Orthodox rabbi to oversee Reform conference in Jerusalem
By Shlomo Shamir
December 24, 2007
Participants at the International Conference on Contemporary Reform Judaism, opening in Jerusalem Monday, will tackle such issues as the concept of homosexuality in Reform halakha (Jewish law), changes in synagogue ritual and the difficulties of integrating Reform Judaism into Israel.
Some 50 Jewish studies scholars from the United States and Israel are expected to attend the two-day conference, the first of its kind to be organized by a non-Reform body, the Van Leer Jerusalem Institute. It is also the first to take place outside of North America, the center for hundreds of Reform congregations and the source of influence of the movement’s rabbis.
The conference agenda was overseen by Van Leer’s chair of Jewish culture and identity department, Rabbi Prof. Naftali Rothenberg, the respected Orthodox rabbi of Har Adar. Officials involved in prioritizing the topics to be discussed emphasized the academic nature of the conference. However, prominent Reform movement supporters in New York maintained that the conference in Jerusalem will have practical implications for the movement’s future standing in Israel.
The impression they gave was that this conference marks the beginning of a process of recognition for Reform Judaism in Israel - a process that bypasses the Orthodox rabbinic establishment in Israel, which utterly rejects the movement’s presence in the country.
"The fact that important researchers and world-renowned scholars are attending a conference that is taking place in Jerusalem reflects the growing standing of the Reform movement in Israel," Rabbi Eric H.Yoffie, president of the Union for Reform Judaism, told Haaretz before leaving for Israel.
Yoffie said that the empowerment of Reform Judaism in the U.S. began after American-born rabbis took on leadership roles in the movement, "and a similar development is taking place now in Israel."
He added that Israel currently has 25 Reform congregations, and some 50 Reform rabbis who were raised and educated locally.
The conference will introduce new research dealing with a host of subjects, including the quest for liturgical authenticity in the Reform youth movement in Israel, Reform halakhic rulings in the life of a liberal Jewish community, the impact of feminism on the Reform movement, and homosexual marriage as a test case of halakhic discourse.
A few conference-goers, particularly from among the Israeli contingent, are expected to present research that includes criticism and reservations regarding the American Reform movement’s inclusive acceptance of homosexuals and lesbians in the congregation and synagogue.
Haaretz.com