As we get bashed in Washington and the UN, the Left either denies reality or is busy with other “more important matters”. A short look at the headlines of the past few days might make you think that the Israeli Left lives in another country.
Here’s one for starters: “Ehud Barak: 'Majority of Israelis' agree with Kerry”. Headline from INN.
Ehud Barak praised John Kerry's speech Wednesday, stating that Netanyahu is 'being dragged after messianic stream.' But he forgot to tell you when he says “majority of Israelis” he means himself.
Here’s another Israeli Left politician saying differently than most American Left politicians:
“Herzog: Kerry a 'true friend' of Israel”.
Issac Herzog praises speech of John Kerry. “His speech expresses true concerns about Israel’s well-being & future.” Why doesn’t the U.S. left agree with this? Even U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer released the following statement: “While Secretary Kerry mentioned Gaza in his speech, he seems to have forgotten the history of the settlements in Gaza, where the Israeli government forced settlers to withdraw from all settlements and the Palestinians responded by sending rockets from Gaza into Israel.”
Stormy Knesset Session Addresses Giyur And Egalitarian Prayer Area is another headline.
Sharansky: Reform Jewry the 'final defense' before assimilation, another headline on same topic.
Natan Sharansky, among those spearheading the 'Kotel plan', called for greater openness towards Reform Jews. “Many assert that the Reform cause assimilation, but this is not correct: it is the final defense before assimilation,” he said. According to Sharansky, “most are unaware the Reform Movement is not a fringe group but those who label themselves “liberal Jews” number 3 million worldwide. So it’s a numbers game. Sharansky believes that if the Reform can worship in their preferred mode here in Israel they will fly here and settle in droves. The problem is they don’t really want to move to Israel, they just want to tell people here what to do.
Plus, statistics show otherwise. Reform does not prevent assimilation. Over 50% of Reform Jews marry non-Jews with a small percentage electing to raise their children as Jewish, according to pew report. But giving the Reform a foothold in the Holy Land is of such paramount importance that it supersedes existential threats like intermarriage. Perhaps he’d like to import intermarriage to Israel along with importing the Reform Movement.
Another bird of the same feather to make headlines:
“Rabbi Amsalem: Haredi establishment responsible for assimilation.” “The equation is very simple: Hinder conversions, ease assimilation; ease conversions, hinder assimilation.”
This means having the conversion standards we have up to now are somehow preventing people from becoming Jewish. But the opposite is true. If someone wants to be Jewish he has to accept what that means and not renegotiate Judaism to accept his definition of it. When you pass the Bar exam you are a lawyer. No one suggested lowering the Bar. People who learned to drive can get a license not people who ask ‘but why can’t you make a turn this way or park that way instead?’ Would you entrust your life in the hands of a surgeon that didn’t finish med school?
Perhaps if Judaism would cease to be negotiable to our people then maybe our sovereignty over the Holy Land would also be non-negotiable. Maybe it’s not a coincidence that the UN resolution passed when it did.