ר"ע תיתד תונויצל ינויערה גוחה ,םולשו זוע
"The Jewish people emerged in the Land of Israel... after the nation was exiled from its land its beliefs remained intact... through a historical and traditional connection in which Jews of every generation dreamed of returning and settling in their ancient homeland." -- from Israel’s Declaration of Independence.
The State of Israel is supposed to serve as a home for Jews and a guarantee that another Jewish Holocaust will not occur. However, there were many nations that did not recognize the State of Israel. Even some ultra-orthodox opposed the state’s establishment and all that it symbolized.
Nevertheless, since the founding of the state, a group of ultra-orthodox Jews have been attempting to define who is a Jew according to the halakhic criteria that both they and we deem appropriate. But they sought to use halakha exclusively. It is apparent that the passing of legislation on the conversion bill will conclusively tear the Jewish people apart and cast the periphery of Israel - some of whom are beginning to acquire an appreciation of their Jewish heritage - out of the Jewish world. Indeed, for this reason the pending legislation on who is a Jew has not yet been made law in the Knesset. There is also a basic absurdity here, that the Israeli Knesset has the power to make religious decisions when they are not capable or fit to do so.
Furthermore, this is being done with the help of people who themselves do not accept the law of the State of Israel, and who denigrate the law and its representatives while using the non-religious community and the Knesset to make laws that would only make life more difficult for those very people. As a religious-Zionist movement, we believe that the National Religious Party (NRP) should have vocally objected to the division that such legislation would bring about. The religious-Zionist community must demonstrate that it is possible to adhere to the Biblical commandments while safeguarding democratic values. Unfortunately, in this case, the NRP has become part of the ultra-orthodox political bloc and instead of forging a Jewish consensus, they seem to be destroying the few Jewish ties that remain and the little Jewish unity we once had.
However, we believe that the damage being done can yet be repaired. Netivot Shalom proposes that it can be determined that a Jew is someone who was converted by an Orthodox, Conservative, or Reform Beit Din (religious court), and then write "Jewish" under "religion" on this person’s Israeli national identity card while specifying the type of conversion under "ethnicity." With good will, a common Beit Din for all the Jewish denominations can be established. If done properly with respect for all humanity, we believe that guidelines can be established that would be acceptable to all sides. If there is no animosity or divisive political agendas between the varying sides, agreement can be reached.
There is no halakhic pressure here; rather there is political manhandling. We believe that the time has come for the majority, and not just the minority, to assert its rights. As a religious-Zionist movement we see a necessity to maintain the status quo that has existed since the establishment of the state. Judaism has always been a religion of argument in search of truth. Do not allow a political argument tear the Jewish people apart.
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OZ veSHALOM - NETIVOT SHALOM
P.O. Box 4433, Jerusalem, 91043 Israel
Tel: 02-5664218, for Shabbat Shalom only call 053-920206
ozshalom@netvision.net.il
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Copyright 1997-2003 by Oz Veshalom. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.