Letter to Jweekly (Aug. 5, 2010): "Pluralism is real"
Joshua Skootsky's letter ("Stop meddling with conversion bill," July 30) is precisely the reason Israel is rapidly alienating itself from the global Jewish people. Skootsky writes, "Reform or Conservative Judaism is an American export with a tiny following — less than 1 percent of all Israelis are Reform or Conservative." His numbers are wrong, but his point is more problematic.
Judaism is and has always been a global reality, and the Jewish extremism that dominates the Israeli landscape is killing Judaism for the vast majority of Israelis. Masorti (Conservative) and Mitkademet (Reform) Judaism are fighting for the soul of Judaism in Israel. Jews around the world must take notice and join in the effort.
Rabbi Menachem Creditor | Berkeley
Congregation Netivot Shalom
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Rabbi Menachem Creditor
