Hiddush RRFEI Unity Statement

Hiddush Unity Statement

We, rabbis, other professionals, and lay leaders of all streams of Judaism, are united in our fervent commitment to the State of Israel. We stand fully as allies with our sisters and brothers throughout the entire Jewish community in support of pluralism in the United States and Israel. We were disheartened to learn that the Israeli government has rescinded its commitment to create a space for egalitarian, alternative and liberal groups to pray at the Kotel while continuing to provide for traditional Orthodox prayer as well, while also moving to delegitimate all conversions except those done by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel. We are also dismayed that marriage and divorce in Israel continues to be the sole purview of the Chief Rabbinate depriving so many of the right to family and marriage of choice.

Imposing one narrow version of Orthodox Judaism as the official standard for prayer, conversion, marriage and divorce in Israel harms the unity of the Jewish people and harms support for Israel among Jews in the United States and elsewhere in the Diaspora.

Pirkei Avot teaches: Do not demand to be the sole judge (of what is right or wrong in religious matters) for only God – and not human beings representing God – has the capability of being the sole judge. This means that we should bring humility rather than arrogance, and wonder rather than certainty, to our relationships. The Sages teach that we are stronger when we disagree openly and respectfully while continuing to engage with one another and honor each other’s human dignity. We honor the different paths of our fellow Jews, even if we have our disagreements for the sake of heaven, and we yearn deeply to see a truly pluralistic Israel.

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Dear Leaders and Members of the entire Jewish Community,

Our Unity Statement is in response to the Israeli Cabinet reversing itself on the Kotel compromise and moving toward legislation to delegitimize all conversions except those done by the Chief Rabbinate, which would also affect marriage and divorce. Both of these actions have been shelved for a period of six months pending negotiations and we believe it is imperative to make our voices heard in the meantime.

This is not just an issue for Jews in the Diaspora; it is an issue for Israelis as well. According to an Israeli public opinion poll commissioned by Hiddush, nearly two-thirds of Israelis oppose the Kotel reversal and the conversion bill. Poll results are available at http://hiddush.org/article-17123-0-Twothirds_Israelis_oppose_government_Kotel_and_Conversion_decisions.aspx

Thanks to Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz for his permission to use language from the Torat Chayim Statement in our Unity Statement. The Torah Chayim statement is at http://forward.com/scribe/375733/orthodox-rabbis-call-for-a-truly-pluralistic-israel/.

Thank you for your support of religious pluralism in Israel.

Rabbi Uri Regev President & CEO, Hiddush

Rabbi Pam Frydman Chair, Ruach Hiddush

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