Texas Jewish Post (Fort Worth, Tex.), Vol. 64, No. 29, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 22, 2010 Page: 4 of 20
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Texas Digital Newspaper Program and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the UNT Libraries.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
4 I July 22,2010
NEWS ANALYSIS
TEXAS JEWISH POST & SINCE 1947
Opposition to Israeli conversion
bill mounts among Jews
By Sarah Freishtat
WASHINGTON (JTA)—Opposi-
tion to a proposed Israeli conver-
sion bill is mounting, from the
U.S. Congress to the Israeli prime
minister.
Meanwhile, the bill is likely to
be put on hold while the Knes-
set adjourns this week for a two-
month recess.
The controversy over the bill
erupted last week when its main
sponsor, David Rotem of the Yis-
rael Beiteinu Party, unexpectedly
put it to a committee vote. The
measure passed by a 5-4 margin,
sending it to the full Knesset.
Meant to give would-be con-
verts more leeway in choosing
where and how to convert in Isra-
el, the bill also would consolidate
control over conversions under
the office of the Israeli Chief Rab-
binate. Non-Orthodox Diaspora
lewish movements and the leader-
ship of the Jewish Federations of
North America and Jewish Agen-
cy for Israel all have warned that
non-Orthodox converts would be
put at risk of being disqualified as
Jews by the Orthodox-dominated
Chief Rabbinate.
In recent days, a Jewish U.S.
senator unhappy about the bill,
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), began
circulating a letter asking fellow
lawmakers to join him in con-
demning the controversial Israeli
measure. Wyden's letter is circu-
lating among the Senate's 13 Jew-
ish lawmakers for more signatures
Photo: Office of Sen. Ron Wyden
Sen. Ron Wyden, pictured here outside the
Capitol, is asking Jewish Senate colleagues
to sign a letter opposing an Israeli conver-
sion bill.
before it is delivered to Israel's
ambassador to the United States,
Michael Oren.
Meanwhile, in Israel, Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
said he opposes the bill in its cur-
rent form. The bill "could tear
apart the Jewish people," Netan-
yahu told his Cabinet on Sunday.
Following its passage last week
by the Knesset's Law, Constitution
and Justice Committee, the bill
must pass three readings in the
PRE-DEVELOPMENT
—PHASE 3—
Water's Edge Ranch • 1 Hour from Dallas
5 Acre
Homesite
for only
$39,900
Huge Stocked Private Lake, Rolling
Hills and Granddaddy Oaks
Call NOW! 1-866-451-5687
Knesset for it to become law. The
prime minister said he would try
to remove the bill by consensus,
but if that fails he will ask mem-
bers of his Likud Party and other
coalition members to oppose it in
the Knesset. With the Knesset on
the cusp of a long recess, the bill
is unlikely to come up for another
vote until the fall.
Rotem says the bill aims to
simplify the conversion process,
empowering local Israeli com-
munity rabbis to perform conver-
sions and thereby make it easier
for Israelis to convert—including
those who don't intend to adhere
to Orthodox observance. But in
giving the Rabbin ate ultimate au-
thority over conversions, the bill
puts non-Orthodox converts at
risk and may make it more dif-
ficult for non-Orthodox converts
to make aliyah, critics in the
Diaspora warn.
Rotem says the bill should not
concern Diaspora Jews.
"It has nothing to do with Jews
in the Diaspora," Rotem told JTA
last week. "It is only an Israeli
matter."
Shas Party Chairman Eli
Yishai, a member of Netanyahu's
coalition government, said he
supports the bill.
"The absence of a conversion
law is the greatest spiritual dan-
ger for the people of Israel at this
time," he told Ynet.
In the United States, the Rab-
binical Council of America, an
Orthodox organization, said that
"While the legislation in question
may not be perfect, we who live in
North America must recognize
that it does contain much to com-
mend it."
The RCA called on Diaspora
Jews not to interfere with the in-
ternal Israeli legislation, noting,
albeit incorrectly, that "North
American Jews have long em-
braced the principle that the duly
elected leadership of the State of
Israel should not be subject to
outside interference or pressure
by other governments, religious
bodies, or communal entities."
The chorus of American voices
against the bill is growing, par-
ticularly in the Conservative and
Reform movements, whose mem-
bers make up most of Ameri-
can Jewry but have only a small
presence in Israel. Opponents
are concerned by the bill's clause
that converts will be recognized
as Jews only if they "accepted the
Torah and the commandments
in accordance with halachah,"
which could exclude some con-
verts from being eligible to obtain
Israeli citizenship under the Law
of Return because they would not
be considered Jews by Israel.
Rabbi Julie Schonfeld, execu-
tive vice president of the Con-
servative movement's Rabbinical
Assembly, wrote an open letter
to Netanyahu explaining why the
bill will divide the Jewish com-
munity.
"The way to really 'solve this
problem' is to have options for
multiple streams and for the in-
digenous Israeli expressions that
will only flower in a non-coercive
system," she wrote.
The Jewish Federations of
North America said it supports
the U.S. Senate letter opposing
the Israeli bill.
"We welcome any expression
of commitment from influential
Jews to maintain the unity of the
Jewish people and the dangers
posed by this divisive legislation,"
said William Daroff, vice presi-
dent for public policy and director
of the Jewish Federations of North
America's Washington office.
In Washington, U.S. Sens.
Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and
Carl Levin (D-Mich.) have signed
the Wyden letter.
"I am troubled by a proposal
which I believe would make it
more difficult for many people
who want to convert to Judaism
to do so," Levin told JTA.
The letter's text has not been
made public.
Jewish members of the U.S.
House of Representatives also have
expressed support for Wyden's
letter. Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.),
chairwoman of the State and For-
eign Operations subcommittee
that oversees the State Department
and international programs, left a
message for Netanyahu and spoke
directly to Oren to voice her objec-
tion to the bill.
"Congresswoman Lowey be-
lieves Israel should continue to be
a welcoming place for Jews, as it
has been through its history," said
Matthew Dennis, Lowey's spokes-
man. "She is concerned that this
bill would alienate Jews around
the world and risks weaken-
ing the sense of unity within the
Diaspora that is critical to Israel's
security."
TUP
TEXAS JEWISH P0ST$S!NCE 1947
Jimmy Wisch
Publisher & Editor | 1947-2002
EDITOR & PUBLISHER
Rene Wisch
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Sharon Wisch-Ray
sharonw@texasjewishpost.com
VP SALES & MARKETING
Amy Doty
a myd@texa sjewish post.com
ASSISTANT EDITOR
Phyllis LaVietes
phyllisl@texasjewishpost.com
STAFF WRITER
Rachel Gross rachelg@texasjewishpost.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Harriet P. Gross
h a rr ietg @texa sje wi s h po s t. co m
Laurie James, Deb Sil verthorn,
Steve Wisch
AD REPRESENTATIVES
Nancy Sadicarios
n a ncys@texa sjewis h post.com
Judy Wisch, Linda Wisch Davidsohn
ART DIRECTOR
Delia Jalomo deliaj@texasjewishpost.com
Views and opinions of columnists and contributors are their own
and not necessarily those of this newspaper. All rights re-
served. Photocopying,reproduction or quotation strictly
prohibited without permission fromthe publisher. Compo-
sition responsibility: This newspaper will not be liable for
errors appearing in advertisements beyond the cost ofthe
space occupied by the error.Advertisers assume responsi-
bility for errors in telephone orders. We are not responsible
for the Kashruth of any product or establishment adver-
tised in the Texas Jewish Post. Advertisers are responsible
for authenticity of any claims or statements made in their
advertisements and are not endorsements by the Texas
Jewish Post.
DALLAS
7920 Belt Line Rd.,Suite 680
Dallas,TX 75254
972-458-7283 | 972-458-7299 FAX
FORT WORTH
P.O. Box 12087, Fort Worth, TX 76110
817-927-2831 PHONE
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Subscription Rates: Texas: $35 per year, Other States in
U.S.:$45 per year. Foreign: $70 per year. Subscriptions
are payable in advance. Unless notified otherwise,it is
understood that all subscriptions are renewed automati-
cally upon expiration.Please allow four weeks from date
received by the Texas Jewish Post for address changes to
take effect.
<y5i" '<*,
i. '$ a %
Pk
The Texas Jewish Post(ISSN 0040-439X)
is published weekly, with an additional
issue in the first quarter.The Texas Jew-
ish Post is published at 3120 South
Freeway,Fort Worth,Texas 76110-4334. J
Periodicals Postage Paid at Fort Worth,
Texas. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Texas
Jewish Post, P.O. Box 12087, Fort Worth, Texas 76110.
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Wisch, Rene. Texas Jewish Post (Fort Worth, Tex.), Vol. 64, No. 29, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 22, 2010, newspaper, July 22, 2010; Fort Worth, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth188302/m1/4/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .