A bar mitzvah celebration for disabled boys that was to be held in the President’s Residence, sponsored by the Conservative Movement, was ultimately canceled. There was a dispute between the organizers and the president’s office as to the details of the event and now, each blames the other for the cancellation. The Conservative Movement blames Mr. Rivlin of discriminating against non-Orthodox Jews.
Yisrael Hayom quotes a letter sent to Rivlin this month by Israeli and American leaders of the Conservative Judaism movement which states “the sole reason for this denial is the contempt of Israel’s leaders for the sponsors of this program.” The letter went on to state that canceling the ceremony for the boys was “an act of cruelty”.
Yisrael Hayom quotes Naomi Toledano-Kandel, Rivlin’s spokeswoman, stating it wasn’t the role of the President’s Office to intervene in such a contentious political topic. “We are not the place that will decide the religious war,” she said.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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One Response
While it is unfortunate that children were used in this it is however curious how an organization whose whole platform discriminates against Chareidim can even assert the bigotry card altogether when the cards are reversed.
They would likely even complain if the president’s staff cancelled a Bark Mitzva for their dogs’ ceremony – a sad, unfortunate fact in today’s world.