While current Israeli leaders are likely to take note of Monday’s Supreme Court of Justice decision to recognize a shift to Judaism through the processes of Conservative and Reform Movement, it is an important and welcome step for the country on earth to become a true democracy and a Jewish State.
For years, Israeli leaders have denied that most global gems are not ultra-orthodox. In many countries, including the United States, Conservative and Reformed Judaism is the norm rather than the exception.
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Women of the Wall wants women’s right to pray with Torah scrolls at the West Wall
(Photo: AFP)
The ruling nine-justice panel on Monday said it had largely laid its hands on the political echelon’s inability to decide issues such as conversion, multi-sex prayer or even whether it should for courts to rule on certain cases by civil or religious law.
For years, the ultra-orthodox sector has maintained a complete monopoly in Israel on the question “Who is the Jew?” – and as a result, the world.
Their decision to prove conclusively that their approach is the only way to remove thousands if not millions of communities around the world from the State of Israel.
When Israel’s first Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion gave full control of all matters of Jewish religious rites to his ultra-rectangular partners in government, he could not- never thought that the country that took the safe haven for all Holocaust followers would systematically reduce or ban allies.
How can Israel retain its title of Jewish State when such truths last?
This Haredi monopoly was allowed to enter all sides of Israeli society, even those parts that are directly related to civil rights.
Israelis have become accustomed to the fact that shops and public transport do not work on Shabbat, even though most of the country’s Jewish citizens are happy to drive a car, turn on the TV, listen to music and so on. The out-of-town shopping shops that open on a regular basis are busy.
This complete control over normal life has come into being in Israel. All small efforts to change this have been lost not only by the Haredi region, but by secular politicians who benefit from supporting such magical activity.
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and United Torah Jewish Housing Minister Yaakov Litzman
(Photo: Amit Shabi)
The decision of the High Court was a step in the right direction. We cannot allow ourselves to maintain the moniker of the Jewish and democratic state as long as we cannot use either.
Does Israel want to fully embrace these principles and open its doors to all who feel that they share common goals with the people of Judah, giving them full rights civil rights they deserve by living in a democratic country?
Or does Israel want to be a resilient democracy, whose character and laws are governed by a minority that has more power than it deserves in a proportional democracy?
The decision is an awakening call for all of us.
With the elections looming over our heads, those who present themselves as an alternative to the current administration must stand: Do you want democracy and inclusion or conservatism and exclusion?
For the ultra-straight people who are concerned about such changes, I will say this: When you know it is an honor, equality is like violence.
Liran Friedmann is the editor of Ynetnews