Enlightened Reform Movement Equally Disappointed in Israel and the Palestinians
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Richard J. Jacobs, Reform rabbi and president of the Union for Reform Judaism, the congregational arm of the Reform movement in North America, representing an estimated 1.5 million Reform Jews.
The term “Two states for two people” is beginning to emerge these days as a definition of the Jews of Israel and their recently related Jews of the United States. Yesterday we were treated to a story about an Upper West Side synagogue rejoicing in the upgrading of the Palestinian Liberation Organization to a UN member state, and today our brothers and sisters across the mighty ocean are joining with the rest of the so called “civilized nations” in condemning plans for Jews to build homes in their homeland.
Are we even related any more?
Here’s the press release as it appears on the URJ website:
Reform Movement Focuses on Follow Up To UN Vote Upgrading Palestinian StatusNew Policy Statement: Condemns Palestinians for Unilateral UN Action; Calls for American Leadership; Opposes Immediate Punitive Responses; Calls on Israel to Halt Plans for Expansion in West Bank E1 area
In a new policy statement adopted by the Union for Reform Judaism and the Central Conference of American Rabbis, the nation’s largest Jewish denomination addressed the full array of issues flowing from the decision of the UN to upgrade the official status of the Palestinians.
The statement, adopted overwhelmingly after a full debate by more than 200 board members at yesterday’s meeting of the Union of Reform Judaism’s North American Board of Trustees, “Condemn[s] the Palestinian Authority for the unilateral decision to seek upgraded status at the United Nation as counterproductive to the cause of peace, and express[es] … deep concern to those countries that supported the upgraded status, and to those who abstained.”
The resolution, which is available here, was supported by the Zionist arms of the Reform Movement – ARZA and ARZA Canada. The Central Conference of American Rabbis fully endorsed the resolution today.
The resolution “Commend[s] the U.S. and Canada for their forceful and consistent efforts to prevent consideration of, and for their votes against, the General Assembly’s decision to upgrade the Palestinian’s status. It further urges the “United States and Canada to act assertively in facilitating a return to negotiations and to take other steps that would strengthen the prospects for a negotiated two-state solution.”
The URJ and the CCAR also reiterated longstanding concern about Israeli settlement building, and expressed opposition to the Israeli government’s plans to move forward with building in the critical E1 area. The resolutions note that “Settlements in E1—the area connecting Jerusalem to a city which is one of the larger Israeli settlements—would split the Ramallah region off from Bethlehem, effectively cutting the West Bank in two and making a contiguous Palestinian state virtually impossible.” It further said that “Building there makes progress toward peace far more challenging, and is difficult to reconcile with the Government of Israel’s stated commitment to a two-state solution. At the same time, we recognize that this week’s action–beginning the permitting process for new settlement–is only the first step in a long, and by no means inevitable, process.”
There you go, even handed, polite, very concerned. I wish all the other gentiles were this nice to us when they sold us down the river.
Because this certainly doesn’t read like something your brothers or sisters would write when you’re in the midst of being attacked by the entire world, practically.
The same URJ website features a fig leaf in the form of a fund raiser to support terror victims in Israel.:
We Stand With IsraelDuring this difficult time, we support the people of Israel
The Jewish Federations of North America’s Israel Terror Relief Fund is a vital way to stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Israel at this critical time. Jewish Federations have committed up to $5 million to the Israel Terror Relief Fund for the immediate needs of the people of Israel, especially in the South, through both existing reserve funds and new contributions from Federations.
It’s nice to get a gift from America, and $5 million will go a long way towards repairing the billions in damage – assuming URJ doesn’t keep a cut to cover their “costs.” But they could keep their lovely money and instead behave like family.
Here’s how it’s done in a family: when a relative is in pain – if you can’t support him outright, and that’s understandable – at least shut the bloody hell up. Don’t go preaching to people living in Ma’ale Adumim how much better off they would be once the trucks come to pick them up to make room for a contiguous Palestinian state. Shut up and let your family be.
tell a friendAbout the Author: JewishPress.com Senior Internet Editor Yori Yanover has been a working journalist since age 17, before he enlisted and worked for Ba'Machane Nachal. Since then he has worked for Israel Shelanu, the US supplement of Yedioth, JCN18.com, USAJewish.com, Lubavitch News Service, Arutz 7 (as DJ on the high seas), and the Grand Street News. He has published two fun books: The Cabalist's Daughter: A Novel of Practical Messianic Redemption, and How Would God REALLY Vote.
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Jewish friends of Israel-J-Street, Bnai Jeshurun, and CCAR would mean very well.
and continue until Israel was completely destroyed.
The people they are trying to defend would if given the chance not hesitate to slit the throats of each one of them.
I have said it before. I will say it again. On issues of religious pluralism in the nation state of the Jewish People, issues that affect REFORM Jews and their movement, the URJ is the appropriate body to lobby the Israeli government on the behalf of its members.
On issues of security, defense, international affairs, JEWS is JEWS – not Reform, Conservative, Orthodox,. As such, SUPPORT the Israeli government, or, at least publicly, KEEP QUIET. Our divisiveness gives aid and comfort to those who would see us ALL exterminated, regardless of which branch of Judaism we profess to follow. Sinat chinam will be our downfall once again.
Despite his reassuring words on his ascension to the Presidency last year, Rabbi Jacobs disappoints.
Until the Palestines and Hamas terrorists agree to the fact that Israel has a right to exist there is nothing to talk about.
There is Smart, and there is Wise, there are lots of Smart Jews out there, but not many with Wisdom.
I wish I could "like" this more than once!
Ahavas Isroel means to love ALL Jews, even the misinformed, self hating, deluded ones. I pray they will wake up and open their eyes to the truth of Torah.
I want these So called Jews to go and live in Ashdod Or Shderot and feel how these Israeli's lives under attack by rockets for so long!
Please don't forget that these are the same human beings that lobbied Rooseveldt to keep the Jews out of America as they would cause anti-Semitism – as if it didn't exist already – and sent the Jews on the St Louis plus those in Eastern Europe to the camps, great suffering and gas chambers. What do you want from them? Do you think their children and grandchildren know how they behaved then and the possible consequences of their behaviour now? They have forgotten the meaning and experiences of Jew hatred.
That 200 self important and self appointed Jews profess to represent 1.5 million other reform Jews is false on its face. One can only represent another with their express permission. Attending a synagogue, paying dues, and following a Rabbi in prayer does not grant the Rabbi the right to speak for them on political matters. That goes for my rabbi, too. These people who do represent the highest ethical and moral standards have an obligation to get congregants’ express permission to criticize the Israeli government and publically announce the total. What an embarrassment that would be! Otherwise, they are playing a cynical game and need to resign their positions.
That 200 self important and self appointed Jews profess to represent 1.5 million other reform Jews is false on its face. One can only represent another with their express permission. Attending a synagogue, paying dues, and following a Rabbi in prayer does not grant the Rabbi the right to speak for them on political matters. That goes for my rabbi, too. These people who do represent the highest ethical and moral standards have an obligation to get congregants’ express permission to criticize the Israeli government and publically announce the total. What an embarrassment that would be! Otherwise, they are playing a cynical game and need to resign their positions.