Originally posted on Rabbi John Rosove's Jewish Journal blog HERE Eight months ago, following two years of intense negotiations between representatives of the Reform and Conservative movements, the North American Jewish Federations, Women of the Wall, and the Ultra-Orthodox Chief Rabbi of the Wall, an agreement was reached to create an independent egalitarian prayer space in … [Read more...] about “Reform, Conservative Leaders to Netanyahu: Incitement Against Us Could Lead to Bloodshed” – Haaretz by Rabbi John Rosove, RRFEI member
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
The Prime Minister must respect his agreements – By Rabbi Andrew Sacks, Executive Director, Rabbinical Assembly in Israel
When Rav Amar, the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem, pushed his way into the egalitarian section by Robinson's Arch, he also spoke out about Conservative and Reform Jews being 'Reshai’im' (evil ones). Yet the Talmud defines a Rasha as one who says 'what is mine is mine and what is yours is mine.' Apparently this is the thinking of Rav Amar with regard to the Kotel. On January 31, 2016, … [Read more...] about The Prime Minister must respect his agreements – By Rabbi Andrew Sacks, Executive Director, Rabbinical Assembly in Israel
Now or never – the need for political pressure
I shuddered in the late 60s when I read Simon Herman's prediction that Israeli and American Jewish societies were growing apart. Now I am watching the fruition of his prediction. Narratives matter. This weekend's Haaretz contained an article [click here] about how the informal education system under the Natanyahu regime is purposefully teaching their right-wing political … [Read more...] about Now or never – the need for political pressure
Hateful comments expressed in Israel regarding liberal Jews
In his monumental work on Jewish law, Menachem Elon writes: "... Nahmanides coined an apt and pointed term that illuminates the meaning of 'doing what is right and good;' A person who acts according to the technical and formal sense of the Torah's laws, i.e.: who carefully follows only the explicit rules but not those implicit from the general spirit of the text, is 'a … [Read more...] about Hateful comments expressed in Israel regarding liberal Jews
Rising flames of resistance to the Western Wall agreement
Since last week’s RRFEI bulletin [link], the flames of religious detraction against the Kotel agreement have been rising. This has been covered widely in the Anglo Jewish and international media; below, RRFEI provides you with the original Hebrew pronouncements of: the Chief Rabbinate, the Ashkenazi Council of [Great] Torah Sages [link], the Sephardic Council of [Wise] Torah … [Read more...] about Rising flames of resistance to the Western Wall agreement