Jewish Reconstructionist Federation

HaKotel L’Kulam — The Western Wall Should Be For All

A Statement in Support of the “Women of the Wall”

  
Social action based on Jewish ethics is a central part of Reconstructionist community activity. In Israel and North America, Reconstructionists actively support The Women at the Wall, who advocate equal worship rights for men and women in Israel.

           

 

The Reconstructionist Movement supports the efforts of the Women of the Wall.      read more »

With sadness we share the news of today’s bombing in Jerusalem, which has taken one life so far and injured many. We share the condemnation of the attacks and the prayers of healing for those injured, and of consolation to the families of those who have lost loved ones and pray the recent increase in violence and attacks will bring all parties back into peaceful dialogue and not instigate further loss of life.  read more »

Join the “Roots, Rocks & Writings” Israel Encounter this summer, from July 23rd-August 4th, sponsored by JRF Congregation Oseh Shalom and Rabbi Doug Heifetz.

Experience the Land of Israel as the ultimate guide to the Jewish past, and the texts of our ancestors as a guide to the Land. This trip is perfect for first-time Israel travelers and repeat visitors seeking to deepen their experience of Jewish history, texts and antiquities.  For more details, please see the documents available on our website or contact Rabbi Heifetz.

 

 See also Joint Statement on conversion bill: http://jrf.org/joint-statement-on-conversion-bill

 

Dear Rabbis, Cantors, Staff, Lay Leaders, and Members of JRF Communities,

We write to you today because of a very serious threat to religious pluralism in Israel, resulting from a rapidly developing parliamentary situation there. As many of you probably already know, the Knesset may vote very soon on legislation that would make important negative changes to the laws governing conversions in Israel and to the Law of Return.

This new legislation would roll back the clock on all the achievements we have made for Reconstructionist, Reform and Conservative conversion rights in Israel: not only losing recognition for Reconstructionist, Reform and Conservative conversions in Israel, but even completely redefining who is a Jew. From now on the power to perform conversions would rest solely with the Chief Rabbinate – which only recognizes Orthodox conversions.

This decision, which affects the very definition of who is a Jew for all of Klal Yisrael, is being made by a few politicians who happen to be in power during the 18th Knesset. They are not at all in conversation with world Jewry, on whom this decision will have a major impact.

At your next Jewish gathering, take a look at the people around you: chances are good that you are sitting next to someone who would no longer be considered a Jew in Israel.

There are millions of Jews in North America and elsewhere outside of Israel. The current Israeli leadership needs to hear from all of you – and right away – if we are going to stop this. We ask you to send urgent messages of protest to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and to your ambassador from Israel.

We need the strength of your numbers to remind those who promote this bill that Israel and Judaism are not theirs alone.

Please sign the Israel Religious Action Center’s petition at: http://www.irac.org/petitionsign.aspx. Also, please send the following letter right now to the Prime Minister and your ambassador, and forward this urgent call to your friends and family.

L’shalom,

                                             

     Robert A. Barkin                                                                      Dr. Carl Sheingold
     President                                                                                Executive Vice President
     Jewish Reconstructionist Federation                                          Jewish Reconstructionist Federation

 

 

The Honorable Benjamin Netanyahu
Prime Minister of Israel
Office of the Prime Minister
Jerusalem, Israel

 

Dear Prime Minister Netanyahu,

We write to request your immediate intervention to prevent passage of the legislation being brought forward by MK David Rotem.

We are deeply concerned about the intention to grant the Chief Rabbinate sole control over conversion in Israel. Such legislation would be an open attack on the legitimacy of non-Orthodox Jewry, which composes the majority of world Jewry. In addition, passage of this bill would have the effect of altering the Law of Return, or, at the very least, cause undue hardship to anyone in Israel who come from Diaspora communities and seek to convert in Israel.

While we are supportive of efforts to create greater accessibility to conversion courts in Israel, the overall impact of the Rotem Bill will set back these efforts. Should this bill be enacted, it will exacerbate a widening gap between the Jewish communities in the Diaspora and in Israel, which we are working very hard to avoid.

Therefore, we believe it is imperative that you, as leader of Israel, and as one who cares deeply about the well-being of Klal Yisrael, intervene and urge immediate withdrawal of this bill.

 

Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office: Prime.Minister'sOffice@it.pmo.gov.il

U.S. Ambassador Michael Oren’s office: info@washington.mfa.gov.il

Canadian Ambassador Miriam Ziv’s office: info@ottawa.mfa.gov.il ">info@ottawa.mfa.gov.il

 

 

 

For more information about JRF's statements and positions on Israel, please visit http://jrf.org/israel and http://jrf.org/israel/statement-and-resources.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JRF joins with Reform Movement in Condemning Attacks against New Israel Fund
 
February 11, 2010 - In response to the recent attacks against the New Israel Fund, the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation joins with the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism in issuing the following statement:
 
"We express our alarm at the recent attacks in the Israeli media against the New Israel Fund (NIF).  Together with so many in the U.S. and Israel, we know the New Israel Fund as a respected organization with a long, accomplished history of defending human rights, civil liberties, religious pluralism, and social justice.  Its efforts have helped make Israel a more equal, more just, more fair and more compassionate society.
 
In their twisted attribution of blame for the Goldstone Report to the NIF, these attackers are trying to delegitimize the New Israel Fund in much the same way that the Goldstone Report is being used to delegitimize Israel in the eyes of the world.  It is ironic, to say the least, that those pointing to the danger of the Goldstone Report are using the same tactics of half-truths, hyperbole and sweeping generalizations they criticize in it to delegitimize the New Israel Fund.
 
NIF's support and training for those in Israel who fight for women's rights, civil rights, religious rights, consumer rights, environmental protection and civil liberties should be a source of pride for all those committed to Israel's social well-being.  This effort to tarnish this respected organization with guilt by association ill-serves the interests and values of Israel and the Jewish People."

Welcome to the JRF Statements and Resources page for events in the Middle East.

JRF has added a diverse array of resources to the rich collection of materials relating to Israel already on the website. We hope these resources will assist in understanding the issues and in promoting dialogue within your communities.  read more »