New York – The following is a joint statement by the collective leadership of the Conservative/Masorti movement of possible nation-state legislation currently working its way through the Knesset.
“The past months have been a time of great concern for the security and defense of the State of Israel and also for rising anti-Semitism around the world. Indeed, the continuing need for a secure Israel, a proud Jewish and Democratic state, is made more apparent every day. The achievements of Israeli society to the betterment of life around the world are expressed through the remarkable contributions of the Jewish state to humanitarian causes and advances in science and technology.
Current versions of a new nationality bill now under discussion will erode, rather than strengthen the democratic character of Israel. Strong and clear opposition by leading figures currently in office, including President Reuven Rivlin, raise important issues of the possible erosion of democratic freedoms resulting from this bill, the risk of attrition of the rights of Arabs and other minorities and the risk of further eroding values of religious pluralism.
We call upon Israel’s political leadership to refrain from passage of any bill that weakens the social contract already effectively expressed in the Declaration of Independence and the Basic Laws which delineate Israel’s most precious ethical, moral and democratic political values.”
Rabbi Julie Schonfeld, Executive Vice President, The Rabbinical Assembly
Rabbi Bill Gershon, President, The Rabbinical Assembly
Rabbi Steve Wernick, CEO, The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
Richard Skolnik, President, The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
Shueli Fast, Chairperson, Masorti Movement
Yizhar Hess, CEO, Masorti Movement