Female Israeli Reform rabbis speak out in favor of contact with Arabs

[oberliner]

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Female Israeli Reform rabbis issued a letter slamming some elements of a call earlier this week for Jewish women to shun contact with Arab men.

"We, rabbis of the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism, oppose interfaith marriages, but we consider professional and social contacts between us and all of Israel's citizens and residents to be positive -- regardless of race, religion or sex," the new letter, dated Wednesday, read. The letter is signed by the 40 female Reform rabbis who are part of the rabbinical council of the Israel Movement for Progressive and Reform Judaism.

The letter came in response to a statement distributed earlier this week by Lehava, an organization dedicated to preventing intermarriage between Jews and Arabs, and signed by 27 Israeli rabbis' wives that urged Jewish women not to date or work with Arab men.

Several weeks ago, several dozen Israeli municipal rabbis signed a letter calling on Jews not to sell or rent properties to non-Jews. That letter met with strong condemnation, particularly from American rabbis.

This week's Reform letter said, "Jews who are confidant in their Jewish identity do not have to fear contact with people from other nations." It went on, "Dialogue and social contact between Jews and non-Jews are the foundations of a healthy society. The way to strengthen the Jewish identity of our sons and daughters is through education, not incitement and fear. "

http://www.jta.org/news/article/2010/12/30/2742367/female-reform-rabbis-respond-to-rabbis-wives-letter

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. sanity still exists in parts of that world.

pity it isn't more contagious.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

2. Women rabbis have a minimal following in Israel

The secularists (vast majority of Israelis) don't care and the conservative, orthodox, and haredi reject women rabbis.

[oberliner]

3. You have no idea what you are talking about

Firstly, these rabbis are members of the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism, a group which works with numerous secular human rights groups throughout Israel and internationally.

Secondly, you are completely wrong about women rabbis in general, as anyone who actually knows anything about the subject can tell you that there are a growing number of conservative women rabbis.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

5. Not at a practical level

The progressive Judaism movement indeed coordinates with human rights NGOs in the past but it is mostly ignored in Israel. They have no real impact.

Masorti movement amongst others is conservative and supports women rabbis, but there are still very few in Israel. They are much more common outside of Israel and in Reform and other more liberal Jewish groups.

Yes they are growing number of women rabbis but not in any significance and they are actively opposed by the Orthodox and the Haredi, the religious groups in Israel with all the authority and power.

[whosinpower]

4. I posted something from the same statement

To you in another posting.

At least, I am assuming it is the same statement, although the article is linked to Jerusalem Post.