The Rabbinical Assembly, in noting its many colleagues among the 160 rabbis blacklisted by the Chief Rabbinate of the State of Israel, who are deemed ineligible to authenticate the Jewishness of their congregants and community members, proudly stands by its rabbis on the list. Together with outstanding rabbis emanating from Reform and Orthodox communities, they reflect the finest in rabbinic leadership and strengthen those they lead in commitment to Jewish life and in relentless support of the State of Israel. This "blacklist" is far less a reflection on the esteemed rabbis it names, inasmuch as it further diminishes the stature of the Chief Rabbinate in its continued actions that sow division and discord among Jews world-wide, and in particular, between Israel and the diaspora.
Following so closely the abandonment of the Kotel compromise and the divisive conversion bill, these painful actions lead the Rabbinical Assembly to call upon the government of the State of Israel to take the necessary steps to expunge "sinat hinam," (unnecessary enmity between fellow Jews), from State authorities and agencies, and to reaffirm, in positive and concrete ways, the connection between all streams of Jewish religious life and the State of Israel that we so cherish.
Sincerely,
Philip Scheim
President, Rabbinical Assembly
Julie Schonfeld
Chief Executive Officer, Rabbinical Assembly