Shock waves over the Israeli government decision to fold
to ultra-Orthodox pressure by suspending its 2016 policy allowing egalitarian
Jewish prayers at a separate section of the Western Wall in Jerusalem are
reverberating globally. Israel is in danger of further losing the drifting
support from American Reform and Conservative Jews. Disappointed Reform leaders
protest that after standing with Israel morally, politically and financially
against anti-Israel delegitimization campaigns they now feel delegitimized.
Government figures indicates that Diaspora Jewry contribute
6.5% of Israel’s GDP. Diaspora Jews may rightly ask why they should continue to
fund a Jewish State that rejects them. Why should they donate money that goes
into the budget of the ultra-Orthodox parties who use their influence to make
decisions that negatively impact on them?
Jewish millionaires such as Ike Fisher have appeared on Israeli television saying with are withholding their donations to Israel.
The issue of Jewish prayers at the Kotel has been poisoned
by the rancor instigated by the government decision to prevent egalitarian
prayers at Judaism’s most holy site. We need reminding that men and women
prayed together at the Kotel less than a hundred years ago. In the spirit of
pure prayer there wasn’t even a mechitza (a partition dividing men and women at
Jewish prayers).
One of the reasons I initiated the creation of the Knesset
Caucus for Anusim and Marranos issues was to force the Israeli Rabbinate to
view the return of the hidden Jews, those Jews who, as a result of the Spanish
and Portuguese Expulsions and Inquisitions, were forced to keep their Jewish
faith a secret to avoid further persecution and now want to return fully to
Judaism in Israel, as a blessing and to ease their official conversion process.
Unfortunately, the same rabbinical rigidity that targets a
differing branch of Judaism applies to the Secret Jews who could become the
next great Aliyah wave for the Jewish State unless they continue to be blocked
and denied by the ruling religious cabal in Israel.
Both they and those seeking a way to express their Judaism
in Israel are being prevented by the reactionary Israeli Rabbinate and their
supportive politicians who hold sway over the Prime Minister.
It is abundantly clear that the Ultra-Orthodox firm grip on government decisions is an indicator of what happens in coalition politics. Non religious Jews have to go abroad if they prefer to have a secular marriage. Non religious Jews have little day how they can be buried. And the ultra-Orthodox conversion grip is preventing thousands of Jews from making Aliyah and a new Jewish life in Israel.
I recently initiated the new Interfaith Forum IL. This is
designed to bring to the fore Israeli-based faith leaders to declare Israel as
the model for harmony and peace based on our long record of freedom of religion
and the protection of minority rights.
How can I continue to do this following the recent
wrong-headed government decision to support an intolerant religious cabal that
has, in one stroke, destroyed the aim of what I am trying to create?
This is the shortsighted and damaging face of coalition politics in Israel.
Barry Shaw is the Senior Associate for Public Diplomacy at the Israel Institute for Strategic Studies. He is the initiator of Interfaith Forum IL and the author of 2017 best-selling book ‘1917. From Palestine to the Land of Israel.’
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