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November 5, 1999/26 Cheshvan 5760, Vol. 52, No.10
Debate over pluralism heading back to court
AVI MACHLIS
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
JERUSALEM - Israel's Reform and Conservative movements are heading back to the courts to press their efforts to gain recognition for their conversions.
In the latest round of the pluralism battle, the movements rejected a request by Rabbi Michael Melchior, minister of Diaspora relations and social affairs, to delay an upcoming hearing on Conservative conversions. The request came last week as a new governmental committee was forming to deal with conversion and other pluralism issues, including who can serve on local religious councils, and mixed-gender prayer services at the Western Wall.
The committee represents the first high-level attempt to address the controversial issues that have divided the movements since Prime Minister Ehud Barak was elected in May. The liberal movements have repeatedly sought to gain recognition for their movements and institutions in Israel. The Orthodox fear that any change in the so-called status quo, which gives the Orthodox control over Jewish religious issues, would weaken the Jewish character of Israel.
The committee is also the first high-level effort to tackle religious pluralism issues since the dissolution of the Ne'eman Commission, which was formed under the government of Benjamin Netanyahu. Melchior, a modern Orthodox rabbi, said the committee's purpose is to "strengthen unity among the Jewish people in Israel and the Diaspora" and to promote "dialogue between the streams."
Although Reform and Conservative leaders are pleased with his goal to promote dialogue, they say they don't expect much from the committee and are disappointed that they are not on the committee itself. Only three of the 11 ministers on the committee, including Melchior, showed up for the first meeting last week.
"I do not have high expectations from this committee," said Rabbi Uri Regev, director of the Reform movement's Israel Religious Action Center. "The committee does not have the authority to decide. ... I feel that the committee may be an unfortunate exercise in further prolonging the process."
In expressing his hopes for the committee, Melchior has pointed to the fact that Cabinet ministers across the political spectrum will address the issues there.
Regev's comments reflect the feeling among the liberal streams that pressing ahead in court may be the only way to keep the government moving on the pluralism issues, including conversion and inclusion on religious councils.
On Nov. 8, an expanded panel of 11 Supreme Court judges is expected to hold a hearing on the cases of Conservative conversions of adopted babies, despite the state attorney's request for a delay in line with Melchior's request. Only one family remains of the original 12 petitioners, but the Conservative movement insists on a precedential ruling.
Several other cases, including another 40 converts represented by the Reform movement's Religious Action Center, are being held up until this case is completed. Regev said these cases must be continued in court because the status of these converts is an ongoing tragedy. Without formalizing their status, they must renew temporary tourist visas every three months and have difficulty getting work or health insurance.
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