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Take action against conversion bill in Israel
July 14, 2010/3 Av 5770
Dear Friends of Agudas Achim,
By now, you all know how much I love the land and state of Israel. In the last couple of months, as many of you know, there has been deep concern within the Conservative and Reform Movements, as well as within Federation and other Jewish organizations both in the US and Israel, over legislation in the Knesset that would give unprecedented power to the Israeli Chief Rabbinate over conversions, and would de-legitimize all non-Orthodox conversions. As you will read below, this law would have an enormously devisive impact on Israeli-Diaspora relations.
Please read this message, and please e-mail Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu! (A sample letter is provided.) Those of us who love Israel, and want it to be a place for all Jews to feel at home, have to let its leaders know how destructive the new Conversion law would be.
Please ACT NOW.
Rabbi Melissa Crespy
What You Can Do Right Now
Send an E-Mail Message to the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu
Click here for a form letter that you can easily send to Prime Minister Netanyahu.
Or compose your own letter and send it to Prime Minister Netanyahu (pm_eng2@pmo.gov.il) at his e-mail address.
Letter from the Rabbincal Assembly to Conservative Rabbis
From Rabbi Julie Schonfeld, Executive Vice President of the Rabbinical Asembly
Dear Colleagues,
Below please find an update with crucial information regarding the conversion bill. Contrary to some news reports, there is still concern that there will be a move to bring the bill to the floor in the final moments prior to end of Knesset session on Wednesday. It is urgent that people take action and e-mail the Prime Minister.
In addition to the update and talking points, please find below recent media coverage of the conversion bill, as well as updates from Natan Sharansky and Jerry Silverman. The letter from Mr. Silverman includes a statement from President Peres. This statement was written personally by Peres and was presented to the JFNA, who are on a mission in Israel right now.
We continue to work with our colleagues in Israel and abroad and with Masorti and other arms of the movement as well but we need your help. Please inform your constituents and ask them to take action. Time is running short.
B’yididut,
Julie Schonfeld
Conversion Bill Update
From the Religious Action Center
On Sunday, July 11, abruptly and with no warning, a committee vote was held on the bill sponsored by Member of the Knesset David Rotem that poses a dangerous threat to the rights of Conservative, Reform, and all non-Orthodox Jews, who comprise the overwhelming majority of world Jewry. It has evoked the staunch, determined opposition of the vast majority of North American Jewry including the Reform, Conservative and Reconstructionist Movements, the Federation system and individual organizations like the American Jewish Committee.
Leaders at the highest levels of Israeli politics including key Likud leaders such as the Prime Minister, Jewish Agency Chairman Natan Sharansky, Minister Yuli Edelstein, and leaders of the Kadima and Labor parties strongly oppose moving the current legislation, believing it would have an enormously divisive impact on Israel-Diaspora relations at a very challenging time for Israel and the Jewish people.
For 2,000 years, Judaism has treated Jews-by-choice (converts) the same as Jews-by-birth. This treatment is rooted in the Talmudic teaching that “as soon as a convert emerges from the mikvah (ritual bath) she or he is Jewish for all purposes” (Yevamot 47b).
Since its founding 62 years ago, the State of Israel, through the Law of Return, has welcomed Jews from around the world as citizens in the world’s only Jewish state. This legislation would delegitimize all non-Orthodox conversions. It would also preclude conferring citizenship under the Law of Return to Jews who did not qualify for such status on a prior visit (i.e. converts).
This bill poses a threat to the unity of the people of Israel and the State of Israel. All religious streams in Judaism must be treated fairly and equally to ensure Israel lives up to its promise as a Jewish and democratic state.
www.rac.org
Important Points
From the Religious Action Center
www.rac.org
Links to Israeli Media Coverage (in Hebrew)
Click here for the full article that appeared in Haaretz (in Hebrew). (link requires acrobat reader)
Click here for an article by Rabbinical Assembly Executive Vice President Julie Schonfeld that appeared in Ynet (in Hebrew). (link requires acrobat reader)
Click here to read a Ynet article about a letter sent by our leadership to President Peres (in Hebrew).
Links to Media Coverage
“American Jewish leaders say they feel ‘betrayed’ by Knesset conversion bill.” Click here for the article that appeared in Haaretz (in English).
“Knesset committee approves conversion bill.” Click here for the article that appeared on Ynet (in English).
“The conversion bill demystified.” Click here for article that appeared in Haaretz (in English).
“Reform rabbi: Israel’s pluralism threatened by new conversion law.” Click here for the article from Haaretz (in English).
“Jewish Agency: Conversion bill defines many as inferior Jews.” Click here for the article that appeared in Ynet (in English).
“AJC Disappointed By Surprise Renewal of Rotem Conversion Bill.” Click here for the American Jewish Committee’s Press Release.“Analysis: Banal but true.” Click here for the Jerusalem Post article.
“Knesset committee approves conversion reform bill.” Click here for JTA article.
“Liberal groups slam new Israel law on conversion.” Click here for the Associated Press article.
“Knesset committee rubber-stamps Haredi authority over conversions.” Click here for the Haaretz article (in English).
“Sharansky: We can’t divide Jewish people.” Click here here for Ynet article (in English).
“US Jews rally against conversion bill.” Click here for the Jerusalem Post article.
“Alienating the Diaspora.” Click here for the editorial in the Jeruslaem Post.
“Israel considers restricting citizenship for some who convert to Judaism.” Click here for the article in the Washington Post.
Letter from Jerry Silverman, President of the
Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)
Dear Colleagues,
I am writing to you all now towards the end of yet another day of very significant activity regarding the conversion bill. I’ll try to summarize the latest news here.
As you know, the bill passed its reading in the Law Committee yesterday. The next stage involves three readings in the Knesset plenum. A number of sources have indicated that the bill will not be presented before the Knesset breaks for the summer next Wednesday, but we are not relying on this. In fact, the media has reported that Prime Minister Netanyahu himself will stop the legislation from progressing before the recess, but there have been no public statements to that effect.
Unfortunately, over the last three days, neither Prime Minister Netanyahu nor the Likud Party have issued any statements regarding their position on this issue – but we hope they will do so. The Prime Minister has, in the past, expressed his view that the bill should not be passed in its present form, but he has refrained from commenting in the critical last three days.
I sent a personal and urgent letter to the Prime Minister two days ago. Similarly, our Chair, Kathy Manning, sent a letter to him today. The text of that letter can be found at the end of this update.
In addition, our Campaign Chairs and Directors (CC+D) Mission, currently in Israel, met today with Mark Regev, the Prime Minister’s media advisor. Responding to a question by National Campaign Chair Michael Lebovitz on the conversion issue, Regev stated: “The Prime Minister takes this very seriously. His closest confidante is Natan Sharansky. The Prime Minister will not allow anything to happen that will in any way inhibit the unity of the Jewish people. That’s all I can state publicly.”
I was supposed to return to the United States last night, but have now delayed that trip indefinitely, pending developments. Yesterday we met late in to the night discussing strategy, and we continue to be in constant touch with JAFI Chair Natan Sharansky and the representatives of the religious streams. The relationship and professionalism of working with the streams has truly been a privilege.
In addition, we have been speaking with influential Israeli personalities and politicians to continue to apply pressure. We appreciate the work of our Federation colleagues in North America and our rabbinic colleagues and major organization leaders in reaching influencers to hear their concerns
Similarly, we have given multiple media interviews in both Hebrew and English, including to the BBC, and continue to act wherever possible. I have included links to some recent articles at the end of this email.
A short time ago, our Senior Vice President Rebecca Caspi and I had a personal, urgent meeting with Israeli President Shimon Peres on this issue where we stressed the critical nature of the question to our communities. Following the meeting, Peres met with the entire CC+D Mission where he made the following statement:
“More than half of our people are living in the State of Israel. Almost half of it lives outside of Israel. We should remember that those living outside of Israel are not represented by the Knesset, they have their own communal life. A discussion that bares consequences on the entire Jewish people should include different voices – from within Israel and from without.
The legislative process should include an open public discussion that will lead to an understanding. It should be conducted with tolerance, with open hearts and open minds.
A split in the Jewish life will be catastrophic and totally unnecessary. We bear the responsibility for generations to come we should handle it with care while preserving unity.
In 1988 I could have formed a government under my leadership. The condition was my approval to revise the law of ‘Who is a Jew’. I immediately rejected this offer.
I noticed with appreciation the comments made by Prime Minister Netanyahu, who said that the legislative process will be postponed in order to conduct a serious and inclusive discussion. We have to find a proper solution to enable conversion in Israel but not at the cost of unity with the Jewish community abroad.”
JFNA is closely monitoring developments and we will keep you posted as the events occur.
Sincerely,
Jerry Silverman
Update from Jewish Agency Chairman Natan Sharansky
Jerusalem, 2nd Av התש”ע
July 13, 2010
Dear Friends,
I am writing to bring you up to date on developments over the past 48 hours related to the conversion bill of MK David Rotem. As you may recall from my letter in March, the implications of this bill could be profound for Israel-Diaspora relations.
In a surprise move apparently calculated to enable quick, unopposed passage of his bill, MK David Rotem brought it before the Knesset Law, Constitution and Justice Committee on Monday morning.
After vociferous debate in which many MKs expressed deep-seated opposition to the bill, it nevertheless passed the committee by a vote of 5-4, rallying the support of MKs from Israel Beitenu and the haredi parties Shas and Agudat Yisrael. The bill is expected to go to the Knesset plenum for the three required readings in the coming weeks, though, we hope, not before the Knesset goes into recess in the middle of next week.
When I spoke at the Knesset Law Committee, I explained to the MKs that the passage of this bill would send a loud message to world Jewrythat they had been betrayed and that Israel was questioning the legitimacy of their Judaism. Jerry Silverman, President and CEO of the Jewish Federations of North America attended the Knesset Law Committee and explained cogently the implications of this legislation both to Knesset members and the media.
Once the bill passed through the committee, our efforts turned toward thwarting the intention to move the bill forward through the Knesset plenum in the few remaining days before the Knesset goes into its summer recess. That very day I had an urgent meeting with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu as well as with Speaker Reuven Rivlin and cabinet ministers, in order to make sure that no additional surprises are in store for us in the days ahead.
In parallel, the Jewish Agency took to the airwaves and spoke to journalists about the urgent need to prevent a needless rift in the world Jewish community. I can assure you that the issue is becoming as important to Israelis as it is to Diaspora communities. In the past 48 hours, this issue has received a prominent place in the pages of Israel’s newspapers and in Hebrew-language radio and television broadcasts, nearly all of which carried our message of the importance of unity in these difficult days.
We continue to meet with key players in the political system, as well as to keep up our efforts in the media. We are committed to ensuring that the Diaspora’s position is heard clearly by all members of Knesset and ministers in the government so that they can fully understand the gravity of the consequences of this legislation
We will continue to update you as this important issue moves forward.
Natan Sharansky
Letter to Prime Minister Netanyahu from JFNA
July 13, 2010
His Excellency Mr. Binyamin Netanyahu
Prime Minister of Israel
Jerusalem, Israel
Dear Mr. Prime Minister,
We are writing to you in what we believe are extraordinary circumstances. Indeed it is highly unusual for the entire Coordinating Council of The Jewish Federations of North America to jointly sign a letter, but we feel that this action reflects the depth of feeling and the gravity of the situation regarding the conversion bill currently before the Knesset.
We were certainly encouraged by your earlier statement on the matter and especially by your request to Jewish Agency Chairman Natan Sharansky to lead efforts to find a formula that is acceptable to all parties.
But we were taken by surprise and deeply disappointed to hear that the bill was passed by the Law Committee before this process reached completion.
We are at a loss to understand how, with the entire Jewish world focused on that committee room, the three Likud members – who could have voted down the bill – were conspicuously absent.
We are of course pleased by what we understand is your position on this issue, but are concerned that neither you nor your party has made a public statement on the matter in the last few critical days.
We don’t need to tell you the depth of feeling and level of concern in our communities at this moment in time. We now await your leadership and action that will reflect your concern for the unity of the Jewish People to ensure that dialogue takes place and that appropriate language is found, acceptable to Jews across the world.
On behalf of The Jewish Federations of North America, we urge you to act decisively to stop this bill from proceeding any further and ensure that the proper discussions that you requested take place.
Sincerely,
Kathy E. Manning, Chair of the Board
Jerry Silverman, President & CEO
Michael C. Gelman, Chair, Executive Committee
Michael I. Lebovitz, National Campaign Chair
Heschel I. Raskas, Treasurer
Linda A. Hurwitz, Chair, National Women’s Philanthropy
Harvey J. Barnett, Secretary
Cheryl Fishbein, Chair, Domestic Affairs Committee
Marc Fisher, Chair, Consulting Committee
Lori Klinghoffer, President, National Women’s Philanthropy
Jerry Levin, Chair, Marketing Committee
Shepard Remis, Chair, Israel & Overseas Coordinating Council
Michele Sackheim Wein, Chair, Jewish Peoplehood & Identity/Chair, OTZMA
Steven Scheck, Co-Chair, National Young Leadership
Alice Viroslav, Co-Chair, National Young Leadership
Toni Young, Immediate Past Chair, Israel & Overseas Coordinating Council
cc: Natan Sharansky, Chairman of the Executive, Jewish Agency for Israel and Rebecca Caspi, Senior Vice President, JFNA