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Posted in: Top Reform rabbi: Freeze building in 'East Jerusalem'
Wow, this one certainly brought all the proponents of “butch” Judaism and Zionism out in full force. I notice that the knee-jerk response in many of the most vituperative comments is to immediately delegitimize Rabbi (yes, Rabbi) Yoffie and Reform Judaism in general. Reminds me of the haters’ attempts to delegitimize Israel, and about as effective. So, because Rabbi Yoffie doesn’t live in Israel, serve in the IDF and pay (Israeli) taxes, he has no right to comment on the actions of Israeli politicians? The Israeli government says and does things every day that profoundly affect the lives and safety of Jews everywhere. Rabbi Yoffie (and indeed every other Jew in the Diaspora) absolutely has the right to openly agree or disagree with these acts or statements, whether Israel or Israelis like it or not. The days of the Diaspora simply being a cash cow for the Zionist enterprise are over; it’s about partnership now. Rabbi Yoffie has no right to speak on behalf of Reform Judaism? I agree with less than half of his public pronouncements, but as the duly appointed head of the URJ, I respect his right to speak on behalf of Reform Judaism in the US. Everyone in Reform Judaism is free to agree or disagree, even to the point of attempting to replace him or leaving the organisation. Rabbi Yoffie should limit his pronouncements to matters of religion? He is not a pulpit rabbi, who must stay away from politics lest he offend members of his congregation; he is the head of one of the major Jewish religious streams in the US. The boundary between politics and religion is an artificial one; our religious obligations affect the political choices we make. In Israel, ultra-nationalist Orthodox rabbis have been a major driving force behind the Settlement Enterprise, and every religious party has its so-called council of “Torah Sages” (what a sick joke). Nowhere did Rabbi Yoffie question the right of Jews to live in East Jerusalem; he questioned the wisdom of such steps right now. I see nothing wrong with Israel taking steps to avoid snubbing its single greatest ally, the US. This is simply common sense. I see little reason for the Diaspora to rally behind a united, undivided Jerusalem as the eternal capital of Israel when Israel itself is so notoriously bad at setting and observing red lines. We know of at least 2 occasions in the last couple of decades where Israeli leaders have been prepared to compromise on Jerusalem for the sake of peace negotiations. There’s no reason to believe the future will be any different. (Also, if Israel hasn’t been able to “digest” East Jerusalem in the last 40 years, there’s no reason to believe it can do so now.) Finally, while the settlements may not be the main obstacle to peace between Israel and its neighbours, peace is simply not possible until Israel ends the settlement process.
Posted in: Op-Ed: Proposed civil marriage bill in Israel misses mark
It appears to me that the legislation will simply create another class of “Mamzerim” (in the true sense), in some respects part of the Jewish people, but unable to “inter-marry” with them (at least insofar as Orthodox officialdom is concerned). Perhaps that was one of the intentions?
Posted in: In Beit Shemesh, residents struggle to counter violent religious coercion
I sometimes cannot believe this is Israel in the 21st Century I’m reading about. Time is running out for the authorities to crack down REALLY HARD on the public lawlessness and violence that have become commonplace. This phenomenon is becoming a very real threat to Israel’s shaky Western/democratic credentials, and perhaps even her very survival.
Posted in: Op-Ed: Don't fear 'God,' 'Torah' and 'Judaism'
Joel Alperson makes some very valid points here. We need to get to grips with the idea that the ethnic “Jewishness” that served us so well until the end of the 20th Century is not adequate to cope with the challenges of the 21st. If the answer to the fundamental question “Why Be Jewish?” does not have a spiritual or religious component, then that answer is not a long-term one. Jewish continuity for its own sake has taken us as far as it can, and the generations now looking for a reason to be Jewish (or not) are no longer satisfied with the old answers. We need a Jewish renewal that includes a revival of Judaism.
Posted in: Newly ordained Colombian rabbi vows to help Conversos
Well said, Robin (Margolis). Isn’t it ironic that those who continually raise the spectre of a shrinking Jewish population are usually the first to reject anyone with the “wrong” Jewish parent or grand-parent? Instead of “welcome home”, they are met with “who are you?” According to one estimate I read, fully half of the current generation will end up in an inter-faith relationship (IFR). Instead of decrying this fact and writing them off, Jewry needs to throw thought and resources into drawing them and their partners and offspring into the Jewish community.
Posted in: Israel drops objection to next UNESCO boss
Did Farouk Hosni apologise for his anti-Semitic book burning remarks at the time, or only due to the pressure of the campaign to keep him from assuming leadership of the Paris-based UNESCO? The apology came only now, when the campaign threatened to derail his coronation. Israel has its own reasons for giving way on the issue, but I see no reason why Jewish NGOs should follow suit. Hate speech is OK, so long as it’s only directed at the Jews. Each time we allow a raving anti-Semite to assume high office makes it just that much easier for the next to get a pass.
Posted in: Chabad rabbi aims to clarify remarks on killing civilians
It’s time that progressive and traditional Jews stopped being so tolerant towards the outlook and theology of movements such as Chabad. It’s time to get rid of our “Fiddler on the Roof” view of Hassidism and ultra-Orthodoxy and to realise that attitudes such as these are a threat to Jews and to the soul of Judaism itself. It’s time to start saying that not only is this not the only authentic form of Judaism, it’s not even an acceptable form of Judaism.
Posted in: Rabbis urge soldiers to disobey orders
I eagerly await the follow-up story where the Israeli AG announces that all the rabbis involved have been arrested and indicted for incitement to mutiny, and that all have been denied bail.
Posted in: Kibbutz activists block Gaza crossing
I’m just glad to hear that the Kibbutz movement still has its activists!
Posted in: What's a Diaspora Jew to do about Israel?
06/22/10 09:03 AM
I tend to agree with Mr Davis. Actually, I would go further and say that given the disastrous nature of Israel domestic and foreign policy over the last 40-odd years, perhaps it’s time for the Diaspora to start weighing in on Israeli affairs to a much greater degree, instead of politely stepping back in favour of the Israeli voter. Right now, Israel is making a mess of the Jewish State, so perhaps a little objective advice from a credible source wouldn’t be the worst thing that could happen. This was, after all, supposed to be the state of all the Jews, a collaborative effort between Israel and the Diaspora. As for Israel having made Jewish life in the Diaspora “more pleasant”, that is a fiction. In places like SA, relations between Jew and Muslim have been irretrievably soured by the conflict. Israeli hard and soft power may have made our lives safer from the threat of genocide, but “pleasant” doesn’t come into it.