eJP has learned that the proposal for an egalitarian/pluralistic area of the Kotel will include supervision by The Jewish Agency, a quasi-government organization headquartered in Jerusalem. This previously unreported news was apparently discussed at a meeting earlier this week in New York where Natan Sharansky briefed members of the various North American streams. If correct it represents a significant addition to the mission of the organization. … [Read more...]
by Rabbi Rick Block There are times when it seems that something fundamental might, just might, be shifting. That’s how I felt following a discussion in which Rabbi Steve Fox and I represented the Reform Movement (for the CCAR), together with Rick Jacobs (for the URJ) and Jack Luxemberg (for ARZA), in a meeting with Natan Sharansky of the Jewish Agency, about his proposed solution to issues presented by the Women of the Wall. While an obligation of confidentiality limits what can be shared publically about that discussion, it has been widely reported that Sharansky envisions “one Western Wall for one Jewish People.” This would involve expanding the plaza leading to the Kotel and creating an area for egalitarian/pluralistic prayer to the right of the ramp to the Temple Mount. It would be … [Read more...]
Natan Sharansky, chair of the Executive of The Jewish Agency, and representative of the Prime Minister who is seeking a compromise for the current challenges of prayer at the Kotel has spoken. Maybe. Perhaps. On the record, apparently not. … [Read more...]
Its Role in the Future of International Jewish Philanthropy by Stephen G. Donshik In 1917 the Balfour Declaration called for “the establishment of a Jewish agency” to further the development of a homeland for the Jewish people. The Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) was founded in 1929 in response to that call. Since its founding, JAFI has metamorphosed into an international Jewish organization based in Israel with professional staff and board members living all over the globe. Its accomplishments certainly deserve to be heralded. However, the time has come for the Jewish Agency to reengineer itself to meet not only the present needs of the Jewish people but also to provide an infrastructure for responding to their future needs. This article proposes just such a reengineering through the … [Read more...]
The Jewish Agency for Israel's Chairman Natan Sharansky met today with Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, Chairman of the Western Wall Heritage Foundation to express his shock at a letter sent by the Israeli Police. The letter stated, in part, that the police would arrest women who recite Kaddish at the Western Wall. Rabbi Rabinowitz assured Sharansky that, contrary to the letter, no woman would be arrested for reciting Kaddish at the Western Wall. [eJP note: this reinforces the long-held belief Rabinowitz does, in fact, control the police in the Kotel plaza area; an extremely troubling thought for Israeli democracy.] Sharansky is currently in the final stages of drafting recommendations for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to decrease the tensions and ensure that every Jew in the world can pray in the … [Read more...]
This summer 1,100 young Israelis will volunteer as summer shlichim in North America. The shlichim, acting as counselors at summer camps, will focus on deepening the bond between young Jews and Israel and strengthening their Jewish identities. This year, for the first time, young Israeli’s who have chosen to defer their military service [to do a year of volunteer work] or learn in a pre-army academy will also participate in the summer shlichim program. In recent years, the number of Israelis applying for a position as a summer shaliach has grown. This year’s shlichim were chosen from amongst 5,500 applicants. … [Read more...]
