Response to the Israeli High Court of Justice Ruling of May 19, 2009


Resolution Adopted by the CCAR

CCAR Resolution in Response to the Israeli High Court of Justice Ruling of May 19, 2009

Adopted by the CCAR Board of Trustees
June 10, 2009

Background

The CCAR has frequently spoken out against government-enabled discrimination against Non-Orthodox streams of Judaism in Israel. Most recently, earlier this year, meeting in Jerusalem, we adopted a CCAR Resolution Calling upon the Government of Israel to Recognize Rabbi Miri Gold and to Cease Discrimination against Non-Orthodox Jews. In 2006, we adopted a CCAR Resolution on Non-Orthodox Marriage and Divorce in Israel. The situation, as described in those two resolutions and others remains sadly unchanged.

However, two recent developments deserve our attention at this time:

The Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC) was victorious in a ruling issued by Israel’s High Court of Justice on May 19, 2009, requiring the State to provide equal funding for Reform and Conservative conversion classes. While this advance may appear modest, Anat Hoffman, IRAC Executive Director, wrote, “This is the first time that the Court has declared that government funding must be provided to non-Orthodox Jewish religious services in Israel.” Hoffman continued: “The three judge panel, including Chief Justice Dorit Beinisch, found the State’s practice of favoring only one Jewish stream discriminatory and contradictory to the their responsibility to ensure freedom of religion, ruling ‘The duty of the State to pluralism is not only a passive duty, but an active one as well.'”

Earlier, at its 2009 Plenum, the Rabbinical Assembly called “upon the State of Israel to privatize the chief rabbinate and dissolve it as a governmental organization . . . [while] uphold[ing] the principle of State support for religious endeavors in Israel and call[ing] for financial resources to be allocated equitably to the major streams of Judaism.”

Therefore, Be It Resolved, that the Central Conference of American Rabbis:

  • Welcomes the recent decision of Israel’s High Court of Justice acknowledging “the duty of the State to pluralism” and requiring the State to provide equal funding for Reform and Conservative conversion classes.

  • Calls upon the Israeli government to act speedily to redress all Israeli laws and official practices that favor only one Jewish stream, which the High Court of Justice has called “discriminatory.” Such laws and practices include issues, including matters of personal status, which have been delegated to the Chief Rabbinate and to various governmental ministries.

  • Applauds the Rabbinical Assembly’s call for the dissolution of the Chief Rabbinate as a governmental organization and adds its voice to that plea.

  • Celebrates the outstanding work of IRAC and pledges its continued support of that institution and its critical efforts in so many areas of Israeli life.

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