July 20, 2010

A battle is brewing that is pitting the powerful American Jewish community against some of the leading Jewish figures in Israel.

Over the weekend, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the disagreement over a controversial law that deals with conversion to Judaism could “tear apart” the Jewish people.

America is a close second to Israel in terms of how many Jews live there. And the U.S. Jewish community is vital in terms of the political, financial and moral support it lends the Jewish state. So when a senior Jewish delegation representing some of the most powerful Jewish groups comes from the U.S. to Jerusalem for an emergency meeting, it’s serious.

‘Unacceptable’

“We do not want to see a schism among the Jews of the United States and Israel,” said Rabbi Daniel Allen, director of the Association of Reform Zionists of America. “This will say to the Jews of the United States that they don’t have a serious place in this country, and that is unacceptable to us.”

Allen said American Jewish groups are in crisis mode.

“This would be an affirmative act of the Knesset to create a second class of Jewery,” he said. “And therefore it is a much more important moment in time in terms of the sweep of Jewish history.”

There is a fundamental divide between Jews in the U.S. and Jews in Israel. Most American Jews belong to the more liberal branches of Judaism — the Reform or Conservative movements. In Israel, the Orthodox are in almost total control of Jewish life.

American Jews are upset that the conversion bill making its way through the Knesset will, for the first time, give sole control over conversions to Israel’s chief rabbinate, which is dominated by Orthodox Jews.

At the moment in Israel, conversions performed outside the country by the more liberal branches of Judaism are honored. American Jews fear that could change if power is handed over to the rabbinate.

“Never in the history of the state of Israel has there been a law to determine the status of a convert,” said Rabbi Naamah Kelman, dean of Hebrew Union College.

‘A Ticking Bomb’

The bill’s sponsor is Member of the Knesset David Rotem, who represents hundreds of thousands of immigrants, many of them from the former Soviet Union who are trying to formally convert to Judaism in Israel.

The conversion process in Israel can sometimes take years, costs thousands of dollars and ultimately leads nowhere. Some conversions have been overturned by competing rabbis from the Orthodox and Ultra Orthodox communities.

Rotem said the point of his bill is to make the conversion process easier by decentralizing it. If the bill passes, municipal rabbis will be allowed to approve conversions under the auspices of the chief rabbinate.

“I am trying to get some parts out from the rabbinical courts and to give it to the municipality courts or rabbis who are much more friendly to people who want to convert,” he said.

The many problems with the conversion process in Israel must be addressed to simplify the system, he said.

“We are sitting on a ticking bomb. We have got 400,000 new immigrants who came from the former Russian union who are not recognized as Jews according to the Jewish law,” Rotem said. “They are serving in the Israeli army, and they are being taken as hostages today for the Reform and Conservative movements who are against this law with no reason.”

Rotem said American Jews are using their power to interfere in internal Israeli affairs.

“I am willing to talk to them. I am not willing to be hostage,” he said. “I am not willing to be threatened, and I’m not willing to be blackmailed.”

The bill has already passed through committee, and the next step is for it to be voted on in the Knesset. It’s not clear whether that will happen before or after the legislative body disbands for summer recess at the end of this week.

Page last updated at 05:20 GMT, Tuesday, 19 August 2008 06:20 UK

The BBC’s Erica Chernofsky in Jerusalem gets a rare insight into the lives of members of Israel’s Ultra-Orthodox Jewish community.

Mrs Greenwald says being Haredi means being someone who fears God

Sitting on a park bench in the late afternoon, Michal Greenwald watches her children run around the playground with dozens of other kids as she takes a few minutes rest from her hectic day.

A full-time property lawyer, Mrs Greenwald is the sole breadwinner and also takes care of her four young children and tends to the housework. Her husband, Shmuel, spends his days studying in a religious seminary for men. She says she cannot imagine life any other way.

”Girls are raised this way from a young age, and such are the lives of Haredim in Israel,” she says of the Ultra-Orthodox Jews who choose to live separately from mainstream Israeli society.

It is difficult to walk the streets of Jerusalem without running into Haredim, but their community can seem isolated and closed.

The men are distinct in their long black wool coats and trousers, stark white button-down shirts and black hats, even in the heat of the Middle Eastern summer.

Living ‘with a purpose’

Mrs Greenwald, 34, lives in Har Nof, an ultra-orthodox neighbourhood of Jerusalem where absolutely everything is closed on Saturday – the Sabbath – and only kosher food is sold in shops.

We look different, in fact we look very weird – we dress how people used to dress 100 years ago Moshe Eliahu Haredi student and father

Like all Haredi women, she dresses very modestly, covers her hair with a wig or scarf and will not allow physical contact of any kind with any man other than her husband.

“Being Haredi means being someone who fears God,” Mrs Greenwald says. “It means that first and foremost in life are the Torah (Bible) and keeping the mitzvoth (commandments).”

She is referring to the 613 commandments in the Bible that Jews believe were given to them by God. “Everything in my life is built around the Torah,” she says.

“If I go on a trip with my family, I can’t eat just anything, I can’t go mixed swimming, and I’m constantly thinking ‘what is the proper thing to do now?’ As Haredim we don’t just live, but we live with a purpose.”

That purpose, as she defines it, is to fulfil the Torah and mitzvoth by bettering herself as well as the world around her, and in so doing striving to become closer to God.

It is for this reason that she proudly supports her family while her husband pursues his religious studies.

‘Positive energy’

Currently Haredim make up about 10% of Israeli society, and have a less than positive reputation among secular Israelis, many of whom view their customs as primitive and disapprove of their choice to study at seminaries and thus avoid the mandatory army draft.

“It’s an ancient concept in Judaism that the spiritual and the physical are united, that to win a war you need both spirit and strength,” says Moshe Eliahu, a Haredi father of two and full-time student at a Jerusalem seminary.

Haredi men in black suits and hats are a common sight in Jerusalem

“You need people fighting, but you also need people learning and praying.”According to government figures, the majority of Haredi men do not have paid jobs.

Mr Eliahu, who also earns a meagre wage working at a support centre for Haredi youth in the evenings, explains that Haredim believe that there must always be a certain amount of men learning the Jewish books in order for life, as we know it, to go on.

He is a direct descendant of the Hatam Sopher, a leading 19th Century rabbi of European Jewry and one of several key figures who were the early leaders of the various Haredi sects.

Mr Eliahu says Israel and the world need the “positive energy” that comes from learning Torah.

“This sounds funny to the western ear – what can a man learning in a yeshiva all day possibly give back to the world?” he says. “Torah learning that we do is the hidden code of the physical existence of all mankind, and if for one single second there is no Torah learning in the air, all the world would go back to chaos.”

Mr Eliahu’s wife, Miriam, teaches English at two Jerusalem schools and takes care of their children. “There’s no point to our physical existence without a spiritual purpose, and I, as the husband who is learning all day, am primarily responsible for that,” he explains.

‘Defence mechanism’

He also rejects the view that Haredi gender roles are primitive. In Judaism, he says, women are actually considered to be closer to God than men. ”They are the ones who create life, they are the queens.”

Dressed in classic Haredi garb, he acknowledges he stands out on the street.

”We look different, in fact we look very weird. We dress how people used to dress 100 years ago, we have long peyot (side locks), and all these things set us apart.”

He explains that Haredi men dress this way as a “defence mechanism” to “protect ourselves from assimilation”.

Mrs Greenwald too defines herself by her religious ideals, setting herself apart from the values of wider society.

“I don’t live life for myself,” she says. “My priority is my family, my home, and then my career. I can’t say I desire to become a famous lawyer, or to be a millionaire.

“For us, there is a bigger picture here. We know this world is just a hallway to the real life, to the Garden of Eden.”

Page last updated at 22:51 GMT, Thursday, 16 July 2009 23:51 UK

Orthodox strife grips Jerusalem

There were violent scuffles as ultra Orthodox Jews protested against what they saw as state interference

Page last updated at 07:58 GMT, Monday, 6 October 2008 08:58 UK

Is that cellphone kosher?

West Bank rabbi bans women from local election

Page last updated at 10:34 GMT, Wednesday, 26 May 2010 11:34 UK

The chief rabbi of a West Bank settlement has prohibited women from standing in a local community election.

Rabbi Elyakim Levanon of the Elon Moreh settlement, near Nablus, said women lacked the authority to stand for the post of local secretary.

He wrote in a community newspaper that women must only be heard through their husbands.

No women have registered for the election due to be held later on Wednesday, Israeli media reported.

The rabbi made his comments in the community’s newspaper after an unidentified young woman wrote to him asking if she could run for the position of community secretary, the Israeli news website Ynet News said.

‘Giving authority’”I am a young woman and I think I have desire and energy to do things,” Ynet News quoted the woman as writing to Rabbi Levanon.

“It’s not right for men to be the only ones deciding how to run the community,” the letter reportedly said.

But in his weekly column, Rabbi Levanon wrote that, according to the teachings of influential rabbis, women were not allowed to apply for the position.

“The first problem is giving women authority, and being a secretary means having authority,” Rabbi Levanon wrote in the community’s newspaper.

“Within the family certain debates are held and when opinions are united the husband presents the family’s opinion.

“This is the proper way to prevent a situation in which the woman votes one way and her husband votes another,” he wrote.

He also said it was not appropriate for women to mix with men in late evening meetings of community leaders.

Women’s groups have condemned the comments.

“Such talk is scandalous enough to call the rabbi for a clarification. I expect leaders of the religious public in Israel to condemn the rabbi’s instruction,” Nurit Tzur of the Israel Women’s Lobby said .

High cost of leaving ultra-orthodox Judaism

By Heather Sharp BBC News, Jerusalem

Rabbi’s views on leaving religion

Experience of leaving the community

Rabbis black-list non-kosher music
BBC News, Jerusalem
By Wyre Davies

Lipa Schmeltzer looks and sounds every inch the popular ultra-orthodox Jewish singer that he is.

He sings in Yiddish. He dresses in the clothes of a Haredi Jew and all of his song lyrics come from the scriptures.

Yet some say Schmeltzer’s music, and that of others like him, is indecent and unfit for public consumption.

“They are leading the public astray and are causing a great negative influence on the young generation,” says Rabbi Efraim Luft, head of an ultra-orthodox organisation in Israel called the Committee for Jewish Music.

Supported by leading Haredi rabbis, Rabbi Luft has drawn up a black-list of musicians and bands – music that he says that is not kosher and cannot be played at ultra-orthodox weddings or public events because of its decadent nature.

What Rabbi Luft objects to so vehemently is not just contemporary, western music – rock, rap or pop – but the use of modern instruments and beats in the tunes of orthodox singers like Lipa Schmeltzer.

“The main part of the music should be the melody. Percussion should be secondary. They should not bend notes electronically and should not use instruments like electric guitars, bass guitars or saxophones in Jewish music,” he says.

Sitting in the dining room of his small flat in the orthodox town of Bnei Brak, close to Tel Aviv, Rabbi Luft explains his preference for traditional, even sombre, Jewish tunes like Kol Nidrei.

A serious, studious man the rabbi explains how he thinks modern music is disrespectful, leading young people astray and can lead to the collapse of education and the family system.

“ The use of percussion accompaniment in slow, quiet music is generally ridiculous. 2/4 beats and other rock and disco beats must not be used ”

It is a broad charge, but the rabbi is convinced that in the last 25 years music has gradually eroded moral standing in society.

Saying that music is “powerful”, he says the “purpose of modern music – its influences – is to distract young people and change good characters into bad”.

The Rabbi says such music, even Jewish rock music, “where the dangerous beat plays more of a part than the melody, has no place in a society where people are trying to keep their moral standards high.

Concerts banned

There are approximately 500,000 ultra-orthodox Haredi Jews in Israel. They tend to live in their own communities in, or near Israel’s major towns.

Their plain, modest clothing, rituals and centuries-old customs make the Haredis unmistakable and their lives revolve around their faith.

Because of the loyal relationship between orthodox Jews and their rabbis, the influence of bodies like the Committee for Jewish Music and the Guardians of Sanctity and Education is considerable.

“ “If they don’t find an alternative they’ll lose the young people” ”

Menahem Toker

They have already succeeded in banning virtually all public concerts by ultra-orthodox groups and singers in Israel.

Famous, successful singers like Avraham Fried – a devout, observant orthodox Jew – are not exempt.

Making up around 8% of the population of Israel, the Haredi community has real economic clout. Boycotts have been very effective.

Menahem Toker, an award-winning disc jockey, who was dismissed from a radio show under pressure from Haredi activists, warns the policy could backfire.

“In Jewish Orthodox culture there’s no cinema, no theatre, no television. The only thing we have is music”, says Mr Toker.

“We are the same, orthodox, people but if they don’t find an alternative they’ll lose the young people – they’ll go to non-kosher shows and they’ll have lost the next generation.”

It is a dire warning from a man who cares deeply about his religion and his music – but the hard-line rabbis are unapologetic.

In a world bursting with mobile phones, MP4 players and DVDs they say it is their moral duty to protect young people against the evils of the modern world.

Here is a selection of your comments:

As Orthodox Jews, my husband and I listen to a wide variety of music. I do not think either of our musical preferences in any way corrupts our morals. Rather, I believe the music we listen to gives voice to how we are feeling or how we wish to feel. On a more important note, music can be used as a tool for reaching unaffiliated Jews. For instance, my mother-in-law uses the melodies from contemporary songs and adds Jewish themes to teach her Jewish kindergarten class – many of whom do not come from religious homes. I believe that by restricting what music can be heard, the Ultra Orthodox are missing out on a fundamental tool which could be used to bridge the gap between religious and secular Jews.
Maya Bahar, Stamford, CT

Music is extremely powerful, and can affect people at a conscious (ie aware), as well as sub-conscious level. I’ve changed my listening habits as I’ve changed as a person. In my wild and rebellious youth, it was all rap, and hip-hop. Now it’s calmer, gentler stuff, where it’s less about the rhythm, and more about the melody. The Rabbis clearly do know what they’re talking about, although I hope they allow their listeners to buy music of better quality than the first clip above.
R. E. Brown, London

As a Muslim, I support the Rabbi’s decision, finally they are thinking like conservative Muslims; after all Muslims and Jews are very much alike. Majority of modern music is immoral and degrading the faith.
Zuber Iraqi, Louisville, KY

I find this article extremely interesting. I don’t think anyone can dispute the effect music has on the listener. Film makers have been using these music/sound techniques for many years. Music can put you into a scared, tense, happy and sad state. As such it could probably be equal to any substance, where limits have to be put and overdoses of the wrong style could bring about negative results.
Chulent Fresser, Kish Mech, Israel

The Jewish Orthodox community have shown to me and others that the Jewish faith often has a lot to share with the Muslim faith. The psychological effect of music and the message is contained is contaminating a lot of minds and causing a great deal of moral destruction. Muslims, Jews, Christians and everybody else should work together to reduce its influence in a world of deteriorating morality. I applaud the strength of these Orthodox Jews to hold on to their faith and prevent the evils of music from corrupting yet more minds.
Hassan, Manchester, UK

I think the Rabbis do have a valid point to a certain extent. But ban this music from our kids of today and they will turn to even more non-kosher sources for their entertainment. Besides, I am sure that 20-30 years ago the older generation were the saying the same of the then ‘modern music’.
Steven Kahn, London; UK

Bonkers, they’re going bonkers. It’s a good job they don’t listen to ‘Slayer’…
Greg Edelston, Be-er Sheva, Israel

I as an orthodox Jew agree 100% percent with the rabbi’s ruling although I am sure that somebody not Jewish thinks it crazy, they can’t understand our way we educate our kids, to be calm and respecting, and the fact is clear that this music interferes very strongly and has a very negative effect.
Moshe Davis, London

Another good example of the religious communities’ desire to alienate themselves from mainstream Israeli society, and its culture which they seem to find an abomination. No problem there, however they live here producing nothing towards the nation’s wealth, and yet criticise and pour scorn on all us secular Jews.
Gidon Bennett, Tel Aviv Israel

As a Jewish person, I find it remarkable that someone in the 21st Century wants to repel any outside source or inspiration. The Haredi really do not resemble or reflect the majority of Jewish people at all. They are outdated and as much fanatics (although thankfully not violent) as any other sect. In my opinion, they are missing out on loads and alienating their own!
William Brown, UK

Everything must be taken in context. The Rabbi was speaking to the ‘Haredi’ people who live in a certain way within their communities. To listen to ‘modern’ music is changing a tradition of thousands of years, tradition being key to the Jewish people. In addition, it is clear that the style and beat of music affects people. Certain music cheers people up, others make people sad and others rouse people to become wild. Anyone who says that music has no affect on the listener is deluding themselves.
Moshe Kormornick, Jerusalem

Music contains spiritual components and therefore it is important to give guidance to youth. Great rabbis have in the past given rulings about this subject, as Jewish law covers all aspects of life.
Rabbi Schmahl, Antwerp Belgium

Censorship on lyrics is one thing, but when a society starts banning certain types of music or instruments, I am very, very concerned…
Valérie Peters, Podgorica, Montenegro

It’s good to know that fundamentalist rock-and-roll alarmism isn’t just an American phenomenon.
Justin Anthony Knapp, Indianapolis, USA

The Rabbi is absolutely correct about the powerful influence music has on behaviour. I am a Bible-believing Christian in a predominantly Hindu/Buddhist nation. I used to love rock music and its beat and even played in bands. Music is certainly not amoral. Even if the lyrics are from the Scriptures, if the music has, say, the rock beat, the chief human response is physical, not spiritual. But when the spiritually-minded David played his harp before a mentally-spiritually depressed King Saul, it had a most healthful influence upon not only his body but also his soul and spirit (1 Samuel 16:23).
Pradesh Shrestha, Palung, Nepal

Once upon a time, there was a group of people determined to control what the people could or could not read, watch and hear. Anything that did not fit with their view of ‘decent’, ‘upstanding’ and ‘respectable’, was banned, leading to large-scale book-burnings. That group of people later went on to ban and burn more than books. “Where they burn books, they will ultimately also burn people.” – Heinrich Heine
Jamie Jones, Linz, Austria

The rabbi’s attempted censorship of music because of beat or instrument choice rather than content is silly, and I think that he is exploiting his supposed religious authority to enforce his specific taste in music on the haredi public. It will only cause division and ridicule, but it brings him celebrity, which is certainly “non-kosher”. Unlike the pop tunes and wedding songs which are a reasonable “kosher” replacement for decadent popular culture, the “modern” Kol Nidre is equally silly; it completely lacks the power that the traditional cantorial version holds for millions of Jews as the symbol of the beginning of the annual “Judgement Day”, Yom Kippur.
Binyamin, Eilat, Israel

It is obvious that a large segment of the music consumed by Western youth is indecent and disrespectful (eg gangsta rap). Even if the rabbi is going a step too far, we should not laugh at his notion but accept it as some food for thought.
Wolf-Dieter Schleuning, Berlin, Germany

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