For first time, Israel to recognize Reform and Conservative rabbis

Granted, they're only paying 15 of them and they'll be funded out of the Ministry of Culture and Sports rather than the Ministry of Religious Affairs, but it's a starting point. For years Israel has been funding Orthodox congregations and non-Orthodox movements barely get a cent.

Article from HaAretz

HaAretz page with links to several commentaries:

Here

Some people argue that Israel, as a historically Sephardic/Mizrachi country, does not have a need for non-Orthodox movements. However, as Sephardic rabbis become increasingly Ashkenazified by being pressured to wear Eastern European black hat garb, going to Ashkenazi yeshivot with their pilpul methods, and abandoning tolerance for those not fully observant, I think there is room for Reform and Conservative in Israel. The hard part is getting the word out to Israelis, that Reform and Conservative Judaism are not just clubs for American and English-speaking olim (immigrants) but forms of Judaism for those who want to be religiously Jewish but still be tolerant and accepting of others.

usuario wrote:

Granted, they're only paying 15 of them and they'll be funded out of the Ministry of Culture and Sports rather than the Ministry of Religious Affairs, but it's a starting point. For years Israel has been funding Orthodox congregations and non-Orthodox movements barely get a cent.

Article from HaAretz

HaAretz page with links to several commentaries:

Here

Some people argue that Israel, as a historically Sephardic/Mizrachi country, does not have a need for non-Orthodox movements. However, as Sephardic rabbis become increasingly Ashkenazified by being pressured to wear Eastern European black hat garb, going to Ashkenazi yeshivot with their pilpul methods, and abandoning tolerance for those not fully observant, I think there is room for Reform and Conservative in Israel. The hard part is getting the word out to Israelis, that Reform and Conservative Judaism are not just clubs for American and English-speaking olim (immigrants) but forms of Judaism for those who want to be religiously Jewish but still be tolerant and accepting of others.

I have read as many articles as I could find because this is a really huge change. Anat Hoffman came to my temple not to long ago and she spoke of the lack of religious diversity in Israel.

She said that Jews in the diaspora who are involved in the progressive movements within Judaism should become active in how Judaism is practiced in Israel because what happens in Israel does affect us in the diaspora.

I am hopeful that the orthodox will now not be the only movements funded by the israeli government and that this is a start of more diversity in Israel.

I know many Israelis who live in my area and they are not involved with orthodoxy in this country. As soon as they left Israel they became active within different movements because they have the freedom to do so and much more choice as to how they wanted to be Jewish.

But there is a huge gap between what Israelis understand about the progressive movements. In Israel they don't seem to really have a grasp on what Reform, or Conservative really are.

Sometimes I see the same misinformation from Jews in this country. I see misinformation among Jews by choice as to the movements. I see misunderstanding especially towards the Reform movement. I think that there are folks who went to a reform service maybe 10 years ago and that is how they view the reform movement. My Temple does not look like a church, nor does the service look like a Christian service. It looks very Jewish. Even in conversion my Rabbi expects that the rituals of conversion be followed and my temple is one of the most active in adult learning.

http://www.irac.org/

The public and legal advocacy arm of the Reform Movement in Israel, IRAC was founded in 1987 with the goals of advancing pluralism in Israeli society and defending the freedoms of conscience, faith, and religion. Today IRAC is the preeminent civil and human rights organization in Israel focusing on the issues of religion and state and is the leading Jewish organization that advocates on behalf of a broadly inclusive Israeli democracy, infusing social justice advocacy with the spiritual energy and humane worldview of Progressive Judaism.

IRAC uses litigation, legislation, public policy and advocacy to advance civic equality. These activities have established IRAC as a leading Jewish organization working to strengthen the democratic character of Israeli society.

And in other (less positive) news from Israel:

Quote :

Fears of a historic rift between the Chief Rabbinate and Orthodox rabbis overseas have been sparked by the Chief Rabbinate's recent decision not to recognize conversions and divorce decrees (gets) by most Orthodox rabbis abroad.

(my emphasis on "Orthodox")

Here is the full HaAretz article:
Rabbinate no longer recognizes overseas conversions

I believe that it means that many (most?) Orthodox converts whose conversions were done outside of Israel do not even qualify to make Aliyah under Law of Return.