Today, in the wake of statements by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert conceding the future re-division of the holy city of Jerusalem (reported HERE on YW), the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America – representing nearly 1,000 congregations across North America – issued the following statement by Union president Stephen Savitsky and public policy director Nathan Diament:
The Orthodox Union and our constituency – who care passionately for Israel and pray toward and for the welfare of Jerusalem daily – are deeply troubled by the statements by Prime Minister Olmert conceding the re-division of Jerusalem.
The Prime Minster stated that he is prepared to re-divide the city because “the world that is friendly to Israel… that really supports Israel, when it speaks of the future, it speaks of Israel in terms of the ’67 borders. It speaks of the division of Jerusalem.” This is plainly not correct. To take Israel’s leading ally, where we and our constituents reside, as the example: U.S. President George W. Bush, while consistently calling for the creation of a Palestinian state has not called for East Jerusalem to be handed over to the Palestinians for their capital.
We would hope and expect the Israeli Prime Minister to be fighting for Jewish sovereignty over our holiest city – not abandoning it.
We call upon Prime Minister Olmert to serve the cause of the Jewish people in Israel and throughout the world, past – present – and future generations, and fight for Jerusalem to remain the eternal and indivisible capital of Israel and the Jewish people.
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10 Responses
i’m sorry but genug shoin, the ou should get a life the israeli government couldn’t care a ki hu zeh what they say. i think they should stop screaming and do something for a change, maybe they should organize a hasmodoh learning program in all the young israel synagogue’s to counteract the tumah from olmert
That very same world that Olmert trusts as supposedly friendly and supportive of Israel, was not particularly friendly and supportive of Jews in 1939.
Genug Shoin since YOU have the time to “scream” against the OU (which by the sound of things you have something personal against them) i’m sure youv’e organized a hasmodoh learning program to counteract the tumah of your words about an organization which does so much for klal yisroel.
Olmert obviously doesn’t care about public opinion . He will do it even if 97 % of the world told him not to. But we have to do what is right and this was the right thing for OU to do!
The Prime minister has as much power to give away Yerusholayim as he does the Island of Madagascar. It is up to Hashem what happens – no one else.
I am not sure therefore what the tachlis of the OU statement is for? I understand the need for a statment when there is evil being done – to make a macho’oh l’kovod shomayim, but this?
Reb Steinman/Reb Elyashiv said, “Scream, yell, protest, and stand up for Yerushayalim”. The OU has taken that directive strongly, now what are the rest of us going to do for Yerushayalim?
Too bad the OU wasn’t around to make statements in 1939. They could have saved 6 million of us with such strong talk. Although I am not quite sure who the OU is even directing these words too?
Naaseh v’Nishma. Actions before anything else. Words are worthless.
Peace in our time…
To # 1 at least they are doing something.
Does Olmert care? Probably not, but we must do something!! Speaking out about it is better than staying quiet.
Come up with a better plan and we will do follow you…..
yochi dear, what’s wrong with the plan i came up with
I’m not sure how much good it’ll do, but maybe i’ll go burn some dumpsters in protest. at least i’ll get the attention of the yassam 😉