Promoting jewish pluralism in israel

December 2008

Summary

In Israel today Jews of all types are connecting or reconnecting to their Judaism in programs supported by the New Israel Fund.   Immigrants from the former Soviet Union are setting up vibrant spiritual communities and discovering their Jewish heritage.   Young secular Jews are flocking to new programs combining study of Jewish texts with social action inspired by Jewish values.     Greater numbers of secular Jews in Israel are demanding more pluralistic Jewish education in State schools as well as options for civil marriage, conversion, burial and other religious services.   In these ways and more, the New Israel Fund is challenging the ultra-Orthodox hegemony over Jewish practice and learning in Israel.   At the same time, NIF-funded liberal Orthodox groups  - disillusioned by the actions taken "in their name" -  are challenging the politically-radicalized National-Religious agenda and institutions and developing more tolerant and democratic Orthodox institutions able to cooperate with other streams of Judaism on issues like conversion and divorce.

Current Challenges
The ultra-Orthodox establishment in Israel continues to exclude other streams of Judaism on issues over which it maintains control, ranging from marriage, divorce and child custody cases in Rabbinic Courts, to Jewish education in State schools, conversion rulings, and religious services provided in the community.  As a result, many secular Israelis, lacking exposure to alternative, non-Orthodox expressions of Jewish identity and practice, remain disconnected from Judaism and tend to develop a profound resentment of religious coercion, leading some to reject their Jewish identity in favor of a solely national affiliation, often devoid of a deep understanding of Jewish tradition, heritage and values.   

A successful challenge to the Orthodox monopoly in Israel will not come from advocacy efforts alone; Grassroots groups and strong central institutions will create “facts on the ground.” Eventually sufficient numbers of people will demand pluralistic Jewish education in the state-school system as well as increased funding and recognition of other rights of non-Orthodox Jews.

Since religious tolerance is such a basic tenet of a democratic society, NIF works to foster a pluralistic Israeli culture in which diverse expressions of Judaism and Jewish identity flourish and share equally in the allocation of government resources. Through a diversified strategy of grantmaking, organizational assistance, special projects, and collaboration with other organizations and philanthropies, NIF is working to:

·         Support Israelis in their diverse expressions of Jewish identity and practice;
·         Strengthen liberal elements within Orthodoxy;
·         Change the legal structure that limits religious freedom;
·         Advocate for equal allocation of resources to non-Orthodox services and education;
·         Involve new immigrants in creating a diverse Jewish culture in Israel.

Major Trends and Recent Accomplishments
In the words of Eran Baruch, Director of Bina: "I want to consider the word hiloni (secular) and find in it the word halon (window)...To many people, the term 'secular' is perceived as something empty, vacant. We want to give content to the Jewish identity of secular people who live in Israel."

Jewish Renewal  

In addition to NIF's long-time support for the Conservative and Reform movements in Israel, NIF has also been a leader in seeding a homegrown Israeli secular Jewish movement that is now attracting thousands of Israelis.  This new alternative Israeli Judaism is flourishing, as secular Jews are "regaining control of the Jewish bookcase" and frameworks for pluralistic Jewish experiences are a growing phenomenon. 

Secular Jewish Communities in Israel
The establishment of new secular congregations, praying communities and other alternative Jewish community groups is gaining increasing momentum. A project spearheaded by NIF grantees Midrasha in Oranim and Beit Tfilah Israeli saw its first milestone conference in May—the first time that 22 independent secular congregations have gathered to explore long-term cooperation options.   Efforts in 2009 will focus on networking and setting up new groups.

State Funds for Strengthening Jewish Education in the Secular School System
Challenging the existing "Orthodox or nothing" approach to Jewish education in Israel, NIF grantee Panim, the umbrella body for Jewish pluralism organizations in Israel, launched an exciting citywide project in Holon (in cooperation with the municipality and Ministry of Education)  to develop and implement a pluralistic Jewish education curriculum that will be taught in 6 secular schools, and reinforced through school-wide and community activities.  

From Slavery to Freedom in 21st Century Israel
An alternative Pesach seder attended by 300 African refugees was a moving example of the work of NIF grantees such as Bina, which place a strong emphasis on social justice and Jewish values. Bina's ongoing work includes the world's only "Secular Yeshiva," and its "Bina in the Neighborhood "project, located in the most distressed area of South Tel Aviv.  NIF is also supporting Bin'as expansion to Beer Sheva. 

Celebrating Jewish lifecycle events 
Leading the way in promoting alternative marriage ceremonies, NIF grantee Havaya is expanding the number of secular weddings conducted in Israel, training wedding officiants and extending its services to cater to the increasing public interest in  secular burial as well as non-Orthodox Bar and Bat Mitzvah ceremonies.   

State funding for Reform and Conservative congregations
NIF grantee Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC) scored a major success last May, when State funding for a new building of a Reform congregation in Modi’in was approved, with 3 additional Reform and Conservative synagogues throughout the country set to receive State funding as well.  This support constitutes a precedent for State support on such a scale for non-Orthodox congregations.

Strengthening Liberal Orthodox Voices

NIF is a lead funder of liberal Orthodoxy in Israel.  By supporting the growing number of liberal Orthodox initiatives, NIF aims to promote social cohesion between religious and secular Jews, participation in the democratic process and respect for the law, improvement in the status and rights of Jewish women in Israel, and greater separation of religion and state in government institutions currently controlled by Orthodox Jewish law. 

The Conversion Crisis
Some months ago, the Chief Rabbinate shockingly nullified all conversions performed over the past several years by a special conversion administration appointed by the Prime Minister to expedite the conversion process. This ruling affects thousands of people who were previously considered Jewish by the Orthodox community and by the State. The ruling is considered an affront to the modern Orthodox sector and its legitimacy in the eyes of the State and the ultra-Orthodox.  In response, a groundbreaking coalition of mainstream Orthodoxy, Conservative, Reform and other organizations has gathered to consider alternatives to the ultra-Orthodox monopoly on conversion and marriage (see details below).   

Changing the Face of Orthodox Education
The promotion of liberal Orthodox education continues to occupy a central place on NIF’s agenda due to the increasing political radicalization and extreme religious conservatism found in State Religious schools. In the past 3 years, NIF has assisted parents' groups in establishing independent schools that provide a more tolerant and democratic Orthodox education.  Last year, efforts also began to strengthen liberal voices in existing State-Religious schools. The major grantees in this domain (Ne’emanei Torah vaAvodah, 12 Heshvan, Kolech, and the Herzog Center) have established an unprecedented joint Forum of Liberal Orthodox Organizations to unite efforts nationwide.  NIF funding this year will bolster the training of teachers within the religious education system who are committed to the values of liberal Orthodoxy.

Alternative Religious Courts
Voices in the National-Religious sector (including NIF grantees Neemani Torah vaAvodah and Kolech) are now calling to limit the powers of the ultra-Orthodox Rabbinic Courts and to establish alternative forums. NIF funded a conference that served to unite the organizations in efforts to launch alternative religious courts, which will aim to pressure the religious establishment to adopt a more lenient approach towards women denied a divorce, and to break the ultra Orthodox monopoly on personal status issues.  If the State does not recognize the authority of the alternative courts, the organizations plan to file a law suit through the High Court of Justice.

An End to Blackmail before Divorce

A major success was achieved in November 2008 when the Knesset passed an amendment to the Spouses Property Law, putting an end to a husband's ability to demand all the couple's assets before agreeing to a divorce.  The law was formulated by NIF grantee International Coalition for Agunah Rights which unites 25 organizations to advocate for the rights of thousands of Jewish women in Israel – religious and secular alike - whose husbands refuse them a divorce.    Many of the husbands hold their wives’ hostage, only agreeing to a divorce after wives have relinquished all marital assets, child custody and other rights. Thousands of women remain trapped in bad or abusive marriages due to State-sanctioned blackmail.  While the new law will now enable asset distribution prior to divorce, there is still a long way to go to achieve full equality and freedom.  NIF grantees, the Center for Women’s Justice and Kolech, are promoting a pre-nuptial agreement that will safeguard women’s rights in marriage and divorce.  
Rabin Memorial Event unites Israelis from across the spectrum
The Yitzhak Rabin Synagogue in Rehovot was packed with an unusual range of Israelis gathered for special prayers to mark the 13th anniversary of Prime Minister Rabin’s assassination. A special guest was Yuval Rabin, the late Prime Minister’s son, who recently joined NIF's Board of Directors.  NIF grantee  12^th of Heshvan, which promotes tolerant religious education, hosted the annual event,  at the only Orthodox synagogue in Israel named for the slain prime minister.  

Adding Colors to the Rainbow:   FSU Immigrants Shape Jewish-Israeli Identity
Israel has absorbed over one million immigrants from the former Soviet Union (FSU), most of whom arrived with little or no knowledge of Judaism and feel rejected by the establishment in Israel.  Adding insult to injury, more than 350,000 of these immigrants brought to Israel under the Law of Return, are not even recognized as halakhic Jews by the Rabbinate and – although they are full citizens of the State – are forced to travel abroad to wed legally.    Despite these obstacles, the majority of the immigrants have begun to find their place in the country.  Many of them are now searching to shape their own Jewish identity.  Past attempts to impose existing patterns of Jewish involvement on FSU immigrants - whether Orthodox, Conservative or Reform - attracted only marginal numbers of immigrants.    NIF understands that FSU immigrants need to find their own voice. 

Building on NIF's success in seeding 3 independent, immigrant-led, pluralistic FSU congregations (Esh David, Keitar and Meitar in Ashdod and Ashkelon), NIF is now embarking on a major nationwide initiative, in partnership with a Moscow-based foundation, to replicate these models in other Israeli cities with large FSU populations.  NIF is mapping and planning the project, to be launched in 2009.

New Conversion Forum unites Orthodox and non-Orthodox
The newly-established Conversion Forum strives to find a solution for immigrants, mainly from the FSU, who are not recognized as Jews by the State of Israel and consequently, cannot marry in Israel, where there is no civil marriage, or even be buried in a Jewish cemetery.   The Forum, coordinated by NIF grantee Panim, brings together representatives of mainstream Orthodox Judaism as well as Conservative, Reform and other streams – a convergence which is virtually unprecedented in Israeli history.  Even Orthodox Israelis have accepted that it is time to end the monopoly of the Chief Rabbinate on conversion.  The Forum hopes to establish two new streams for conversion –liberal Orthodox and Secular Humanistic.

NIF Hotline for Alternative Weddings
NIF is planning a new initiative to raise awareness amongst FSU immigrants to alternative wedding options available in Israel.  The project will target immigrants who cannot wed legally in Israel as well as those who can in principle, but would be more inclined toward a non-Orthodox ceremony.   Many immigrants set a date for their wedding, yet find themselves in an endless process of trying to prove their Jewishness to the ultra Orthodox establishment.   The project will involve a hotline, lectures and workshops, to be implemented by young Russian speakers trained in areas such as the range of pluralistic organizations that perform weddings, the particular characteristics of the wedding ceremony (both the ceremonies' characteristics and the various organizations' criteria to perform the ceremony) and the legal context of marriage in Israel.  

SHATIL’s Religious Pluralism Project
Yvgeny: "Our wedding with Havaya was the first one I've been to in Israel where I understood the ceremony and the wedding contract."
Unlike other foundations, NIF also provides our grantees with hands-on training in best practices.   SHATIL, the New Israel Fund’s Empowerment and Training Center, was established 25 years ago to complement NIF’s grant making.  Widely recognized as the country’s leading capacity building center for social change organizations, SHATIL annually provides more than 1,000 nonprofit organizations - including around 45 Pluralism organizations with consulting and workshops in organizational development, media and advocacy, public relations, social marketing, coalition building, resource development, financial management, volunteer management and use of technology.    Major themes in SHATIL's current efforts to promote religious pluralism are to bolster the ability of organizations to advocate for the establishment of Alternative Rabbinic Courts; launching an intensive campaign to raise awareness about halachic prenuptial agreements; connecting and empowering FSU organizations; and assisting liberal Jewish movements in becoming meaningful alternatives to the larger Israeli public.