Israel's demographic facts defy pessimistic predictions - it is still a Jewish state

Arutz Sheva reported:

by Hillel Fendel

(IsraelNN.com) With Israel's population currently at 7.3 million, and over 75% of them Jews, the demographic trends continue to be pro-Jewish.

Demographer and diplomat Yoram Ettinger notes that pessimistic predictions about Jewish growth in Israel "systematically crash upon the cliffs of reality." His latest target is the "secret memorandum" presented by Israel's first statistician, the late Prof. Roberto Baki, to David Ben-Gurion in 1944.

Baki told Ben-Gurion that Jews could comprise, at best, 16% of the total population in Israel by 2001 - but possibly as low as 8.8%. If Jewish Aliyah [immigration] to Israel was taken into account, Baki predicted, Jews would make up between 21% and 34% of the total population.

In fact, however, at the end of December 2007, Jews comprised 75.6% of the total population, and Arabs were 20%. When taking Judea, Samaria and Gaza into account, the Jews still have a 60% majority.

Baki Ignored Aliyah
Baki, the founder of Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), was the "inspiration for Israel's statistical and demographical institutions," Ettinger writes. However, Ettinger says, Baki simply did not take into account the systematic and massive Jewish Aliyah [immigration] to Israel over the decades.

Only 18,000 Jews made Aliyah in 2007 and 19,000 in 2006, compared with 21,000 in 2005. However, Ettinger writes, "The current drop is simply a natural phase of the cyclical nature of Aliyah. The fall and winter herald the spring. This was the case in the 70's and 90's as well. An unprecedented amount of Jewish/Zionist education in the former Soviet Union and in the United States herald the spring of Aliyah."

On the other hand, he notes, "Arab emigration, mostly young Arabs of child-bearing age, has characterized Judea, Samaria and Gaza since 1950."

Baki also predicted, quite mistakenly, that the Arab birth rate would continue to be very high, stabilizing at 6-7 children per woman. In fact, however, it is now 4 in Judea and Samaria, and closer to 3 inside Israel. The Jewish birthrate, on the other hand, continues to crawl upward, up from 2.6 to 2.8 over the past 20 years.

Jewish Births - Up
The annual number of Jewish births has increased by 40% in the past 12 years, from 80,400 to 112,500, whereas the number of Arab births in Israel has remained stable at 39,000.

Ettinger states that many Israeli demographers, such as those of the CBS, Prof. Professor Sergio Della Pergola of Hebrew University, and Prof. Arnon Sofer of Haifa University, "consistenly ignore the principle of demographic cycles... Their predictions do not take into account the great influence on Arab demographics of emigration, urbanization, expanded education, family planning, fewer teenage pregnancies, later marriage, and divorces."

Ettinger: Jews are Non-Normative
Ettinger accuses them of "basing their predictions on linear extrapolations, which are doomed to failure, especially in the long-term. They also tend to deal with Jewish demographics in normative Western terms - corresponding income and education with child-bearing - when in fact this is generally not relevant to the Jewish nation, which is non-normative."

www.IsraelNationalNews.com

© Copyright IsraelNationalNews.com

Flying the enemy flag in Jerusalem - limits of tolerance for the sake of democracy

One of the issues connected with the gay rights parade concerns the limits of what needs to be tolerated in the name of democracy. The following article concerns this matter.

Arutz Sheva

Inbal Hotel Apologizes for flying PLO flag

by Hillel Fendel

(IsraelNN.com) In response to dozens of letters of complaint, the manager of Jerusalem's Inbal Hotel says he feels he had no choice, but he's sorry for flying the flag of the Palestinian Liberation Organization-Palestinian Authority last month.

The flag was flown for two days at the end of May, when the hotel hosted the International Security Forum, chaired by Public Security Minister Avi Dichter of Kadima. Government representatives from various countries, as well as from the Palestinian Authority, took part, and flags of each participating country - or "political entity," in the case of the PA - waved proudly in the breeze of the hotel.

News of the enemy flag adorning the popular Jerusalem hotel spread quickly after Arutz-7 blogger Yisrael Medad published a letter by Yonatan Adler informing of the Inbal-PLO flag display. Various grassroots organizations quickly took up the gauntlet, and letters by citizens expressing extreme concern began arriving at the Inbal Hotel.

By last week, Inbal's General Manager Rodney Sanders had answered at least a few of them. His first letters expressed regret that the letter-writers were offended, but by the end of last week, at least one writer received a straight-out apology.

Sanders wrote, "I, too, felt uncomfortable when asked, even by the Israeli government, to fly the colors of the Palestinian Authority at the hotel... We were instructed by the Israel Ministry of Public Security and the organizing committee to fly the flags of all those participating in the conference, including that of the Palestinian Authority."

Sanders explained that Minister Dichter "chose the Inbal Jerusalem Hotel to be the venue for the International Security Forum, a conference on 'Challenges to Homeland Security,' of which MK Avi Dicter was the chairman. US Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertkoff and a dozen other internal security ministers from Europe and beyond were invited and Minister Dicter also invited the Palestinian Minister of Interior."

"While not meaning to add to anybody's distress," Sanders continued, "I think it important for me to mention that other prominent hotels are often asked by the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs to host Israel-Palestinian negotiating sessions. Sometimes this also involves flags."

Apology
"I would like to apologize for placing the flag on the building," Sanders then wrote, adding, "I have now since learnt how sensitive this issue is to the feelings of our nation and our people, but I believe I had no choice but to follow the request of the Ministry."

Response
Susie Dym, spokesperson of the Cities of Israel grassroots organization, commented afterwards, "Our activists feel that the people of the Inbal Hotel must be proud Israelis with a strong backbone. If the manager of the hotel had acted so, Minister Dichter of Kadima would have learned how to straighten the national back, and the peace negotiations would have gained greatly from this. We will not respect a hotel that does not know how to respect itself and its country."

Some activists say the campaign should be pursued by faxing protests to Minister Dichter, at 02 (9722, from outside Israel) 542-8039.

Edah Haredit won't organize protests against gay parade

Jun. 15, 2008
Matthew Wagner , THE JERUSALEM POST

The Edah Haredit, an umbrella rabbinical organization that brings together some of the capital's most zealous haredim, will refrain from organizing demonstrations against the gay pride march slated for June 26.

In previous years the Edah spearheaded efforts to block the annual parade organized by the Jerusalem Open House. These demonstrations often deteriorated into fisticuffs between haredim and police, the burning of garbage bins and the blocking of roads.

However, this year a strategic decision was taken by the rabbis of the Edah Haredit not to call the faithful to the streets.

"We reached the conclusion that it would be better off not getting involved," said Shmuel Poppenheim, an activist of the Edah Haredit.

"We are not telling people not to demonstrate, but we are also not telling anyone to demonstrate, either. There will always be a few weirdos who will demonstrate no matter what. But we will not be responsible for them."

Asked the reason for the change in policy, Poppenheim said that unlike the previous march in June 2007, which drew participants from many countries, this year's parade was local in nature.

"It is not worth it to bring that filth into our houses, to involve yeshiva students in demonstrations against that depravity."

Poppenheim was commenting on the dilemma faces by rabbinical leaders in the haredi community. These leaders believe it is important to do everything in their power to stop the parades from taking place.

Nevertheless, they are concerned that by allowing young yeshiva men to get involved they are exposing their impressionable personalities to "negative" sexual influences.

This year, explained Poppenheim, the rabbis decided that the spiritual dangers of battling the parade outweighed the benefit of stopping the parade, which will not pass through haredi neighborhoods.

Gay couples discover surrogate option - who is the parent?

The issue of homosexuality is not a theoretical issue in Jewish identity - or even a rare incident. It is no longer limited to the question of individuals but now also includes marriage and families with two father or two mothers. The following concerns babies from two women - an egg donor and a birth mother. The sperm donor is one or perhaps both of the homosexual couple. In lesbian couples it could be one is a donor and a the partner is the birth mother - or that their is a 3 woman who is either the egg donor or the birth mother.

These are families who might want to live in our neighborhoods, attend out synagogues and have their children attend our schools. These are families who also might be interested in becoming more observant - how should communities, synagogues, schools and kiruv organizations respond? How does this impact people who want to convert?

======================================

The following appeared on YNET

New alternative for homosexual couples in Israel who desire children – surrogacy in US or India brokered by agencies specializing in single-sex planned parenthood
Liat Rotem-Melamed

Four years ago, after they had been together for six happy years, Dror and Gil Zitat-Mandelbaum decided it was time to expand their family. As a homosexual couple they knew their options in Israel were limited. They could either try their luck with adoption agencies abroad or, if they found it important to have a biological child, contact a woman who would agree to be artificially inseminated by one of them, also abroad.

Each option came with its own specific problems, but they had no alternative. Unlike lesbian couples, who can start a family with a simple sperm donation, male couples are not blessed with the luxury of a womb.

"We tried to adopt for many years and through many agencies," Dror recounted. "We paid a lot of money but it didn't work out. We didn't know we had the option of a surrogate mother." Today Dror and Gil are fathers to a pair of 10-month old twins, given birth to by a surrogate mom.

The surrogate law in Israel, dubbed "the law of accords for the carriage of fetuses", states that in order to be eligible for a surrogate agreement, the parents must be "a man and woman defined as a couple" which, of course, does not include gay couples. The idea of contacting a surrogate abroad is relatively new and applies only to the US, where prices range from 100 to 150 thousand dollars, and India, where the standard price is about $30,000.

Matter of choice

Ran Paul-Dayan, an Israeli living in the US with his partner, Greg, told Gil and Dror about this option. "They were the first couple who came to me with this problem," he said. "I told them about Circle Surrogacy, an American agency that provides surrogacy for gay couples and single people."

"A year ago 85% of the couples seeking the agency's help were local, but today over 40% are Israeli," said Paul-Dayan, who is currently the agency's Israeli contact and advisor. According to him, nine Israeli couples are currently "pregnant", nine others have recently signed on, and 20 more couples are currently being approved.

"The process undergone by a couple interested in surrogacy is very complex," Zitat-Mandelbaum explained. "There are a lot of legal documents, hundreds of checks, a lot of medical issues and a ton of bureaucracy. The process also includes two women – the egg donor and the surrogate. We contacted the agency and they took care of everything.[...]

Rav Moshe Sternbuch, shlita - Guidelines for calling the Police VII - critical addendum

I talked to Rav Sternbuch this Shabbos regarding the issue of whether a rabbi must always be consulted before calling the police.

In my first posting on the subject I reported that he said:

The rule is summarized simply – if one knows that someone is being physically abused or will be abused than it is required to call the police after consulting a rabbi who agrees he is a future danger as is common in such cases.


In response to the question as to whether a rabbi must be called, he said that the key issue is to ascertain whether the child is in danger or will be in danger. If it is obvious that that is the case - either because of one's direct knowledge or a responsible person has informed you of that fact - the police should be called.

Talking to others who have discussed the issue with him, they noted that Rav Sternbuch's focus is on the issue of harm to the child. When they told him about other poskim who have focused on "is the particular act truly sexual contact, or has the perpetrator promised to stop, or if the perpetrator agrees to be supervised" he got furious and said these approaches are nonsense. He is fully aware that therapy is not very successful and that the perpetrator is likely to repeat the crime.

Bottom line: If a child is in danger of being molested - the police need to be called. If there is any uncertainty - either regarding the facts or the seriousness of the incident - an experienced rabbi or professional should be consulted. However if it is clear that children are in danger of being molested - a rabbi does not have to be consulted. Rav Sternbuch concluded, "Let the molester rot in jail."

Rev. Hagee apologizes to Jews for 'God sent Hitler' comments

_{By Haaretz Service}

A prominent American televangelist and outspoken supporter of Israel publicly apologized Friday for remarking that the Holocaust was the work of divine providence, and that "God sent Adolf Hitler to help Jews reach the promised land."

"In a sermon in 1999, I grappled with the vexing question of why a loving God would allow the evil of the Holocaust to occur," John Hagee, the Texas-based preacher wrote in a letter to Anti-Defamation League director Abe Foxman. "I know how sensitive the issue of the Holocaust is and should be to the Jewish community and I regret if my Jewish friends felt any pain as a result."

Last month, audio of Hagee's remarks surfaced on the internet, prompting Republican presidential hopeful John McCain to disavow the pastor's prior endorsement of his candidacy.

Foxman issued a statement welcoming the pastor's apology. "Pastor Hagee has devoted his life to combating anti-Semitism and supporting the State of Israel," Foxman said. "We are grateful for his efforts to eradicate anti-Semitism and to rally so many in the Christian community to stand with Israel."

Labor Party MK Colette Avital, a former consul general in Israel's mission in New York, penned an op-ed piece for Haaretz earlier this month in which she called on the Israeli government to follow McCain's example and disassociate itself from Hagee.

"As someone familiar with the evangelicals' views and beliefs on the second coming of Jesus, there is nothing surprising to me about his statements," Avital wrote. "It only causes me to sigh in relief because the truth is coming out."

Ombudsman recommends firing rabbinic judge in Druckman saga

Jun. 12, 2008
Matthew Wagner , THE JERUSALEM POST

In another salvo in the ongoing battle surrounding state-sponsored conversions, Tova Strasberg-Cohen, a former Supreme Court judge and ombudsman of the judiciary, called on the Committee for the Appointment of Rabbinical Judges to consider removing Rabbi Avraham Sherman from his post as judge on the High Rabbinical Court for badmouthing the head of the National Conversion Authority Rabbi Haim Druckman.

Strasberg-Cohen's letter was addressed to Druckman and was a response to a complaint filed by Druckman against Sherman.

"In light of the serious faults in Rabbi Sherman's conduct, I find it appropriate to recommend that the Committee for the Appointment of Rabbinical Judges consider firing Sherman," the letter said.

"Sherman's behavior is not in accordance with the legal system's ethical standards nor is it in line with that system's fundamental principles.

"It seems to me that Rabbi Sherman's perception of the essence of his role and obligations is flawed. My impression is that Sherman has not internalized the problematic nature of his conduct and the way he ran the case against Druckman."

Strasberg-Cohen's letter comes after Sherman issued a 50-page document - half halachic decision, half diatribe - against Druckman and the Conversion Authority.

The document, in which Sherman discredits Druckman as a rabbinical judge, was copied and distributed during a conference for rabbinical judges several months ago.

Druckman was never given a chance to respond to the charges leveled against him, which included forgery, purposely transgressing Halacha and placing a stumbling block before the wider public.

The upshot of Sherman's document was that the validity of all the conversions performed by Druckman and other religious Zionist judges was questioned.

Doubt was cast on the Jewishness of literally thousands of converts and Druckman's good name was besmirched.

Strasberg-Cohen's letter includes a response from Sherman.

According to Strasberg-Cohen, Sherman said that the ombudsman did not have the power to judge the case since it involved halachic issues that "involved the very soul of the Jewish people".

Sherman also said that his accusations against Druckman were based on classified documents that belonged to the rabbinical courts and could not be shared with others.

In an official response released by the Rabbinical Courts in the name of Sherman, it was stated that the high rabbinical court judge had conducted himself in accordance with the Halacha, the law and ethical standards.

"Rabbi Sherman is sorry for the pain caused as a result of the publishing of the halachic opinion," read the press release.

"However, rabbinical judges are obligated to abide by the laws of the Torah as written and expounded upon by the great rabbis of each generation.

"According to Torah law it is forbidden for a judge to be partial out of deference to social standing or rank, especially in a ruling that deals with maintaining the purity of the Jewish people."

[...]

Religious Zionists & Rav Druckman - Divided on unity

JPost June 12, 2008

Matthew Wagner , THE JERUSALEM POST

The specter of early elections has thrown the splintered, embattled religious-Zionist camp into a mad rush to somehow consolidate its ranks and present a unified front.

The obsession with forever illusory unity was palpable this week at a conference that brought together hundreds of religious-Zionist leaders and educators.

Big names in religious Zionism, such as Rabbi Haim Druckman - the assailed outgoing head of the Conversion Authority - and Rabbi Ya'acov Shapira, head of the Mercaz Harav Yeshiva, called to "unify the ranks."

"Consolidating our political strength is absolutely essential right now," said Shapira. "It is our biggest challenge. It is the commandment of the hour."

Druckman, meanwhile, declared that religious Zionists have had "such a profound impact on the shaping of Israeli society that we deserve to make an impact politically as well."

"What would this country look like without religious Zionism?" he asked. "It would be a spiritual wasteland."

Druckman received a standing ovation from the crowd of several hundred who were crammed into the hot Givat Washington Educational Center's basketball stadium for the afternoon festivities that celebrated "60 years of religious Zionism in the Jewish state."

His popularity among religious Zionists has skyrocketed in recent months, following a bitter clash with the haredi rabbinical establishment over conversions. Druckman was lambasted by the haredim for allowing his Zionist, nationalistic ideological leanings to taint his conversion policies. Haredi rabbis accused him of purposely adopting flagrant leniencies that sharply deviated from normative Jewish law.

These leniencies were designed to make it easier for gentiles who came here under the Law of Return, including those who were not sincere about adhering to an Orthodox lifestyle, to be allowed to marry Israelis born to a Jewish mother - the halachic definition of Jewishness. Druckman, said the haredim, mistakenly believed that compromising Halacha was justified in the name of Zionistic goals, such as fostering a more cohesive Israeli society and preventing intermarriage.

The attack, which emphasized the deep ideological divide between religious Zionism and the haredi community, is also symptomatic of religious Zionism's decreasing influence within the Chief Rabbinate. Neither Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi Yona Metzger, who was placed in office by the haredi rabbinic establishment, nor Chief Sephardi Rabbi Shlomo Amar, who is strongly deferential to the haredi community, has come out openly in defense of a more lenient conversion policy.

The Chief Rabbinate was originally conceived and created by the founding father of religious Zionism, Rabbi Avraham Yitzhak Hakohen Kook, to provide rabbinical leadership for the challenges facing a modern Jewish nation. However, it has gradually been taken over by more haredi elements who do not view the creation of a Jewish state as a revolutionary change in Jewish reality that necessitates innovative halachic approaches.

Power within the Chief Rabbinate is directly related to political clout, since the religious affairs minister has broad powers in choosing the members of the body that elects the chief rabbis. Municipal politics also has a major influence on the appointment of mayors, city rabbis and heads of religious councils who are members of the election body.

The fall in religious-Zionist influence within the rabbinate has been coupled by a parallel rise in haredi power, particularly that of Shas, which cooperates with Ashkenazi haredim against the religious Zionists. Some examples of rising haredi influence within the rabbinate include the recent appointment of 19 rabbinical court judges, the vast majority of whom were connected either to Shas or United Torah Judaism; the decision by the Chief Rabbinate, later overruled by the High Court, to support a stringent version of shmita that boycotted Jewish-grown produce; and the recent conversion controversy, in which a panel of haredi High Rabbinical Court judges cast doubt on the validity of thousands of conversions performed by Druckman.

RELIGIOUS ZIONISTS have long lamented their inability to realize their full political potential. Although about 15 percent of the Jewish public attends national-religious schools, only about half of them voted for the two religious-Zionist parties in the Knesset - the National Religious Party and the National Union - which joined forces under a unified list in the last election, gaining just nine seats, less than 8% of the Knesset.

Voters who identify with religious Zionism's aims nevertheless choose to scatter their votes among various parties such as Kadima, Likud, Israel Beiteinu and Shas.

Yaki Sa'ada, director-general of Givat Washington and one of the organizers of the conference, said that part of reason for religious Zionism's failure politically is its emphasis on full integration into Israeli society. "We educate our children to take an active part in all aspects of Israeli society, from army service to business to academic pursuits," he said. "Why should we be surprised if religious Zionists end up developing independent and diverse political opinions?"

In parallel, unlike Shas, the religious-Zionist camp has failed to attract those who do not define themselves as Orthodox, but who are religious traditionalists.

The deterioration of religious Zionism's political clout has resulted in major setbacks in several areas. Perhaps the hardest hit has been education. Institutions from grade school through pre-military academies have seen their budgets cut. Religious Zionists barely avoided a deep cut in the budget for National Service, which is an option provided for female high school graduates who do not serve in the IDF for religious reasons.

But the prospects for unity do not look good. Although they might agree on the need for solidarity, religious Zionists are split on how to achieve it. No fewer than three new initiatives, all aimed at bringing together the diverse groups within religious Zionism, have been launched in recent months. Each disagrees with the others over the best unity-building strategy. All three seem to think the old NRP cannot represent all the streams within religious Zionism. [...]

Influence of non-Jewish maids and teachers on our children

Jersey Girl wrote "New Argentine Orthodox Jewish leader denies favori...":

[...]

A website for Christians looking for opportunities to evangelize Jews recommends South American Jews as prime targets for conversion to Christianity because:

"In South America, Jewish executives have been extremely successful. However, the more successful the Jewish executive in South America becomes, the greater tendency he may have to be assimilated into the Christian European society."

Perhaps this is true due to the tendency for wealthier people to hire servants to work in their homes. Chazal admonished us to be careful about the laws of Bishul Akum because transgressing these leads to intermarriage.

Shulchan Aruch 165 says that we should not let our children be taught by non-Jewish teachers to prevent our children being affected & influenced by them, and from being steered away from Torah ch"v.

Some try to justify the practice of hiring Christian teachers in yeshivas by quoting the Rama that Christians are not Idolators for this halacha, (it has been said that the Rama was forced to say this because he lived in a Christian society and did not want to upset the balance there).

How much more so are children influenced when their primary caregivers (maids) from birth are Christians?

I was sitting in a pizza shop in Boro Park a few years back and heard a three year old boy with peyos to his chest singing a perfect rendition of "Jesus es la Luz del Mundo" from John 8:1-30).

I went over to the little boy who was sitting with his mother and older siblings and conversed with him in Spanish. The mother was surprised that he spoke so animatedly with me because she said that at home he barely speaks(in Yiddish).

I asked her if she knew the song he was singing and she answered that "it was a lullaby the maid sings to him". I explained to her what he was singing.

I have repeated similar incidents many times over the years. When I meet frum children who I know have been cared for by maids, I converse with them in Spanish (in front of and with the permission of their parents). More often than not, when the young child is spoken to in Spanish, he will repeat parts of the Catechism etc.

I used to expect that frum parents would be horrified by this, but I have learned over the years that most families feel their children are immune to these influences in their homes because the children receive a yeshiva education.

In the face of rising numbers of frum kids going OTD, perhaps it is time to rethink the issue of Christian maids in our homes and the hiring of Christian secular studies teachers in yeshivas.

Naomi Ragen - A Modest Proposal [for the conversion crisis]

What follows are comments which I assume were sent by Naomi Ragen. I personally view them as a gross misunderstanding of the issue - but I do acknowledge that there are many who agree with her views. In the interest of civil dialogue with a sincere person who has a significant impact on society I am publishing her comments - even though I personally find them offensive. Improvement in the present situation does require greater mutual understanding than exists at present. Please note that since this is a moderated forum, I will reject all comments which I feel do not promote dialogue.

====================================

A Modest Proposal

By Naomi Ragen

What began as a routine divorce between a Danish-born convert and her Israeli husband now threatens to tear apart the country, opening deep wounds and revealing the ugly face of the haredi judges who rule Israel's Rabbinical Court system.

This all began during an uncontested divorce in Ashdod. Rabbi Avraham Attia, a member of the Ashdod Rabbinical Court, asked the woman a question or two about her religious observance (which was none of his business, by the way). Apparently, he didn't like her answer, or maybe he didn't like the way she was dressed. In any case, on February 22, 2007- ignoring the reason she had come to court in the first place- he ruled that her conversion was invalid! Since she was not Jewish, she was not really married to her husband and therefore did not need a divorce.

By overturning this woman's conversion, which had taken place in the special conversion court set up in 1995 to help convert many Russian soldiers and other immigrants who wanted to be Jewish, but found the Rabbinical Courts unwelcoming, Attia, and his haredi counterparts, were calling into question the validity of thousands of conversions that have taken place there, and insulting its head, Rabbi Haim Druckman, the spiritual leader of religious Zionism in Israel.

On April 22, 2007, the couple appealed the lower court decision to the Higher Rabbinical Court, arguing that the Ashdod court had exceeded its authority and violated religious law, disqualifying Druckman's court without giving him a chance to defend himself.

The Higher Court ignored these issues. Instead, it chose to deal only with the question of whether the woman was observant. Granting the divorce, the court also ruled that the Jewishness of the woman and her children was in doubt and needed to be re-examined, and that in the meantime the family should be added to the list of people who are forbidden to marry. Outrageously, they ruled that all Druckman's conversion decisions since 1999 should be canceled, and that marriage registrars not register a convert who does not look observant from his or her external appearance.

This unbelievable decision was not only a slap in the face to religious Zionism, but openly violated the severe Torah prohibition of oppressing the convert and causing them pain, i.e. Shemot 23:9 - "Do not oppress a convert; you know the feelings of a stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt."

Ruth (not her real name) is on my mailing list. She is a convert. This decision has broken her heart. She writes: "At what point will my children and I no longer have to worry that someone will unilaterally and arbitrarily remove the cloak of Torah and Jewish identity out of our self-definition? How many years - 30, 50, 100 - never?

Does this mean that if I ever speak a drop of lashon hara, or some of my hair peeks out from under my tichel, or my elbows become uncovered, or I wear my sandals without socks - that I must reckon with someone's claims that this is sufficient evidence to disclaim my Jewish soul? If the Rabbis today reject numerous sincere converts and needlessly oppress them, causing them untold pain, is this not a much more terrible sin than a convert who may not keep all her hair covered? We do not care to be involved in internal conflicts and back biting. We call upon all G-d fearing Jews to speak with one voice in our defense. We ask all Jews to not become embroiled and ensnared in this evil which will split the Jewish nation if not reined in now. We ask that you stand up for us and call our leaders to account."

Susan Weiss, an attorney for the Center for Justice for Women, who represents the Danish convert, has taken this case to Israel's Supreme Court. Her petition is aimed at Avraham Attia, Dayanim Avraham Sherman, Hagai Eiserer and Avraham Scheinfeld of the Higher Rabbinical Court. According to Weiss, the case highlights many of the faults of the rabbinical courts. "They have no concept of due process or fairness, and they display no sensitivity to those who come before them," she told Dan Izenburg of the Jerusalem Post.

I have a modest proposal. Since all the dayanim involved here have openly violated an oft stated Torah prohibition against"oppressing the convert," and have spoken slanderously against a fellow Rabbi (another strict prohibition), they can hardly be called G-d fearing or religious. In light of their behavior, I think we should retroactively take away their rabbinical ordination, and nullify all the decisions in which they've been involved. They should certainly be thrown out of their posts as judges.

Naomi

Acid attack on 14year old girl in Beitar Illit - not done by Modesty Patrol

IHC Follow-up

Subsequent to the report concerning the 14 year old girl from the town of Beitar Illit in Israel who had acid thrown on her, the IHC checked out the story with the Beitar Illit authorities to clarify the facts. A 14-year-old girl was in fact burned by acid being thrown on her. However the police have not named a suspect. According to Moshe Friedman, Media Advisor for Beitar Illit, this was apparently a teenage brawl or attack, where youngsters took the law into their own hands. The ‘modesty patrol’ does not do things this way; the Rabbis would never condone such actions. There are fringe groups in every city and Beitar Illit is no exception. The municipality attempts to work with these youngsters in various settings and 90% of them are actively participating in various programs. The municipality assists them in a professional capacity, both culturally, socially and educationally. The city is not ‘partially religious and partially secular’ as reported, but mostly religious, with quite a few ‘newly returned-to-Judaism’ families whose children are not ‘there’ yet and hence the trouble makers. 75% of these children are dealt with in specific frameworks. Approximately 100 boys and girls do not participate in these specialized settings.

---

Source: Israel Hasbara Committee, www.infoisrael.net.

Published 11 June 2008.

Permission is granted to use this material on condition the Israel
Hasbara Committee is properly credited and that it is not for commercial
purposes.

Religious Zionist MK warns conference RZ has become cult

Kadima MK warns Religious Zionism has become 'cult' [YNET]

Otniel Schneller speaks at Religious Zionism conference on education, economy society, says sector has lost its way and is demonstrating cult-like characteristics. 'Religious Zionism cannot stay closed up within itself, it will suffocate,' he says

by Kobi Nahshoni

"Religious Zionism has lost its true substance and has become a cult," said MK Otniel Schneller (Kadima) Wednesday at the Religious Zionism conference on education, the economy and society.

Dozens of rabbis, educators and public figures took part in the conference, which marked 60 years of Religious Zionism. The conference held various panels on subjects such as the breakdown of the educational system, the conversions crisis, the growing use of internet services among the religious sector, military prep-schools and the challenges the religious sector may face in view of the coming elections.

Speaking at one of the conference's panels, Schneller, a religions Jew, slammed the religious and political leadership of the national-religious public, saying "I grow up in an environment which perceived the rabbi as the 'whole'. The leaders of Religious Zionism have taken this whole and pulled it apart, supporting only one of its parts.

"The fight for the Land of Israel is important, but hailing it as the sole theme makes Religious Zionism a cult. I know many of you will resent this definition, but this wasn't the way taught by the Religious Zionism I grew up on."

Schneller went on to criticize the Religious Zionism rabbis' involvement in politics, saying that every decision religious politicians want to make must be clear by the rabbis first. "We've become nothing but a small group of kippah wearers," he said.

The lawmaker went on to say he does not like to use the term "Religious Zionism" as the title of his public sector, seeing how "it is a leaden term which constricts instead of expands."

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