By Yair Ettinger : Reform movement celebrates first state-funded synagogue
Talkback
Title: Recognize Reform and Conservative Jewry Name: Reid City: Marana State:
All, There are 4 million Reform and Conservative Jews in the US and Canada. In North America, there are almost no secular Jews in the sense that it is used in Israel. Secular Jews have long since left the fold. Secular Jews are accepted into the Israeli system. Orthodox Jews are a great source of Aliyah to Israel because their leaders are incorporated into the Chief Rabbinical structure there. However, in North America, Jews have developed theologies so that they can live as secular Jews but believe in God. These are not new. Reform Judaism`s history in the US goes back 200 years to the early 19th Century. Most Jews in the Old West were reform (descendant from German enlightenment Jews who married in with Eastern Europeans). It is about time that Israel recognize Reform and Conservative Jewry with Chief Rabbis from each group. Then, the rest of American Jewry might feel welcome in Israel. This could spark the last Aliyah. This is a small step in the right direction.