Whereas the Rabbinical Assembly has expressed its support of conversions of those committed to Jewish life in accordance with halakhah in the State of Israel from all main streams of Judaism and
Whereas conversion is a direct channel to the Law of Return and thus granting this power to one religious stream undermines the principles of freedom of religion and conscience that are among the hallmarks of Israel’s democratic society and
It has become increasingly the case that when Masorti/Conservative groups have wished to daven in Israeli hotels, they have been denied the use of hotel-owned Sifrei Torah if the service was not in accordance with Orthodox practice. In some cases the hotels have offered to locate a Sefer Torah from outside the hotel at an additional fee to the guests. In other cases it became necessary for guests to make arrangements on their own.
Whereas Israel is the homeland for all Jewish People;
Whereas the Rabbinical Assembly passed resolutions in 1990, 2001, 2007 and 2009 in support of conversions of those committed to Jewish life in accordance with halakhah in the State of Israel from all main streams of Judaism;
Whereas a bill proposed by MK David Rotem in summer 2010 would for the first time legislatively grant the power over conversion to one religious stream through the office of the chief rabbinate;
WHEREAS the Megillat ha-Atzmaut of Israel declares that the State of Israel will guarantee freedom of religion to all of its citizens; and
WHEREAS Jewish history has shown that the Jewish religion and the Jewish people are strengthened by a pluralistic outlook, whereby Jews embrace the spirit of the dictum that differing opinions are the "words of the living God" (TB Eruvin 13b); and
WHEREAS such religious freedom and religious pluralism will strengthen the Jewish identity of Israel's citizens of the State itself.
Whereas Jews converted by the Bet Din of the Masorti Movement in Buenos Aires suffer discrimination by the authorities of the Asociacion Mutual Argentina – AMIA; and
Whereas there is no member of the Rabbinical Assembly represented in the AMIA, despite its claim to be the umbrella institution for Argentinean Jewry, and in spite of its support by Masorti synagogues.
Therefore be it resolved that the Rabbinical Assembly urge the AMIA to change its policy to reflect pluralism in accordance with the spirit of its founders - to serve the entire Jewish community; and
Whereas the Kotel Ha’Maaravi has been an eternal symbol of hope and unity for the entire Jewish people;
Whereas Jews the world over yearn to pray and celebrate by the Kotel in keeping with their various customs;
Whereas the Kotel Plaza has served as a place where men and women may gather and pray together in keeping with their varying customs since 1967;
Whereas the president of Israel is elected by the members of the Knesset to serve as the head of state;
Whereas the office of the president represents national values and norms and is the official representative of all sectors of the population; and
Whereas the president of Israel as head of state symbolizes national unity for the citizens of Israel and between the citizens of Israel and Diaspora Jewry.
Whereas the Rabbinical Assembly is committed to conversion according to halakhah and requires appropriate study and observance as well as milah/hatafat dam brit (ritual circumcision) and t’vilah (mikveh);
Whereas the Rabbinical Assembly requires potential converts to be involved in their Jewish community’s life and rituals in order to be integrated into the Jewish people;
Whereas the Rabbinical Assembly upholds the mitzvah of marriage with huppah and kiddushin;
Whereas the current climate established by the Orthodox religious authorities in Israel leads unfortunately to a large number of Israeli couples to seek alternatives to the mitzvah of huppah and kiddushin; and
Whereas the Rabbinical Assembly and the Masorti Movement have been promoting a marriage initiative that is modern, compassionate and halakhic which has been met with wide success in Israel.
Whereas the institution of the chief rabbi was established to provide leadership and status to the rabbinate based on a European model during the Mandate period in pre-state Israel;
Whereas instead the institution of the chief rabbinate has had an unfortunate impact on Israeli society due to political wrangling involved in choosing its leaders, and the sharp chasm that results between the office of the chief rabbinate and the Israeli public which has created a general antipathy to Judaism and its practices;
