MERCAZ Newsletter - Summer 2001

Conservative Leaders Praise PM Sharon

Mercaz authored letter cautions retreat on pluralism

March 12, 2001 - 17 Adar 5761

The Hon. Ariel Sharon
Prime Minister
Kiryat Ben Gurion
Jerusalem, Israel

Dear Mr. Prime Minister:

We, the leadership of the Conservative Movement, representing 1.5 million Conservative Jews in North America, congratulate you on your election as Prime Minister and on the successful formation of your government. We stand with you as you lead Israel, as in your victory speech, "on a new path." We pledge our strong support for your call for harmony and unity among all Israelis and between Israel and Diaspora Jewry - "all of us as one, with one heart" - as your government seeks peace and security with the Palestinians and the neighboring Arab countries.

Prime Minister Sharon, the challenges facing Israel are tremendous, and we are grateful that you have succeeded in building a strong government of national unity in order to confront these problems. We support your demand that the violence of the past five months cease before there can be any resumption of the negotiations with the Palestinian Authority and, at the same time, applaud your readiness to undertake painful decisions based on "mutual respect and strict reciprocity" for the goal of peace.

As you may be aware, significant progress was achieved on the issue of religious pluralism over the past couple of years. The decision to accommodate egalitarian prayer services at the southern end of the Western Wall, at Robinson's Arch, and to begin to fund the Torah educational projects of the Masorti and Progressive Movements were important steps forward. The Conservative/Masorti Movement within Israel and throughout the Diaspora is very committed to seeing this progress be maintained, and we are especially happy that Rabbi Michael Melchior has been selected as Deputy Foreign Minister to continue the work he performed in the previous government on behalf of relations with the Diaspora.

Having said that, please know that we are concerned about those in your government entrusted with control of the Ministries of the Interior and Religious Affairs who have shown by their example in the past their opposition to pluralism and tolerance. We call upon you to oppose any and all attempts to reintroduce the Law of Conversion or to make changes in the Law of Return.

We wish you every success and look forward to working with you on our shared concerns in the years to come.

Sincerely,

The Leadership Council of Conservative Judaism