The Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Panim – The Israeli Judaism Network have established a new administration for "Jewish renewal" with the aim of disseminating Jewish content to the public without distinguishing between the various streams of Judaism - Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, and others.
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Past moves of this kind have always been blocked, as the ultra-Orthodox establishment, which controls all aspects of religious life in Israel, adamantly opposes any state recognition of Reform and Conservative Judaism.
The Jewish Renewal Administration will be responsible for developing and expanding what the ministry defines as "the field of Jewish renewal in Israel" and its empowerment through the dissemination of content to the public via seminars, study programs, events, lectures, and community cultural programs, and more.
The ministry noted that the new administration will promote training and activities within informal education networks and will adapt the content to suit each locality's needs. The new initiative aims to reach some 700,000 people and the administration will conduct research and develop various tools to create a database to integrate all the projects in the field of Jewish awareness.
The project is the first significant government investment of its kind and will be managed by a designated Diaspora Ministry unit. The administration will have a budget of 60 million shekels ($17 million), half of which will be covered by the ministry and half of which will be covered by Panim.
"The formation of the Administration for Jewish Renewal is a historic decision that creates equality between the various traditions of the Jewish people," Diaspora Affairs Minister Nachman Shai (Labor), said.
"We, as a government and as a state, are now giving them all an equal place, and equal respect and recognition. In the 21st century, the Jewish people face complex challenges including conversion, kosher certification, and civil marriage. We must ensure the unity of the Jewish people wherever they are, and at the same time, enable an internal dialogue and debate and reasoning about the essence of Judaism and its character. That is the strength of Judaism."
Ministry Director-General Tziona Koening-Yair added, "Judaism is a dynamic, inclusive religion that adapts itself to the times, and is attentive to the Zeitgeist. These are important and central values in the existence of the Jewish people.
"We had the privilege of leading one of the most significant measures in recent years in the field of Jewish renewal. Through the division and the new administration, we wish to bring all the Jews of Israel closer to each other and create a fruitful and inclusive dialogue, and give a place of respect to all traditions and all Jewish communities living in Israel."
Panim CEO Jotam Brum said, "The establishment of the new Administration for Jewish Renewal is a historic step that recognizes and provides government budgets for the field of Israeli Judaism.
"We are happy and excited to cooperate with the Diaspora Affairs Ministry and to begin a process of bringing Jewish traditions back to the heart of the Israeli consensus, rather than being a factor that divides and tears apart.
"Judaism belongs to every single one of us and as such should be accessible and relevant to all sections of the population – religious, traditional, or secular. The Administration for Jewish Renewal will be a home for all those who wish to deepen their Jewish identity with a love of tradition and heritage and to do so with curiosity to become familiar with the paths and traditions that are different from theirs and always in a constant dialogue with Israeli culture."
Executive Director of the Conservative Movement Rakefet Ginsberg said that while she welcomed the move by the Diaspora Affairs Ministry, the new unit's "natural place should have been in the Religious Services Ministry. To say that the place of non-Orthodox Judaism is not in the Religious Services Ministry results directly from the fear of radical Orthodoxy."
Avi Maoz, chairman of the radical Noam faction slammed the initiative, saying that "the establishment of the Administration for Jewish Renewal that – in less whitewashed and engineered language – is an administration for Reform Judaism is no less than an attack on Jewish identity in the State of Israel.
"The establishment of this administration during a transitional government can only be defined as unparalleled audacity. Following the elections, we will transfer any budgets allocated to this administration, should it be established, to Torah education, moreshet Yisrael, and Jewish identity."
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Labor MK Gilad Kariv, chairman of the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee and a Reform rabbi, said that the initiative "is an important step to develop Israeli Judaism in all its shades and colors.
"The establishment of the administration and the joint initiative with the umbrella movement of Jewish renewal organizations is the beginning of the rectification of many long years of discrimination and we are determined to complete the mission in the coming years and to bring about the recognition by the State of Israel of all shades, communities, and streams of Judaism in Israel and the Diaspora."
