Religious Pluralism (1998)

Religious Pluralism (Amended) (1998)

From its very beginning, the Conservative/Masorti Movement has been committed to the return of the Jewish people to its homeland and, since the establishment of the State of Israel, has never wavered and will never waiver from its support, spiritually, politically and financially.

While the basic premise of the State of Israel is full equality for all its citizens, in reality, Israel has not yet fulfilled that promise.

The need to form a coalition government has, since the formation of the State, spanned an atmosphere of political maneuvering which threatens the unity of world Jewry and the quality of Jewish life.

Women’s League for Conservative Judaism calls upon the government of Israel to:

• Preserve the Law of Return
• Guarantee the right of all branches of Judaism to be represented on local religious councils.
• Recognize Masorti rabbis to officiate at all religious rituals including conversion, marriage, brit milah, gittin and burial.
• Fulfill its obligation to protect all worshippers, whatever their denomination, wherever they assemble, and especially at the Western Wall.
• Equitably fund Masorti institutions.
• Move towards a political structure free from religious coercion.

Women’s League for Conservative Judaism urges the leadership in Israel to seek a coalition of the major parties that will work toward electoral reform, which will ultimately benefit the State of Israel, world Jewry, and indeed, Judaism itself.

Religious Pluralism (1988)

From its very beginning, the Conservative/Masorti Movement has been committed to the return of the Jewish people to its homeland and, since the establishment of the State of Israel, has never wavered and will never waiver from its support, spiritually, politically and financially.

Recent elections in Israel, and the current political maneuvering by the major parties with minority extremist groups, whether to amend the Law of Return or adopt the Religious Courts Bill, are cause for grave concern to our movement. At stake are the unity of world Jewry and the quality of Jewish life.

The Conservative/Masorti Movement will not stand by while political expediency dismantles the tradition of religious pluralism of our people and the democratic nature of the State of Israel.

Women’s League for Conservative Judaism urges the leadership in Israel to opt for the political highroad, and seek a coalition of the major parties that will work toward electoral reform, which will ultimately inure to the benefit of the State of Israel, world Jewry, and indeed, Judaism itself.