New York – Following explosive comments made by Israel’s Religious Affairs Minister David Azoulay questioning the authenticity of Reform Jews, the Rabbinical Council of America, the largest association of Orthodox rabbis, is in damage control, issuing a statement affirming that Reform Jews are, in fact, Jews.
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The RCA statement reads in part: “. . . All Jews, regardless of their observance or belief, are full members of the Jewish people, and are our brothers and sisters. . .
The RCA, representing traditional standards of religious practice and definition of Jewishness, has well-known objections to some of the fundamental tenets of Reform Judaism. There is no question, however, that we certainly embrace all members of the Jewish community. This is clearly the undisputed position of Jewish law. In addition, our late teacher Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik spoke of a covenant of peoplehood that is defined by our shared history and common fate that binds together all Jews as one people. The ties that bind us to all other Jews are strong and eternal.”
RCA Executive Vice President Mark Dratch added that he is concerned Azoulay’s remarks “will hamper the efforts we all support to bring all Jews closer to their religious legacy, and alienate many with whom we work daily to strengthen both the State of Israel and our own community.”
While calling Minister Azoulay out for his “intemperate statement,” the RCA also defended him, saying it seems from the “context” that Azoulay was challenging the validity of Reform Jews’ “religious expression” and not their “essential Jewishness.”
As we approach Tisha B’av, it is good to remember the Churbon (and what led to this) and not to follow the hatred typified by the story of Kamtza and Bar Kamtza.
It seems like similar hatred might be present in the statement and behavior of Israel’s Religious Affairs Minister David Azoulay.
on the contrary, i believe Azoulay was referring to their “essential Jewishness.” That means whether they were born of a Jewish mother and/or converted al pi authentic halacha.
A jew is a jew even when he sins, and nobody can repudiate that statement
Azoulay will backfire. The reform jew will be more considered in his own anger and resentment against Israel and therefore they will continue their negativity with more hostility.
Overall, this is a marking point for Jewish inter-jewish relations.
There is no continued hope for kiruv if you damn the worry of the poor.
Such is that, we must not forget that we can help the reform jew learn more about Torah, grow with Israel, encouragement to read and study Tanakh and find Eventually a Torah life.
This is not a war of the future to be our folly.
We must find a place in our own values to include the entire K’lal Yisrael in our seldom but often experiences with the non-orthodox jew and we must stand as Ambassadors for Torah.
There is no place in our community for hostile aggression.
Torah must be our future and if we condemn the reform for being outside our interests, Hashem will condemn us for being outside of his.
This is not very intelligent.
Make Kiruv and hope that the reform and conservative sham will be limited and eventually pulled from society.
That is our goal.
I think Religious Affairs Minister David Azoulay should be considered to be fired by whoever hired him. His statement is a hillul Hashem, if it was done as presented by the media. We need a religious leader, or representative, that unites all Jewish people. This guy doesn’t seem to be doing that. He probably does not have the mental and heart skills for the job.