International Federation of Reform and Progressive Religious Zionists

Arzenu Admin's Blog – December 2010 Archive (11)

Knesset Conversion Bills - A context. By Joan Garson

Chevre

Our challenges continue with respect to the Conversion Issue in Israel. I will summarize here the current state of affairs. As you all know, MK David Rotem introduced a bill (Rotem I) in July to give authority de jure in Israel on all conversion matters to the Chief Rabbis.

The Reform Movement, in partnership with the Jewish Federations of North America…

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Added by Arzenu Admin on December 16, 2010 at 3:30pm — No Comments

ARZA US statement on ruling of municipal chief rabbis on renting to “gentiles”

ARZA (Association of Reform Zionists of America) reacts with alarm to a recent report that 50 leading Israeli municipal chief rabbis, all employed by the State, have signed on to a religious ruling which forbids renting homes to gentiles - a move particularly aimed against Arabs.

This ruling comes just months after the Chief Rabbi of Safed initiated a call urging Jews to refrain from…

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Added by Arzenu Admin on December 9, 2010 at 9:30pm — No Comments

Israel's legal establishment to examine rabbis' letter forbidding rental of homes to Arabs. By Yair Ettinger and Haaretz Service

In response to a petition against the signatories of the rabbis' letter, attorney general's office says rabbis' statements were 'inappropriate for public officials.'

The attorney general's office stated on Thursday that it would look into possible criminal aspects of a religious ruling to forbid renting homes to gentiles signed by a number of leading rabbis.

Dozens of Israel's municipal chief rabbis signed on to the…

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Added by Arzenu Admin on December 9, 2010 at 4:30pm — No Comments

PM blasts rabbis' calls not to sell apartments to non-Jews. By Jonah Mandel and Ben Hartman, The Jerusalem Post

Forty-seven state-employed rabbis have signed a statement, made public Tuesday, which quotes the halachic stance against renting or selling a house or plot of land to a non- Jew in Israel.

“In response to many people’s questions, we hereby reply that it is prohibited by the Torah to sell a house or a field in the Land of Israel to a gentile,” the letter begins before proceeding to quote…

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Added by Arzenu Admin on December 8, 2010 at 10:00pm — No Comments

The Heart Burns by Rabbi Gabby Dagan

To you, Lord, I call, for fire has devoured the pastures in the wilderness and flames have burned up all the trees of the field. Even the wild animals pant for you; the streams of water have dried up, and fire has devoured the pastures in the wilderness. (Joel 1)

At noon on Friday, as the flames were still soaring high and the fire had not been consumed, I received a phone call from the…

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Added by Arzenu Admin on December 6, 2010 at 10:18am — No Comments

IMPJ update on Carmel fire & thoughts from Rabbi Gabby Dagan

Our dear friends

Sunday 5 December: 5.40pm

A few hours ago, Israel homeland security minister announced the end of the massive operation to stop the fire in the Carmel area. The Israeli troops will remain in the area during the next few days and the overseas support teams will start their way home tomorrow morning.

Today, 27 funerals took place across the country. All of the victims died on their way to save lives, including a 16 year-old fire troop…

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Added by Arzenu Admin on December 6, 2010 at 8:00am — No Comments

ARZA sets up emergency fund after Carmel fire

Israel has been hit with a heartbreaking ecological and humanitarian disaster, and we are very touched by your concern, interest and help with the efforts to relieve this disaster. In the upcoming weeks, the IMPJ is committed to being a part of the rehabilitation efforts. As we are grateful that the fire is contained, we brace ourselves for the work ahead and ask for your support in this enormous undertaking.…

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Added by Arzenu Admin on December 5, 2010 at 9:00pm — No Comments

Update on the fire in the Carmel and on the IMPJ's efforts

Dear friends

We are writing to update you with current news of the tragedy in the north of Israel. As thousands of people are displaced from their homes due to a massive wildfire, the fire fighters now seem to have the fire under control. The fire has claimed at least 42 lives and more than four million trees on nearly 10,000 acres of land.…

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Added by Arzenu Admin on December 5, 2010 at 5:00pm — No Comments

Fire disaster in Israel: Message from Rabbi Gilad Kariv, IMPJ

Dear friends

Thank you all for the kind words of support we receive from four corners of the world.

I'm sending you the translation of a special Mi-She-Beirach that was written and distributed to our congregations in Israel.…

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Added by Arzenu Admin on December 3, 2010 at 2:41pm — No Comments

Fire disaster in Israel: Message from Arzenu Chair, Joan Garson

Chevra

I know we are all thinking about Israel at the moment and our hearts go out to the families who have suffered losses.

The Israel Movement is taking active steps regarding a response to the fire; ARZA US has started fundraising; you can all follow up with Rabbi Gilad Kariv to decide how best your communities can provide support.

Chag sameach

Joan

Added by Arzenu Admin on December 3, 2010 at 2:35pm — No Comments

Disaster in the North: 40 dead as fire rages in Carmel Mountains By Amiram Cohen, Fadi Eyadat, Haaretz newspaper

Forty people were killed on Thursday as a huge brushfire continued to rage across the Carmel Mountains in northern Israel, killing and injuring dozens, among them prison guards and firemen.

Some 13,000 people were evacuated from their homes in the north and Israel called for international aid as the fire blazed out of control, fanned by easterly winds following a month of near record temperatures for the…

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Added by Arzenu Admin on December 3, 2010 at 2:00pm — No Comments