The Unity Committee of the Jewish Agency has just completed its meeting for February.There is good news and bad news.
The bad news is that of the 10,000 olim from the FSU in 2005 over 70% are not halachic Jews.This figure is greater than the number of converts for the year from the Conversion Courts.Incidentally this is the first tim e in five years that the number of FSU olim to Israel has exceeded the number who went to Germany.
Secondly , the Reform leadership have filed now at least 11 Supreme Court cases in order to destabilize the efforts of the Prime Ministers Office and those working quietly to correct this major problem.
On the positive side much progress has been made in the past two years.Of the 1 million Russian olim, 300,000 are not halachic Jews .Of these close to a half are under age 35 and half of them are female.
In 2005 the budget for the Conversion process was 26 million shekel.A total of 7475 students are in classes preparing for conversion. 3300 soldiers have now completed the course, however because of unit assignments have not been officially converted.In 2006 , 2500 students will appear before the conversion courts.
In a few weeks I will analyze the works of the Jewish Agency.
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Monday, February 20, 2006
THE ZIONIST ELECTIONS 2/20/06
The Zionist Congress is four months away yet we know that as of now there is a marked diminution of registration in the US. Despite this, the organizers are calling it a SUCCESS.
As I wrote four years ago in an op-ed, the whole election process is a waste of money, manpower and only underlines the fact that the ZIONIST MOVEMENT is no longer the maqnet that it was 40 or 50 years ago.
The dream of Zionism is alive and well, albeit under attack.The Institutions that lead ORGANIZED ZIONISM however,especially in the US consist of the same cast of characters in leadership positions who provide little exciting or fresh to the movement.In a country with 5 or 6 million Jews,the fact that you can only register 80-100,000 after a costly campaign proves that there is something wrong.And then again, history tells us that only 60-70 % of those registered will vote.We will await March 7 when the results are released.
For example charging $7 to register with ss number (even if only a partial) is a turnoff for many.
The real Zionists have made aliyah.
We also live in an era where individuals do not like to be labelled by ideology.I can love Israel, the State and the people,visit, support it politically and financially but refrain from any desire to join a ZIONIST ORGANIZATION.
Indeed, many Rabbis of all streams rally their congregants to vote in the Zionist elections for one reason only-to obtain more money for their streams.
There are too many parties competing in this election,and aside from allocation of funds we are left with the classic fight over PLURALISM.
Why for example do the Reorm or Conservative movements need special Zionist arms when in reality they use the same base as their synagogue -temple movements.Remember the Reform movement was initially anti-zionist.
The answer of course has notrhing to do with zionism,but funding for their organizations programs ,and a desire to weaken the Chief Rabbinate.
This battle is never-ending and in my opinion does not excite anyone in American Jewry other than the organized leadership.
In the Orthodox camp, its time for the Religious Zionists of America to call it a day and allow the Orthodox Union a vibrant Synagogue organization be designated as the official Zionist organization in the US. Indeed they are ZIONISTS and best represent American Orthodoxy.
The RZA had a wonderful history but its membership has aged and thinned out.It has been negatively affected the the decline of the Religiuous Zionist parties in Israel.
The RZA has no professional leadership at present, few members,questionable effective independent programs and no hope for real growth under present conditions.
As I wrote four years ago in an op-ed, the whole election process is a waste of money, manpower and only underlines the fact that the ZIONIST MOVEMENT is no longer the maqnet that it was 40 or 50 years ago.
The dream of Zionism is alive and well, albeit under attack.The Institutions that lead ORGANIZED ZIONISM however,especially in the US consist of the same cast of characters in leadership positions who provide little exciting or fresh to the movement.In a country with 5 or 6 million Jews,the fact that you can only register 80-100,000 after a costly campaign proves that there is something wrong.And then again, history tells us that only 60-70 % of those registered will vote.We will await March 7 when the results are released.
For example charging $7 to register with ss number (even if only a partial) is a turnoff for many.
The real Zionists have made aliyah.
We also live in an era where individuals do not like to be labelled by ideology.I can love Israel, the State and the people,visit, support it politically and financially but refrain from any desire to join a ZIONIST ORGANIZATION.
Indeed, many Rabbis of all streams rally their congregants to vote in the Zionist elections for one reason only-to obtain more money for their streams.
There are too many parties competing in this election,and aside from allocation of funds we are left with the classic fight over PLURALISM.
Why for example do the Reorm or Conservative movements need special Zionist arms when in reality they use the same base as their synagogue -temple movements.Remember the Reform movement was initially anti-zionist.
The answer of course has notrhing to do with zionism,but funding for their organizations programs ,and a desire to weaken the Chief Rabbinate.
This battle is never-ending and in my opinion does not excite anyone in American Jewry other than the organized leadership.
In the Orthodox camp, its time for the Religious Zionists of America to call it a day and allow the Orthodox Union a vibrant Synagogue organization be designated as the official Zionist organization in the US. Indeed they are ZIONISTS and best represent American Orthodoxy.
The RZA had a wonderful history but its membership has aged and thinned out.It has been negatively affected the the decline of the Religiuous Zionist parties in Israel.
The RZA has no professional leadership at present, few members,questionable effective independent programs and no hope for real growth under present conditions.
Sunday, February 19, 2006
HAMAS--2/19/06
Hamas is now a reality! Not only is it a terrorist force, but a governing entity in the Palestinian areas. But worse than that, it is coordination its murderous machine and program with the entire Islamic world, especially Iran.
Thus Israel faces a two -headed crisis namely the nuclear potential of Iran as well as Hamas teaming up with Iran to create havoc to what was called the PEACE PROCESS. which soon will be only a distant memory.
The only positive point so far is the announcement that Hamas will never allow the Jericho Casino to open.Israeli politicians who allegedly were involved in this are now out in the cold
This mornings editorial in the Jereusalem Post, clearly points out the fact that despite the Kassam rockets being only CRUDE, a major disaster could occur if one of them hit the Ashkelon energy complex in a critical area.
Instead of planning for a response to a mega-disaster, it is time for Mr. Olmert to issue an ultimatum to Mr Abbas and the new Hamas leadership, that 7-8 Kassams a day is intolerable.The government has many potential responses including financial,military and cutting off electricity and phone service.
Whatever the response and its timetable, it is clear that no civilized country would tolerate daily rocket attacks etc upon its soil from a neighboring country or territory.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The argument that Hamas is a democratically elected government that deserves respect despite its denial of the holocaust and its advocacy of the destruction of a member state of the UN is totally without reason.
Did not Hitler,who came to power by democratic means,and advocated pure evil,bring the wrath and fury of the free world down upon him?
Thus Israel faces a two -headed crisis namely the nuclear potential of Iran as well as Hamas teaming up with Iran to create havoc to what was called the PEACE PROCESS. which soon will be only a distant memory.
The only positive point so far is the announcement that Hamas will never allow the Jericho Casino to open.Israeli politicians who allegedly were involved in this are now out in the cold
This mornings editorial in the Jereusalem Post, clearly points out the fact that despite the Kassam rockets being only CRUDE, a major disaster could occur if one of them hit the Ashkelon energy complex in a critical area.
Instead of planning for a response to a mega-disaster, it is time for Mr. Olmert to issue an ultimatum to Mr Abbas and the new Hamas leadership, that 7-8 Kassams a day is intolerable.The government has many potential responses including financial,military and cutting off electricity and phone service.
Whatever the response and its timetable, it is clear that no civilized country would tolerate daily rocket attacks etc upon its soil from a neighboring country or territory.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The argument that Hamas is a democratically elected government that deserves respect despite its denial of the holocaust and its advocacy of the destruction of a member state of the UN is totally without reason.
Did not Hitler,who came to power by democratic means,and advocated pure evil,bring the wrath and fury of the free world down upon him?
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