American Jewish Committee Calls For Commitment To Spirit Of Compromise On Religious Pluralism

American Jewish Committee
Monday, 11 January 1999

The American Jewish Committee today expressed its deep concern that the spirit of compromise surrounding religious pluralism in Israel is eroding as Israel prepares for new elections. The AJC called on the Orthodox establishment and the Conservative and Reform movements to reaffirm their commitment to purposeful dialogue to bridge differences.

The full text of the statement follows:

"With Israel entering an intense five-month period of election campaigning, the American Jewish Committee is concerned that the issue of Jewish religious pluralism - an issue dear to American Jewry - may be pushed aside and that the spirit of compromise suggested by the deliberations of the Ne'eman Commission will be lost.

"We believe that efforts to revive proposed Israeli legislation to codify the Orthodox Chief Rabbinate's exclusive control over conversions performed in the Jewish state will only renew one of the most divisive conflicts in the relationship between Israel and American Jewry.

"Similar efforts to deny Reform and Conservative representatives their legal right to sit on local religious councils must also be vigorously opposed.

"The Ne'eman Commission, appointed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to find a solution to the controversy over conversions performed in Israel, was comprised of representatives of the Orthodox, Conservative and Reform movements - a model for the conduct of intra-Jewish relations.

"Indeed, after attaining a compromise solution on conversions that was backed by an overwhelming majority of the Knesset, the Ne'eman Commission turned its attention to other pressing pluralism matters, including marriage and prayer at the Kotel.

"The American Jewish Committee supported the efforts of the Ne'eman Commission and is deeply concerned that the heightened conflict over pluralism now threatens to erode the spirit of true compromise that is critical to maintaining the unity of the Jewish people.

"We urge the Orthodox establishment and the Conservative and Reform movements to reaffirm their commitment to purposeful dialogue to bridge differences, and we urge the Knesset not to take any action that could deleteriously affect intra-Jewish relations and Israel-Diaspora ties.

"All Jews - whether religious or secular, Orthodox or Reform, Israeli or Diaspora - remain bound together as a single people. No sector of the Jewish people, especially the Israeli government, should delegitimize any other Jews because of the Judaism they practice."

For more information, or to contact American Jewish Committee, see their website at: www.ajc.org