Resolution Calling Upon the Government of Israel to
Recognize Rabbi Miri Gold and to Cease Discrimination Against Non-Orthodox Jews

Adopted by the Union for Reform Judaism Board of Trustees on December 14, 2008

Submitted by the Association of Reform Zionists of America

Background

Over the years, the Union for Reform Judaism has adopted several resolutions concerning policies and practices of the Government of Israel which discriminate against non-Orthodox branches of Judaism.[1]   The present controversy concerning Rabbi Miri Gold, a Reform woman rabbi holding the pulpit at Congregation Birkat Shalom in Kibutz Gezer, is an all-too-vivid example of how such discriminatory practices impede the religious lives of many Israelis, prejudice non-Orthodox Jews (and some Orthodox Jews as well) both within and outside of Israel, and are unjustifiable under any principled standard.

Rabbi Gold is one of 16 Rabbis serving the Gezer Region.  Fifteen of these Rabbis—all Orthodox men—are recognized by the Government and receive a Government salary.  Only Rabbi Gold receives neither Government recognition nor a Government salary, despite the facts that:

• Rabbi Gold serves as the Rabbi to large numbers of Gezer residents.
• The Municipal Council of Gezer has acknowledged her as a Rabbi in that Region.
• The Israel Supreme Court has declared that all branches of Judaism should be accorded equal treatment by the Government.
• A state committee studying the issue of rabbinic posts in regional councils has acknowledged a state obligation to fund non-Orthodox religious services.
• Only a small minority of the Gezer residents are Orthodox.
• Aside from reciting fundamentalist dogma, not even the beneficiaries of the discrimination have attempted to justify it on any principled ground.

Litigation on behalf of Rabbi Gold is pending in the Israel Supreme Court, but the State has managed to delay it for over three years, and there is still no decision on the merits.

We recognize that Jews outside of Israel cannot demand changes in Israeli law, but the discrimination against non-Orthodox Jews and practices affects Jews throughout the world and impedes Israel from becoming a true beacon to the nations.

THEREFORE, while continuing to build and uphold the strongest possible affinity between Jews of all streams and the State of Israel, the Union for Reform Judaism resolves to:

1.     Reaffirm its prior resolutions concerning discrimination against non-Orthodox branches of Judaism.

2.     Call on the Government of Israel to recognize immediately Miri Gold as an official Rabbi of the Gezer Community.

3.     Call on the Government of Israel to apply Government funding to support the work of Rabbi Gold and her peers, and to provide equal support, including financial support, to all streams of Judaism in the spirit of klal Yisrael, thereby fulfilling the religious pluralism and freedom that should be the hallmarks of the only Jewish and democratic state.

4.     Call upon all of its member synagogues, its affiliate organizations, and all Jews throughout the world, irrespective of denomination or nationality, to urge the Government of Israel (a) to recognize Rabbi Gold as an official Rabbi of the Gezer Community, (b) to support her in the same manner and to the same extent as it supports other Rabbis in that Community, and (c) to cease all discrimination against non-Orthodox branches of Judaism.