We’ve learned today that the conversion bill that was recently proposed in the Israeli Knesset has been postponed.  As it was recently noted, “Those of us in the liberal Jewish world have won the battle but probably not the war”.  As you may know, this bill was proposed under the guise of “liberalizing” the process of conversion in Israel but in its specific language gave the authority for conversions in Israel over to the religious right-wing faction.  It would be possible that this would pose problems for Israeli citizens who have been converted by Reform or Conservative rabbis outside of Israel.  

We have just recently completed the observance of Tisha B’av - the 9th day of the Hebrew month of Av.  It is the day where we recall the destruction of the first and second temples along with many other tragedies that have befallen our people over the past few thousand years.  According to the Talmud, the destruction of the second Temple was due to “sinat chinam” which we translate as “baseless hatred”.  The story most often used to explain “baseless hatred” is the classic talmudic story of Kamtza and Bar Kamtza.  Essentially the story is simple: An invitation to a party is mis-delivered and the party’s host is so disturbed by the appearance of his enemy at his party that he refuses to be placated and instead publicly embarrasses his enemy at a public event.  Eventually the hate would grow to one day cause the destruction of the holiest worship space in the Jewish world. 

The State of Israel is a complicated place.  Its citizens represent the wide diversity of Judaism that has always existed in the world.  And yet we have supported the establishment of Israel as a refuge for Jews who have suffered persecution and discrimination.  Now, we must be very vigilant that political influences do not allow us to discriminate within our own ranks to disenfranchise those who consider themselves fully Jewish and proud citizens of Israel.  We must be assured that baseless hatred will not separate those of us in America and around the world from our brothers and sisters in Israel.