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THE FUNDAMENTAL CORE OF BEING JEWISH MEANS THAT YOU HAVE TO BE RACIST.
THE TREND TOWARDS ASSIMILATION IS TO BE CELEBRATED.
Student
====================================
Dangers of assimilation
Op-ed: Our nation's future depends on renewal of alliance between Israeli,
American Jews
Bambi Sheleg
Published: 12.31.12, 10:51 / Israel Opinion
Rabbi Yuval Cherlow, one of the heads of the Tzohar rabbinical organization and
the head of a yeshiva in Petach Tikva, returned from a visit to the US with the
understanding that the Jews are becoming increasingly assimilated into
mainstream American life. In an article published on the yeshiva's website he
determined that "the assimilation percentages are horrible. It is estimated
that about 50% of students who can be linked to Judaism do not have two Jewish
parents. Some very serious studies show that 5% of New Yorkers who identify
themselves as Jews are not Jews according to any definition (not even the
Reformist definition) and have not gone through any conversion process - even
Reform conversion ? yet they still consider themselves to be Jewish."
In his article the rabbi discusses the possible ways to reverse this trend and
notes its far-reaching consequences on the future of the State of Israel. Just
hours after the article was published, Rabbi Cherlow was forced to publish
another article in which he defended himself from the wild onslaught by
reactionary circles claiming he recognizes Reform conversion.
Israel-US Ties
We're losing America's Jews / Yitzhak Benhorin
Op-ed: Israelis may wake up to reality of one state for two peoples and find
that US Jews have abandoned them
Full Story
This is one of our greatest national tragedies: One cannot discuss any
existential issue without being accused of crossing the lines. Rabbi Cherlow is
an Orthodox rabbi who fears for the fate of the Jewish people and the future of
the State of Israel. Why should he have to keep proving that he is loyal to the
Halacha?
The issue Rabbi Cherlow's article touched on is too important to be left in the
hands of those who are currently dealing with it. The future of the Jewish
nation is not a matter that belongs to the Orthodoxy, the Reform Movement or
any other Jewish institution. This issue is significant to all Jews living
today.
The Jewish nation sustained a severe blow during the past century. On September
1, 1939 there were 17.5 million Jews in the world. Today, according to the most
optimistic estimations, there are 13.5 million Jews. While Orthodox Jews in
Israel and abroad have a high birth rate, there are less than two million of
them. Their belief that they are the sole and legal heirs of the Jewish nation
has no statistical basis.
The significance of the assimilation process in America is that if we do not
act fast in the fields of culture, identity, education that connect all Jews -
particularly American and Israeli Jews ? the State of Israel will also suffer
from the decline in the number of Jews worldwide. Any damage caused to Israel
will directly affect the Jewish nation's ability to develop and prosper.
Reversing the trend in America requires national dialogue, which has yet to
begin. This dialogue must deal openly with beliefs and opinions, without hatred
or fear. Even those who do not agree with the liberal and Reform Jews must
realize that these are the only Jews we have. They are our family and, like us,
are the sole heirs of the Jewish past and its future prospects. Boycotting
them, criticizing their lifestyle, humiliating their rabbis and shaming them at
the Kotel or anywhere else constitutes a national crime and indicates a lack of
understanding of the national reality and its implications.
The American Jews survived the Holocaust with us, and we must renew the
alliance with them for the sake of our national future.
Bambi Sheleg is an Israeli journalist and founding editor of the magazine Eretz
Acheret
Israel News
World News
Israel Opinion
Jewish
Israel Business
Israel Culture
Israel Travel
THE FUNDAMENTAL CORE OF BEING JEWISH MEANS THAT YOU HAVE TO BE RACIST.
THE TREND TOWARDS ASSIMILATION IS TO BE CELEBRATED.
Student
====================================
Dangers of assimilation
Op-ed: Our nation's future depends on renewal of alliance between Israeli,
American Jews
Bambi Sheleg
Published: 12.31.12, 10:51 / Israel Opinion
Rabbi Yuval Cherlow, one of the heads of the Tzohar rabbinical organization and
the head of a yeshiva in Petach Tikva, returned from a visit to the US with the
understanding that the Jews are becoming increasingly assimilated into
mainstream American life. In an article published on the yeshiva's website he
determined that "the assimilation percentages are horrible. It is estimated
that about 50% of students who can be linked to Judaism do not have two Jewish
parents. Some very serious studies show that 5% of New Yorkers who identify
themselves as Jews are not Jews according to any definition (not even the
Reformist definition) and have not gone through any conversion process - even
Reform conversion ? yet they still consider themselves to be Jewish."
In his article the rabbi discusses the possible ways to reverse this trend and
notes its far-reaching consequences on the future of the State of Israel. Just
hours after the article was published, Rabbi Cherlow was forced to publish
another article in which he defended himself from the wild onslaught by
reactionary circles claiming he recognizes Reform conversion.
Israel-US Ties
We're losing America's Jews / Yitzhak Benhorin
Op-ed: Israelis may wake up to reality of one state for two peoples and find
that US Jews have abandoned them
Full Story
This is one of our greatest national tragedies: One cannot discuss any
existential issue without being accused of crossing the lines. Rabbi Cherlow is
an Orthodox rabbi who fears for the fate of the Jewish people and the future of
the State of Israel. Why should he have to keep proving that he is loyal to the
Halacha?
The issue Rabbi Cherlow's article touched on is too important to be left in the
hands of those who are currently dealing with it. The future of the Jewish
nation is not a matter that belongs to the Orthodoxy, the Reform Movement or
any other Jewish institution. This issue is significant to all Jews living
today.
The Jewish nation sustained a severe blow during the past century. On September
1, 1939 there were 17.5 million Jews in the world. Today, according to the most
optimistic estimations, there are 13.5 million Jews. While Orthodox Jews in
Israel and abroad have a high birth rate, there are less than two million of
them. Their belief that they are the sole and legal heirs of the Jewish nation
has no statistical basis.
The significance of the assimilation process in America is that if we do not
act fast in the fields of culture, identity, education that connect all Jews -
particularly American and Israeli Jews ? the State of Israel will also suffer
from the decline in the number of Jews worldwide. Any damage caused to Israel
will directly affect the Jewish nation's ability to develop and prosper.
Reversing the trend in America requires national dialogue, which has yet to
begin. This dialogue must deal openly with beliefs and opinions, without hatred
or fear. Even those who do not agree with the liberal and Reform Jews must
realize that these are the only Jews we have. They are our family and, like us,
are the sole heirs of the Jewish past and its future prospects. Boycotting
them, criticizing their lifestyle, humiliating their rabbis and shaming them at
the Kotel or anywhere else constitutes a national crime and indicates a lack of
understanding of the national reality and its implications.
The American Jews survived the Holocaust with us, and we must renew the
alliance with them for the sake of our national future.
Bambi Sheleg is an Israeli journalist and founding editor of the magazine Eretz
Acheret