The Association of Reform Zionists of America (ARZA), on behalf of the Union for Reform Judaism issued a statement condemning an attack which took place in Arad, against the Shira Hadasha Synagogue, which is affiliated with the Conservative Movement. The statement cites the attack, a year from the last arson attack, as another example of growing fundamentalism in the chareidi camp, pointing to shabbos protests conducted by the Eida Chareidis in the capital on shabbos against the operation of Karta parking lot and the shabbos operation of Intel Jerusalem. The Reform Movement explains the riots seen on shabbos attest to the growing “fanaticism among the ultra-Orthodox”.
The statement continues, pointing to the mehadrin “segregated” bus lines, compelling women to seat in the rear of buses; continuing to report on the fact that members of the Women of the Wall [who come to the Kosel monthly to daven in tallis and tefillin and read from a sefer Torah] were arrested and questioned by police for simply trying to pray at the holy site.
The attack which occurred in Arad the Reform leaders feel is a direct result of the “hateful” statements made by ultra-Orthodox leaders against the Reform and Conservative movements in Israel.
The statement labels the attack “intolerable, especially in Israel”, the Land of the Jews, adding leaders hope the attackers who are still at large will be apprehended.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
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7 Responses
Please let us not dignify Conservative and Reform churches with the title of shul.
I agree with #1 and have for a long time called them the Reform religion as they have nothing to do with Judiasm which is Torah which they do not follow in any way shape or form.
As for fanaticism they are the ones to whom it most applies.
um i thought yeshiva world was a frum site? I must have spelled it wrong.
They are just as fanatic when it comes to environmental issues, animal rights & feminism (that is their religion.) But of course how can we compare the two their fanaticism are flavor of the day issues while Chareidi fanaticism is based on the “outdated” Torah.
Why didn’t anybody tell me it was time to bash our fellow Yidden? I’ll pull up a chair. I LOVE saying hateful things about Jews.
I thought Israel was a democracy. No one is telling the Chareidim what to do.
Pointing out things that are wrong and anti Torah is not “bashing” it is amazing that no one ever goes to a Reform blog and says anything against vicious bashing of Torah Jews that goes on on those sites.
If someone dares say the slightest thing they do not like, on those blogs they respond with all kinds of the worst, most profane insults, as well as physical threats.
When they support anti Torah things and ideas they help spread antisemitism because the antisemites see it and say “this is what Jews support and why we hate them”.