voting system, he didn't win my state, but I still have to live with him as my president. I voted for McCain.
This disasterous government elected and maintained in office by the Israeli people is leading it down the path to destruction. Now this, the complete insult to the non-Orthodox world Jewish Community is the final straw. We are the donors, our names are on every university, hospital, tree and park in Israel, not to mention the political support Israel has enjoyed as long as it has been in existence. This American-Israeli, Jewish Communal Professional Fundraiser, and committed life-long Zionist is sick and disgusted by what Israel has become. I can no longer give or raise one red cent or encourage others to do so, nor can I fight the fights with those who hate us any more. I am DONE DONE DONE and so are many many others. You want to be on your own with only the radical right wingers and Hasids? Fine. They're all yours!
poor thing
makes you feel better about the disaster about to happen to our beloved Israel because of right wing morons who call anyone with a sense of right and wrong "self-hating". Don't bother to open your eyes and see where the country is headed. That would be too difficult for you.
regardless of everything else going on. However Reform conversions are illegitimate.
Rotem tried to dismiss the concerns over his conversion bill by saying it was just a problem form US Jews -- far from it, but Jews around the world are up in arms, and should be! The WUPJ has registered its outrage -- everyone should. We will not be delegitimized by a minority of ultra-orthodox.
As someone who converted in the Reform movement, this law affects me directly. It basically says that to Israel, I'm not enough of a Jew, even after a circumcision, a mikvah, a beit din and years of studying and subsequent years of living a Jewish life. I feel betrayed by a country I have always supported, and cannot tell you how much this hurts.
Didn't your Reform "rabbi" tell you what you were getting into?
this is exactly the point. Why did you not go to an orthodox rabbi?
God is the only one able to judge the validity of my conversion, not you, not the Knesset or the Chief Rabbinate. I'll be proud to be a Jew until the day I die, but I'm weeping for what the current Israeli government is doing and what that means for thousands of Jews around the world.
G-d gave us the Torah and the Oral Law (which is now the Talmud). There are clearly explained laws that say a Reform conversion is NOT KOSHER. If you really care, you'll get an orthodox conversion. You can call yourself whatever you want, but you won't be a Jew until then.
Tel us, who gave the orthodox a monopoly on everything Jewish? Who elected them to enact the rules that the rest of us should live by?
Learn the Torah and it will become clear to you that the reform rabbis are short changing you Rob
It is real simple, G-D gave us his laws. Who gave you the power not to follow his laws. If you do not follow them then do not expect me to follow you views. There is only one version of the laws.
Nothing 'Jewish' is ever that simple, brother.
of people who pretend to speak in the name of G-d.
Why does anyone listen to the orthodox fanatics? What makes anyone think that they know what they're talking about. Does god talk directly to them? They are a small minority; and they are unreasonable; and they are bossy; and they are obnoxious; and they love to mix into other peoples' business. So why does Israel do it? For the money? Is it because they shovel copious amounts of cash into Israeli coffers? It's like drugs. Israel must wean itself off this money. If they want to give you money great but they should do so with no preconditions or conditions and no quid pro quo. Israel needs to do what's best for Israel. And if that means recognizing conversions of sincere, righteous people by rabbis other than those affiliated with these orthodox fanatics so be it! When the dust settles on this issue it'll probably turn out to be a net gain for Israel because you did the right thing and you will have increased the number of Jews, which I would imagine is something that you would value. As has as Halaha goes, why is adherence to Halaha such a big ideal. That stuff was written centuries ago by MEN of dubious authority and intellect and fails to take into account modern realities. I'd imagine that it's time for a review and a re-write where applicable, just like with every other body of laws which tends to be amorphous and flexible and strives towards reasonableness. At the very least the role of women, fully 50% of the population, needs to be more fully taken into consideration and equalized.
YHWH did! Read your Torah.
If you learned some Halakha, you would understand what's going on here.
What i learned is a bunch of mostly antiquated principals that are sorely in need of updating. All laws are updated and amended and made to conform to present-day realities and conditions. Halaha is the exception for no good reason. If i need to know what manner of death befits an adulterer or what kind of spice to burn on the alter or how to sacrifice a goat I'll consult Halaha. If I need to know how to live everyday life I'll rely on civil law. (BTW, As far as spelling goes, "Halaha" uses the Hebrew letter "het". English has no direct equivalent so in written English we use an "H" with a dot under it. My keyboard does not have that character so the "H" without the dot should suffice. The combination of "kh" or "ch", (which is German), still does not equal the Hebrew letter "het" in English. So, in essence, you get to use your word but you don't get to re-write the rules of English spelling or pronunciation.)
The concept of sociological conversions based on Ruth's statement is a complete misunderstanding. She was subjected to numerous challenges, and based on her actions with Boaz she clearly had learned and understood the concepts of the Redeeming Kinsman and Modesty. We can deduce from this that she didn't just say magic words. She was educated in Halacha, a process that the Orthodox embrace in the process of conversion but which the conservatives and reforms seem to ignore.
As a committed, Conservative Jew from the US who has studied in Israel, been there 5 times, etc., this latest round in the "religion war" in Israel sickens me. Certainly I only hear and read of the extreme examples of the nonsense that goes on in Israel. For example, the absurd political theater that resulted in the arrest of Anat Hoffman of Women of the Wall days ago. Or previous Haredi attacks on non-Orthodox at the Kotel in years past. The interesting thing to me is that my own movement has much to do to combat the Orthodox view in the US, the same as non-Orthodox do in Israel. The clear truth is that most American AND Israeli Jews do not follow the Orthodox view of Judaism, but because of their commitment, the Orthodox take over disproportionate roles in American Jewish life as in Israel. Conservative Jews don't have the same level of commitment or energy, so our kids go off to college and spend time with Chabad, adults study with Orthodox rabbis sent to teach them, etc. When the Israeli public finally says "enough" to things like the exemptions the Haredim receive from military service, stop paying subsidies to their huge families (many of whom live in in truly horrific poverty), push for 21st century views on things like marriage, Israel will be able to move forward. Until that happens, these "zealots" will continue to hold increasing power in the government and society, influencing everything from settlement policy to conversion, from marriage to divorce, from who sits where buses to every minute detail of life. Meanwhile, they will look increasingly like aliens from the moon to the rest of the Jews. Where exactly in the Torah, Talmud, or anywhere else in Jewish history does it say that we are to stop advancing our view of what Judaism is? Who made the Chassidic views the "end" of interpretation and innovation? This is what the secular Zionists pushed back against, and who we largely have to thank that a State of Israel even exists today. But I guess it's easier to discount other views of the Jewish universe as illigitimate and irrelevant than to allow that diversity is permitted...
This bill is nothing less than Israel seeking divorce from Diaspora Jews ... its emotional support, money, tours, speeches, lobbying efforts, etc. Judaism is different in the Diaspora. Get over it.
How about instead of thumbing their noses, they start thinking why our government is trying to pass these laws?
Apparently we Americans are more rational than you Israelis...but we already knew that based on your previous actions.
Obviously American Jews got it right. That's why there's no assimilation in the US. You have a serious problem there with no solution in sight.
...for the preeminent DC newspaper and appears regularly on one of the most-viewed TV cable news channels has expressed the strongly-held opinion that when a populace votes for a certain government, then it is only right and just that the populace should then live with the consequences of actions of that government. (The columnist--who is, by the way, a VERY strong supporter of Israel--was referring to the populace of Gaza--which had previously elected Hamas.)
how many reform or conservative converts are making aliyah? its a non issue...very few are or even care to look at the birth rates in another generation, those jews you are so worried about wont exist
Once we over throw off the orthodox hold on what it means to be a Jew, then the number of Jews can truly start to grow again. The reform movement is primed and ready to convert large numbers who seek a more sane view of how Jewish Life and can be more fulfilling than any of the other Abrahamic religions. We just got to remember that ONCE back before it was beaten out of us by the Xens, Jews were welcoming of converts..how do you think 10% of the Roman empire was Jewish?
Seven day Adventist practice Judaism more than Reform Jews. Any one can convert to a reform Jew in a matter of weeks and know nothing afterward, practice nothing and be converted by a new convert who was themselves converted by a new convert two months prior.
Judiasm isn't just strict adherence to the letter of law while ignoring the spirit of it. Doesn't the Talmud say that a Jew is ANYONE who casts their lot with the Jewish people and loves the Torah? You people forget all the time that it is a violation of Talmudic law to even inquire as to the circumstances of another's conversion. You also forget that Reform converts have died defending Israel as Jews and those who have wanted the Jewish people destroyed did not care whether Jewish converts came to us via an Orthodox Mikva and Beit Din or a Reform conversion ceremony. What sort of Judiasm is yours that you wish to reduce it to racist nitpicking and religious hypocrisy?
Real jews are those who believe in YHWH as well as believing YHWH. In modern terms, they walk the walk AND talk the talk.
Why don't you ask your president for help? In his pro-Islamic, anti-Israel agenda, maybe he can find some time to help you. Oh, and don't forget to remind your kids in college, to enroll in their nearest pro-Hamas free-Palestine movement in the college. Interestingly, Israel's true supporters in the US are to be found among communities of Evangelical Christians.
Right Wing Israeli - I hope you ask yourself who you wish to be friends with next generation. If it is the Evangelical Christians, you should keep building bridges with them. If it is with fellow Jews, you should strive to buld bridges with them. Which camp are you in? And I am not an American.
They love Israel for they know G-d chose her as His own peculiar treasure. Thank G-d for their support, they are nothing like the catholic crusaders. They too fled Europe for the truth they believed in the bible. That's one reason America is great and G-d has blessed America for blessing the Jews.
Many of them are not actually Jewish any more thanks to the reform and conservative movements. Many of them have no idea what it means to live in Israel. They can't live in America and say "Be like us or we won't support you!". Come over here, share the burden, then you can have your say.
christian evangelicals support israel because they believe doing so will hasten the arrival of Jesus. They don't give a damn about Jews, as such; then again, ultra religious Jews don't give a damn about them either, other than to note a equality of zealotry
They only support you because they have a fanatical view of the end times and part of that has all of you right-wing Israelis furthering the apocalypse. You can laugh while you take their money, but they don't want to see you prosper in security and peace.
There was a very famous Jew who was celebrating at a party when he was informed that his mother and brothers were outside and wanted to see him. He said, "Who is my Mother and and who are my brothers? They are the ones who know me and do what I ask of them." Do you know this Jew?
Who will you ask for help the next time Israel finds itself in a crunch? Who will you ask to lobby the US Congress to give Israel yet another blank check? Wait, I forgot, your ultra-Orthodox rabbis will simply order American Jews to do it. Memo to Israel: Don't bite the hand that feeds you.
Thank you, Petra!
Here! Here!
Most evangelicals in the U.S. don't even know any Jews personally. The population of the U.S. is 300 million and the Jewish population of the U.S. is about 8 million--that's only a 2.66% chance that anyone knows a Jew. Couple that with the 'stand-off' attitude that many Jews and other Americans have about 'strangers' and you have the two groups turning to themselves for fellowship and becoming even more estranged from each other. The real chance of knowing a Jew as a friend (or and enemy) is virtually zero. For Christians who are true believers, Genesis 12 verse 3 has the entire meaning of helping Israel: "And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all the nations of the earth be blessed." The reason that so few American Christians actually do anything to help Israel is because of the 'allegorical interpretation' of the Scriptures that Saint Agustine foisted upon us at the end of the fourth century. That interpretation promotes the idea that the 'Christian' church has supplanted the nation of Israel as the 'chosen people' of God. That concept is nonsense, of course. Real Christians realize that the Bible is the inerrant, literal Word of God passed down to this generation by the Scribes and Prophets and amended by the Holy Spirit through the revelation or more ancient writings and correct translations. While the Jews were stuck in the Diaspora, the Christians have been searching for the Word of God essentially alone. Doubtless, the Jews could have helped if they could just get over being so stuck-up about their heritage. Salvation is from the Jews--to the Jews first and then the gentiles. Now is the time to learn to work together.
"That interpretation promotes the idea that the 'Christian' church has supplanted the nation of Israel as the 'chosen people' of God." lol. IT IS ALL NONSENSE!!
You may be right, then again maybe not. You might want to check out Susannah Heschel's latest book..."The Aryan Jesus: Christian Theologians and the Bible in Nazi Germany". Just a hint...it doesn't have a whole lot to do with Catholicism..
ud be quite #%&@ out of luck without jews in America, so be careful not to bite the hand that feeds you. once you learn to ditch religion when it comes to govt, perhaps your views will change.