The Jewish People have undergone substantial changes since the enactment of the "Who is a Jew" amendment to the Law of Return in 1970. Back then,  the rich Reform Jewry around the world was a strong force supporting a poor, secular Jewish state to stand on its own feet not longer after its founding.

Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Over the years, the situation changed: Israel became the big – and in many cases, the religious – sibling that serves as the means with which Diaspora Jews could preserve their Jewish Identity. Birthright Israel programs and consistent surveys have proved this scientifically.

At the same time, an internal –and no less dramatic – transformation has taken place within US Jewry. The Reform and Conservative movements have seen their presence dwindle. Temples have closed down one after another; the rate of assimilation has reached 80% and more; and many young members are joining anti-Israel student movements as well as boycotting efforts.

On the other hand, Orthodox Jewry, which was a leaf blowing in the wind in those decades, has grown and strengthened at a dizzying pace. Its members have entered the synagogues that have been abandoned by other movements. Yeshivas are opening and growing, and even new religious cities have been born.

These historical turnarounds within the Jewish people have also fundamentally changed the balance of power within these sectors. If in the past, the Orthodox movements were worried about disappearing – today this concern is unfounded; they have been triumphant. If the Diaspora was the one propping up young Israel – today it is Israel that has to take care of them. Without Israel, Jews around the world are lost. And they know it.

The new Knesset members, as well as religious-Zionist leaders, must acknowledge this situation and keep it in mind at all times. Both in their words and actions, they must consider the fact that the Twitter bird will take their voices and steps far over the sea.

If Itamar Ben-Gvir and Sephardi Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef slam the door in the face of world Jewry – it will stop coming. Is this the "love of fellow Jews" that they believe in? Is it correct to give up on millions of Jews, just because they have wandered off the path? The answer, of course, is "no."

Anyone with a beating Jewish heart is duty-bound to do everything they can to build that bridge to our brethren in the Diaspora, whatever religious path they follow. Just as Ben-Gvir, or Rabbi Yosef, or any other religious leader, believe that one should be bringing irreligious Jews in Israel closer to their source, so they should be doing the same with world Jewry. And, by the way, if they get to know Jews from other streams, they might just discover that there is not a big difference between the traditional Jews here in Israel and those around the world. The Reform movement has only wrapped traditions with ideology – no more.

In any event, instead of raising ideas that harm and distance those who are already far away, the Israeli leadership must extend its hand, to quote Hillel the Elder, and "To be like the students of Aaron, loving others and bringing them closer to Torah," in this order. First love them, then bring them closer.

True, we have to stand up for Torah. We obviously cannot distort Jewish Law just because the Reform leaders are demanding this. But, even when keeping to every iota of Halachah, one can be friendly and show a smiling face.

On the new map of political power between the Jewish People in Zion and those in the Diaspora, Jews in Israel, and mainly those in power, have the obligation to be welcoming to their brethren in the Diaspora. This is what Hillel's ruling was set for.

If the Diaspora has ever held up the young Jewish state – now it is up to Israel to take this responsibility on itself.

Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!

The post Reform Jews, however misguided, should be embraced appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

Chief Rabbi David Lau has sent a harshly-worked letter to Prime Minister Naftali Bennett protesting plans to promote a reformed system of conversion to Judaism in Israel and remove Rabbi Moshe Weller as head of the Conversion Authority in the Prime Minister's Office.

Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter

In the letter, Lau writes, "The role of the head of Conversion Authority is to implement the halachacic instructions of the president of the Great Rabbinical Court. And the head of the Conversion Authority has an obligation to ensure that the halachic instructions are followed."

The reforms to Israel's conversion system, initiated by Religious Services Minister Matan Kahana, would among other things allow city rabbis to operate conversion courts in the hope of helping tens if not hundreds of thousands of Israeli citizens of Jewish heritage who are not recognized as Jewish to convert. The conversion reform bill is due to be presented to the Knesset plenum for a first reading on Wednesday.

In his letter to Bennett, Lau also writes, "Removing from office the person who is in charge of implementing halachic instructions cuts off the connection between the conversion system and the Chief Rabbinate, and will lead to a disconnection and lack of halachic responsibility for what happens during conversions."

In addition, Lau warns, "Unfortunately, this step is part of a dangerous trend to promote a system of conversion that is currently being discussed. I once again state that the proposed conversion reforms will cause a massive rift in the Jewish people that cannot be healed."

According to Lau, "If the conversion reforms are implemented, it will split the Jewish people, who in the future will have to grapple with the question 'Who is Jewish?', whom they can marry or – heaven forbid – not marry, a terrible situation of two states for two peoples, a split Judaism rather than a united one."

Lau concludes by informing Bennett "with great regret" that if the reforms are passed and Weller is removed as head of the Conversion Authority, "I will be forced to remove myself from any responsibility for conversions, and will immediately stop approving any conversion certificates issued under [the new system]."

Responding to Lau's letter, Kahana said, "It's painful to see that the chief rabbi intends to stop conversion in Israel just because a functionary's job has not been extended. The move will hurt new immigrants from Ethiopia, IDF soldiers seeing to convert, and thousands of other potential converts."

Kahana said that in an attempt to reach as broad a consensus as possible, the government was promoting a conversion reform bill that would allow Israelis to want to convert to do so in accordance with Jewish law.

Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!

Kahana urged Lau to reconsider his intention of stopping conversions and continue the dialogue, so all sides concerned could reach better agreements about government-run conversion that follows Jewish law.

Associates of Kahana accused Lau of going "out of bounds."

"Stopping all conversions is the 'nuclear option,' and the strongest tool against converts. It's an immoral, unjustified act," they said

Associates of Aliyah and Integration Minister Pnina Tamano-Shata said that she would "not allow the rights of immigrants to be violated."

Later Tuesday, people close to Lau said that claims he intended to stop all conversions were "a complete lie."

A statement put out in the chief rabbi's name said: "The chief rabbi is defined by law as head of the Jewish people and signs off on every conversion to the Jewish religion. As part of this, the rabbi has the head of the Conversion Authority, whom he appoints to ensure that conversions take place in accordance with the rules of Jewish law.

"The moment that person is dismissed and the rabbi has no way of knowing according to what rules conversions were carried out, the chief rabbi will by no means sign off on any conversion, regardless of the identity of the convert and what country they come from, without knowing with certainty that it was conducted according to Jewish law, as detailed in the rabbi's letter to the prime minister," the statement read.

The post Chief rabbi goes for 'nuclear option,' warns he won't approve new conversions appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

Right-wing lawmakers harshly criticized Tuesday Religious Services Minister Matan Kahana and the conversion reform he spearheads.

Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter

"The destruction and devastation of the Chief Rabbinate and Jewish religion that Religious 'Destruction' Minister Matan Kahana leads is unprecedented. The conversion system is the very soul of the Jewish people and harming it would lead to vast assimilation," MK Yoav Ben-Tzur, from the Sephardic ultra-Orthodox Shas Party, said. 

Yakov Margi, also from Shas, concurred. 

"They've learned nothing from the reform movement and how it destroyed a large part of the Jewish people due to mass assimilation, since the terrible Holocaust we have not grown numerically," Margi told media. "We have lost no fewer Jews to assimilation than to the Holocaust."

United Torah Judaism MK Uri Maklev said the bill is "a gift to the gentiles" and a show of disrespect "to the Jewish nation."

"They despise and uproot everything," Maklev said in a statement. 

Earlier on Tuesday, Kahana revealed his proposed changes to the process of converting to Judaism to Israel Hayom.

As part of the legislation, municipal rabbis will be able to establish conversion courts to allow them to act to convert tens of thousands of Israelis who are of Jewish descent but are not Jewish according to halacha (Jewish law). 

The bill, which Kahana plans to bring to a vote in the coming weeks, was reached in close coordination with prominent rabbinical elders from the religious Zionist community. 

"One cannot claim this is a Reform framework that will encourage assimilation because the greats of religious Zionism are involved, and they expect the Chief Rabbinate to adopt it," Kahana said. 

Labor MK Gilad Kariv, who is also a Reform rabbi, welcomed "the end of conversion monopoly in Israel."

He stressed that "the condition for any further legislation in this matter is that it would not harm the recognized status of non-Orthodox converts. The proposed outline deals with conversion procedures that take place within the framework of the Orthodox rabbinical establishment alone. Given the Chief Rabbinate's strict policy on this matter in recent decades, it is doubtful whether its continued control over the conversion institutions will allow for a real breakthrough."

Orly Erez-Likhovski, head of the Israel Religious Action Center, said, "The Reform Movement offers an inclusive conversion, in the framework of which hundreds of men and women convert every year.  

"These conversions are recognized under the Law of Return and the population registry and we will insist that the recognition of these conversions not be harmed within the framework of the new conversion legislation," she said.

Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!

The post 'Conversion reforms target very soul of the Jewish people' appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

Ultra-Orthodox newspapers are slated to publish Tuesday a scathing joint letter by leading Haredi rabbis Chaim Kanievsky and Gershon Edelstein, criticizing the government for reforms they claim would undermine Judaism.

Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter

In the letter, the two express opposition to the inclusion of reform worshippers at the Western Wall Plaza, a move they say would "harm the sanctity of the" site. They claim such worshippers "fight God and his teachings."

The matter has been a source of controversy for some time. For example, in November, ultra-Orthodox worshippers clashed with members of the egalitarian movement Women of the Wall, who arrived at the holy site for a demonstration.

Kanievsky and Edelstein also criticize Religious Services Minister Matan Kahana, who spearheaded the kashrut reform that seeks to abolish the Chief Rabbinate's monopoly over the kashrut supervision industry.

The government "is working to destroy the walls of kashrut and conversion," the letter said.

Kahana is now advancing a conversion reform that would see the establishment of a new conversion authority outside the jurisdiction of the Rabbinate, and would include liberal, or non-Orthodox, conversions performed abroad.

Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!

The post Leading Haredi rabbis lambast government for 'destroying kashrut, conversion' appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

It's hard to remember the last time the members of the national-Haredi organization Liba came under such widespread and stinging criticism, even in conservative, Orthodox circles, as they did after members of the group disrupted prayers and a reading of Lamentations at the Ezrat Yisrael plaza near the Western Wall on Tisha B'Av. At this plaza, south of the Western Wall, men and women pray together, and Reform, Conservative, and modern Orthodox Jews take part. 

Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter

On Tisha B'Av this year, a little more than two weeks ago, Liba set up a curtain there to separate the men from the women as part of what they called "the battle for the Jewish identity of the Western Wall." The result was a fight and clashes on a day when many in Israel were talking about the heavy price we pay for baseless hatred. 

The criticism that carried the most weight, it seems, came in the form of a "bombshell" released a few days after the incident by Rabbi Eliezer Melamed of Har Brakha, a leading figure in religious Zionism who is generally identified with its more observant, conservative wing. 

While Melamed stressed that he was not versed in the events of Tisha B'Av as observed at the Ezrat Yisrael plaza, and his statement was one of principle, he called on the general public and Rabbi of the Western Wall Shmuel Rabinovitch in particular to promote visits by and welcome the Reform and Conservative Jews who come to pray there. Melamed's statement challenges rabbinical conduct that from time to time adopts tactics of exclusion and instilling fear, especially when it comes to Reform and Conservative Jews. 

The explanation for his statements lie in a seemingly minor incident that took place about a month ago, when Melamed devoted one of his halachic-current events columns in the Besheva newspaper to the halachic aspects of the IUD method of birth control. Rabbis who a month later were to be "shocked" by his remarks about the Western Wall and Reform Jews, were already appalled at such a sensitive and intimate issue as an IUD being discussed publicly. 

But that criticism, which had to do with the aspects of niddah (the part of the woman's menstrual cycle during which husbands and wives are not allowed to have marital relations), apparently released something in Melamed. Close associates say that his reaction to his critics about the column was correct when it came to the controversy about Reform and Conservative prayer at the Western Wall. 

"The reality is," Melamed wrote, "That unfortunately, too often there is pressure that threatens rabbis so they do not dare express their positions when it is different from that of the most stringently observant. The pressure comes mainly from zealous students … who stir up a dispute about the rabbi who appears to have stepped out of line. 

"Disputes like these can damage their [the rabbis'] public standing that embitter their lives with accusations and slander, and who has the energy to spend his time disproving them … Because of this, they have retreated and been deterred, and the Torah has become lessened and obscured, and the people have seen more troubles. Therefore I have decided that every time I feel that I am being threatened, I will gather up my courage and have my say in the most public manner possible … to make my modest contribution to stopping the approach of violence and boycotts in centers of learning … in my opinion, the commandment that prevents rabbinical judges from acting out of fear is so vital to the existence of the Torah that it takes precedence over the unpleasantness of addressing this issue publicly," Melamed wrote. 

Melamed chose not to be interviewed for this article, but his family members sent Israel Hayom recorded lessons as well as some of his writings, which are no less than revolutionary, at least from a national-Haredi perspective. These materials lay out a coherent worldview about the appropriate attitude to adopt towardReform and Conservative Jews, which is already causing debate among Orthodox rabbis. 

On the other hand, for the first time in years, leaders of the other two streams of Judaism feel that they have a chance of breaking down the Orthodox establishment's boycott of them. 

"Sometimes the clearest, simplest, most elementary things are the most moving," CEO of the Conservative-Masorti Movement Rakefet Ginsburg said last week. 

To sanctify, not desecrate 

Melamed thinks that "the religious and Haredi public who observe the commandments and customs" should not feel badly that Conservative and Reform Jews visit the Western Wall. The opposite – they should "rejoice that more Jewish brethren are connected to the place where the Temple stood, and that more Jewish brethren want to pray to our heavenly father." He suggests that they "look at it as something positive, even though we disagree with what they changed in Jewish law. We know how to respect and value all that is good in them. Praising God is greater than taking his name in vain," Melamed explains, suggesting that Rabinovitch "honor Jews from all streams" and welcome those who come to pray at the Ezrat Yisrael plaza. 

Although the Ezrat Yisrael plaza does not come under Rabinovitch's "jurisdiction," Melamed argues that "it should be a place to which he accords the greatest respect … despite the fact that he would not pray with them because he adheres to Jewish law, he should be very happy if they came to pray at the Western Wall itself and should encourage them to visit the Western Wall regularly and in the biggest groups possible, and even instruct the ushers to help them as much as possible … and if they need Bibles, to provide them with the greatest respect … and direct the women who want to read from the Torah on Rosh Hodesh to the Ezrat Yisrael plaza and ensure that all their needs are respected." 

Melamed hasn't "gone AWOL" or "switched sides," but his words about the Western Wall reflect a clear decision to fight against the exclusionary approach. He makes it clear that he will not take part in Reform prayers or weddings, and even thinks that doing so gives them tacit approval. But "even though these are Jewish movements that do not reflect the tradition of the Torah … they are Jewish movements that observe Jewish customs. The Jewish aspects of life are important to them. They have important ideals about tikkun olam, and they try to strengthen their friends' Jewish identity and thereby hold back the process of assimilation, in the broadest sense of forgetting Judaism," he writes. 

Melamed even holds the opinion that no distinction can be drawn between bans on the leaders and representatives of the non-Orthodox streams of Judaism and the members of those movements. "There is no way of boycotting only the representative and not boycotting the individuals," he states. "Just like we do not boycott other movements whose members include Jews and which deal with education, culture, ceremonies, and activity in Jewish communities, and feel commitment to and responsibility for all the Jewish people and the residents of Israel." 

Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!

Melamed's statements come after he held a series of meetings and conversations with leaders of the "banned" movements. Close associates say that these meetings strengthened the rabbi's "familiarity with these people's good intention and their desire to maintain some kind of contact between their communities and Judaism." He has held at least two such meetings in recent years. 

Also present at one of these meetings was Dr. Moshe Weinstock, former chairman of the Education Ministry's pedagogical secretariat. 

"It was a two-hour conversation with Sharon Brous, the Conservative rabbi from Los Angeles," Weinstock says. Brous is a left-winger who opposed the settlements, and eight years ago Newsweek named her one of the most influential rabbis in the US. In January 2013, she was invited to pray when former US President Barack Obama was sworn in for a second term. 

According to Weinstock, in November 2020, Brous "poured criticism" on Israel's policies in Judea and Samaria. "Rabbi Melamed visited her, shaking with anger, looked her right in the face, and told her, 'You are hurting me. I'm a settler, and I live near Nablus. I'm a man of halacha and a very moral man, and you are calling me evil." Weinstock says that Brous grew pale, and looked at Melamed for a long time, and then began a dialogue with him. 

"They held a long, in-depth conversation," Weinstock says. "At first, he showed her she was wrong, and she listened. Then they discussed a lot of things about which they didn't agree, but she was listening. At the end of the discussion Brous promised him, 'Rabbi Melamed, the next time I'm in Israel, I'll spend a day or two visiting you and your wife, Inbal, at Har Brakha. I'd like to truly get to know you, and listen to what you have to say. I don't know if I'll change my mind, but at least we'll get to know each other." 

Together, with no separation 

After Melamed's statements about prayers at the Ezrat YIsrael plaza, a series of photographs from the end of the Ottoman Empire were republished online, in which men and women can be seen praying at the Western Wall together, or at least standing near each other at what used to be the Western Wall alleyway. 

These pictures, to, have a place in the renewed dispute about the Ezrat Yisrael prayer area, and the question about whether men and women prayed together at the Western Wall 100 years ago. 

Lenny Ben-David of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs and an expert on photographs of the Land of Israel taken in the 19th and 20th centuries, says that toward the end of the Ottoman Empire, the authorities prevented Jews from setting up any kind of separation between men and women. Moreover, at the time, the Western Wall was a "narrow, crowded alley, where it was hard to maintain separation. People, men and women, were pushed together toward the fence of the Mughrabi neighborhood delineated the Western Wall alley. 

"You also need to remember," Ben-David says, "that the photographers of the time sometimes moved the subjects around according to their desire. The shawls the women wear that cover their heads and shoulders are also part of the story. The old women of Mea Shearim have given testimony about it. They said that those big shawls were their 'separation.'" 

The post An Orthodox rabbi's unorthodox take on Reform, Conservative Judaism appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

Following the High Court of Justice's decision this week to recognize Reform and Conservative conversions under the Law of Return, United Torah Judaism faction chairman MK Yitzhak Pindrus opted for harsh language in discussing female immigrant IDF soldiers who convert to Judaism while in the military as part of the Nativ program.

Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter

Speaking at a conference sponsored by the religious news website Kipa and ITIM – The Jewish Life Advocacy Center, Pindrus said, 'I'm not willing to compromise on even a single 'shiksa' or goy becoming part of Israel because I want to be pluralistic and nice. That won't happen."

After MK Tehila Friedman (Blue and White) made an outraged response to these comments, Pindrus upped the ante and said, "She [the soldier] is a shiksa, a goy. If she converted through the IDF, she isn't Jewish according to Jewish law. If someone marries her. His father should sit shiva for him, rend his clothing, and say Kaddish."

Pindrus' remarks drew fire from politicians. Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid said that "MK Pindrus' remarks are primitive and sad. What female IDF soldier is he talking about? The women combat soldiers in the Caracal Battalion? The female Border Police at the checkpoints? The lookouts on the Gaza border?

"These wonderful young women you call 'shiksas' are saving your life," Lapid said.

MK Yair Golan (Meretz) also condemned Pindrus' comments, saying "MK Pindrus is under pressure because they are taking away his monopoly on Judaism, so he is humiliating kosher Jews who don't espouse his failed approach."

Rabbi Seth (Shaul) Farber, chairman of ITIM, said in response to the wave of controversy that "We cannot ignore attacks on righteous converts who serve in the IDF and work on behalf of the people of Israel. MK Pindrus' works prove that the Haredi parties aren't afraid of non-Orthodox conversion, but rather of losing their control over the religious establishment and the conversion process."

 Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!

The post United Torah Judaism MK accused of 'humiliating Jews' appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

The High Court of Justice handed down a landmark decision on Monday after 15 years of deliberations on the hot-button issue of non-Orthodox conversion, ruling that the state could no longer abide by only one stream when it comes to the immigration of Jews under the Law of Return.

Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter

Under that law, Jews have the right to immigrate to Israel if they are considered Jewish ethnically or via their religion, but the latter criteria had until now been strictly limited to Orthodox Judaism when it comes to converts.

The nine-justice panel on Monday said that for the purpose of immigration and citizenship, prospective immigrants can qualify even if they joined the Jewish faith via Reform or Conservative conversion processes, but they must do so in Israel.

The ruling comes just three weeks before Israelis go to the polls to select a new Knesset, and this will most likely fire up debate on the role of Judaism in government.

The ultra-Orthodox parties, who have had control over the state institutions recognizing conversions, will most likely raise this issue when it comes time to choose whom they will support in the post-election coalition negotiations, and this could determine who will become prime minister.

Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!

The post In bombshell ruling, court instructs state to recognize non-Orthodox conversions appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

A number of leading religious Zionist rabbis have signed an open letter calling for a boycott of Reform Judaism.

The rabbis' letter, published last week, said that "Recently, we regret to say that barriers are being broken down and some rabbis are holding meetings and discussions about the Torah with representatives of the Reform Movement, as we supposedly have a 'shared rabbinical discourse' with them."

Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter

According to the signatories of the letter, "One may certainly love every Jewish person, but that does not mean, heaven forbid, allowing cooperation with representatives of the Reform movement that has taken away the Torah and is even now fighting against everything that is sacred in our country: conversion, the Western Wall, Jewish marriage, and more."

The open letter was published on the heels of a call last week by Chief Sephardi Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, who attacked Rabbi Eliezer Melamed for his ties to the Reform community.

Yosef said that Reform Jews "faked" the Torah and "destroyed everything that was good in the Jewish people," and that "they must be kept at a distance so that not even a single person will listen to them in these meetings and follow their path."

Head of the Reform Movement in Israel, Rabbi Gilad Kariv, said in response to the rabbis' letter: "In the midst of a public health, social and economic crisis, prominent rabbis are choosing to spread hate and discord in Israeli society and among the Jewish people, rather than encouraging dialogue, moderation, and tolerance.

"The fact that some of them hold public office only worsens the ramifications of their inappropriate behavior," Kariv said.

Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!

The post Leading rabbis in Israel call for boycott of Reform Judaism appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.