The Israelis by Donna Rosenthal

Author:Donna Rosenthal
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Published: 2007-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

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I don’t mind that we’re called the ‘synagogue of the seculars.’ I’m pleased that people are coming here who never have been involved with a congregation. The younger generation, the high-tech generation, have a tremendous thirst for an authentic Israeli form of liberal Judaism,” declares Rabbi Meir Azari of Beit Daniel Synagogue. It is the only Reform synagogue in Tel Aviv, which is about 90 percent non-Orthodox. A new type of outspoken rabbi, Rabbi Azari has sparked debates about the role of religion in the world’s only Jewish state. The Orthodox rabbinate has a monopoly on Jewish marriage, divorce, conversions, and funerals. Rabbi Azari has been urging the non-Orthodox majority to take back some religious rights their secular leaders and grandparents conceded when they founded Israel. “After Rabin’s murder, people who are unwilling to enter an Orthodox synagogue started coming here. They didn’t want to surrender their religion to Yigal Amir’s right-wing Orthodox constituency.” This intifada has brought an upsurge in attendance from previously nonobservant Israelis. Beit Daniel’s religious services, preschools, youth and retiree groups, and Judaism classes for Russian-speaking immigrants are packed. Rabbi Azari and other Reform and Conservative rabbis are overwhelmed with Israelis seeking a spiritual alternative to secularism, asking them to conduct their weddings and bar and bat mitzvahs.

This is quite an accomplishment, as the state-sanctioned Orthodox Rabbinate considers them “illegitimate.” They do not recognize any non-Orthodox forms of Judaism. Even though about 80 percent of Israeli Jews are non-Orthodox, almost all—98 percent—of the more than ten thousand synagogues in Israel are either Orthodox or ultra-Orthodox. “In their eyes, only Orthodox Judaism is kosher,” charges Rabbi Azari. “They believe that recognizing us would undermine their monopoly as the Judaism of Israel. Israel is the only democracy in the Western world where Jews do not have freedom of religion, the only place where Jews deny religious freedom to Jews. What we’re fighting for is the right for Israelis to have the freedom to choose how they want to be Jewish.”

Reform and Conservative Jews have run joint national media blitzes in newspapers, billboards, buses, radio, and TV—in Russian as well as Hebrew. Rabbi Azari caused a national stir with this ad, which ran repeatedly on Israel Radio: “I want to tell you a secret: there is more than one way to be Jewish. Our community believes in Judaism according to the spirit of the time and place. In our congregations, men and women are equal. In our synagogues, men and women sit together, bat mitzvah girls are called to the Torah, and in our marriage ceremonies the woman also betroths the man. If you want to learn about this type of Judaism, call. You just have to choose.” The Orthodox Chief Rabbinate countered with newspaper ads warning Israelis not to attend Reform or Conservative synagogues because their “prayers will not be heard by God.” But Israelis responded. Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur services at Reform and Conservative synagogues have standing room only.

Attacks on Reform and Conservative Jews continue. The

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