Washington, D.C. – In an effort to address the widening gap between the Israeli Chief Rabbinate and the American Jewry, U.S. Congressman Eliot Engel (D-New York) fired off a letter on Friday to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asking for his assistance in dealing with the Chief Rabbinate’s decision to unilaterally reject Jewish status letters written by his constituent, Rabbi Avi Weiss of New York.
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Calling it a “troubling development,” Engel states in his letter, “I have become aware that the Chief Rabbinate has taken upon itself to unilaterally reject Jewish status letters written by my constituent, Rabbi Avraham Weiss of New York, on behalf of those seeking to marry in the state of Israel.”
Engel writes that “This trend of rejecting status letters written by Rabbis Weiss and others undermines the bond between Diaspora communities and the state of Israel, and I fear, may ultimately lead to the wholesale prohibition on community rabbis in the Diaspora from participating in the religious life of Jewish people in Israel.”
Citing numerous distinctions held by Rabbi Weiss with regard to his knowledge of, and commitment to, Jewish law, Engel states that ” Rabbi Weiss has for many years supplied Jewish status letters to those seeking to marry in Israel without raising questions about his halachic credentials by the Chief Rabbinate. To those such as myself who have known Rabbi Weiss for many years, it would be unthinkable to question his commitment to Jewish law.”
“As dismayed as I and many of my constituents may be by the Chief Rabbinate’s decision in regards to Rabbi Weiss specifically,” Engel continues, “I am concerned that this is simply the latest instance of the broader marginalization of the many diverse streams of Judaism in Israel. If Rabbi Weiss’ credentials are rejected – an Orthodox leader with decades of experience – what does that portend for other strands of American Judaism? Is the Chief Rabbinate similarly prepared to investigate the halachik bona fides of various ultra-Orthodox elements with which it disagrees?”
“Furthermore,” Engel states, “I believe that it is profoundly inappropriate for the Chief Rabbinate to cast aspersions on any individual’s commitment to Jewish traditions simply because of differing religious customs and practices.”
Engel states, “It is my hope that religious leaders such as Rabbi Weiss will no longer be impeded by the Chief Rabbinate in the execution of their religious duties in Israel. The state, be it in Israel or in America, has no justification for impeding a rabbi’s religious duty to tend to the spiritual needs of his or her congregants, particularly when it comes to the sensitive issue of affirming an individual’s commitment to Jewish customs and tradition.”
In conclusion, Engel writes, “Mr. Prime Minister, we turn to you for assistance in stemming an unnecessary and deeply unhelpful overstep by the Chief Rabbinate.”
Kal Hakavod Eliot!
Where does Engel draw the line saying “I believe that it is profoundly inappropriate for the Chief Rabbinate to cast aspersions on any individual’s commitment to Jewish traditions simply because of differing religious customs and practices.”
Does he want them to recognize those “rabbis” who are part of the irreligious movements, or the likes of the late “rabbi” Berg of kaballah fame?
I wonder if it would be appropriate if the Chief Rabbinate of Israel told Congress how to conduct itself?
And his place in this machlokes is….what, again?
What is inapproriate, Mr. Engel, is for a member of the US Congress, to lecture the Chief Rabbinate of Israel as to what is and is not appropriate. This is the case regardless of how you feel about the Rabbinates decision.
I would urge Rabbi Weiss to discuss this with Mr. Engel, and request that this is not helpful, warranted and definitely not appropriate.
Stoic reality. American Rabbis probably do not like to be shunned by the nation we helped Create ourselves. Think about the hypocrisy. Just because you are in the holy land does not mean that American futures were not involved. So yes, Mr. Engel has a point.