U.S. Jews Urge Israel to Reject Law on Converts

A group of 27 American Jewish organizations have sent letters to top government leaders in Israel urging them to reject a change in Israeli law that would grant Orthodox rabbis authority over all Jewish conversions, Israel Radio said Saturday.

Many Jews abroad and within Israel oppose such a law because they feel it would reduce the status of rabbis in Reform and Conservative congregations and be a step in granting a single branch of Judaism hegemony in the varied world Jewish community.

The letter said passage of the measure would “inflict enormous damage--actual and symbolic--on Jews of the Diaspora”--those who do not live in their promised homeland.

Reform, Conservative Included

Among the signers were the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith; the American Jewish Committee; Hadassah (the Women’s Zionist Organization of America); the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, a grouping of Reform synagogues, and the United Synagogue of America, an umbrella organization for Conservative congregations.

Following inconclusive national elections held Nov. 1, each of Israel’s two leading parties have been trying to entice four small religious parties into a ruling coalition, in part by using the promise of such a law as bait.

The rightist Likud Party, led by Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir, won 40 seats in the elections; the Labor Party, headed by Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, won 39. Neither the addition of allied parties to the right for Likud nor to the left for Labor can give either party a majority in the 120-member Knesset, Israel’s Parliament, and the right to form a government.

Thus, the four religious groups--Shas, or Sephardic Torah Guardians; Agudat Israel; the National Religious Party, and Flag of the Torah--with 18 seats among them, hold the balance of power.

Shamir has assured the religious parties that if they join a Likud-led coalition, the measure, called the “Who Is a Jew Law,” would be approved in the coming session of the new Knesset.

Peres, whose strongly secular Labor Party clings to slim hopes of winning over the religious politicians, has offered to review his longtime opposition to the proposal.

The measure would amend Israel’s Law of Return, which grants open immigration to Jews from around the world. If the law is passed, Jews from abroad would either have to have been converted by Orthodox rabbis or submit their conversions to Orthodox rabbinical review. Only a handful of conversions take place every year.

The 27 American Jewish groups that sent letters to Shamir, Peres and Chaim Herzog, Israel’s president, expressed dismay over the proposed law. “The unique partnership between the Jewish people and the State of Israel must be preserved,” the letter said.

While affirming American Jewish support to Israel, the letter rejected “any effort to divide our people by a legislative act of the Knesset.”

The majority of American Jews belong to either Reform or Conservative congregations, and Jewish communities in the U.S. donate hundreds of millions of dollars annually to Israel.

In Israel, some observers worry that the measure portends budding intolerance. “This issue touches deeply. People are being told they are not legitimate,” commented Israeli philosopher and Conservative Rabbi David Hartman.

Despite these misgivings, Shamir’s Cabinet spokesman, Yossi Ahimeir, said Saturday that the prime minister has “told the religious parties he is sure he can pass the law within three months of forming the new government.”

Last week, Shamir said much the same thing on radio, adding: “Before every vote on some religious law, there is a big noise among American Jews. I think there is a lot of exaggeration. I’m convinced we’ll reach some understanding with the American Jews.”

Shamir’s support for the law is no surprise; most Likud members have voted in favor of it in the past. The measure failed narrowly in the Knesset last year.

Labor’s flirtation with the proposal is new. Labor is heir to a secular Zionist tradition that has long opposed attempts to lump all Jews into a single category. However, with power at stake, Labor leaders are taking a second look.

On Saturday, Labor Party official Yossi Beylin said it would be worth going back on a long-held principle if it meant Labor could take power. “I don’t believe our supporters would like to see the government headed by Mr. Shamir (and other rightists),” Beylin explained.

Likud officials accused Labor of opportunism. “This, of course, is a major change in the political map in Israel, whereas Labor has been against it (before),” said Likud member Dan Meridor.

As empowered by law, Herzog is expected soon to designate one of the major parties to try to form a government. Generally, the decision is based on which of the parties is most likely to forge a working partnership with the minor groupings.

When he decides, the chosen party can then officially dole out ministries under its control, secure a coalition and start governing.

Of the four religious groups, only the National Religious Party, an Orthodox Jewish organization that holds five Knesset seats, has committed itself to a Likud government, pending the distribution of ministerial posts.

Shas, Agudat Israel and Flag of the Torah have withheld their decisions during what has been almost two weeks of political poker. The three parties are described as ultra-Orthodox because of their adherence to strict biblical rules of action and demeanor.

The squabbles raise the possibility that Likud and Labor might renew their partnership in a four-year-old unity government now coming to an end. Officials of both parties have contacted each other informally on the subject.