Despite the looming Iranian nuclear crisis endangering Israel’s very existence, the bill’s opponents jeopardized Israel’s congressional support, placing their movement’s narrow concerns above the security of the Jewish state.
Finally, let us consider what would happen if efforts to change the status quo are successful. The results would be catastrophic for Jewish unity. Non-halachic conversions could throw into question the Jewish lineage and hence the Jewish credentials of non-Orthodox Jews. Orthodox Jews might be forced to maintain their own lineage lists and marry only within the Orthodox community.
This nightmare scenario is not farfetched. It has occurred several times in the course of Jewish history, when deviant Jewish sects – which, not coincidentally, have disappeared – strayed from traditional practices relating to conversion, marriage and divorce.
It is self-evident, or should be, that Israel’s laws must be determined only by those who defend its security and bear its burdens. But permit me to suggest an ethical alternative to our Jewish brethren in the Diaspora: Immigrate to Israel.
All Jews are welcome: secular, Reform, Conservative and Orthodox. They are our brothers and sisters, and we will greet them with great joy. As citizens they would then legitimately be entitled to struggle to enact their views into law.
Until such time, however, they should stop opposing the Rotem bill and allow it to pass in January. As the Day of Atonement nears, all of us should pray for the unity of the Jewish people and ask the Almighty to forgive the sins of our callous hearts. (JTA)
Rabbi Shlomo Moshe Amar is the Sephardic chief rabbi of Israel.
