Statement from the Jewish Community Relations Commission of the Jewish Federation of Greater Des Moines
May 26, 2010 Contact: Mark Finkelstein, JCRC Director jcrc@dmjfed.org
Des Moines JCRC/ Federation joins opposition to Knesset Conversion Bill
Through its Jewish Community Relations Commission, the Jewish Federation of Greater Des Moines added its voice, today, in opposition to a bill introduced in the Knesset which would dangerously alter Israel's Law of Return.
JCRC's vote to oppose the bill was unanimous and comes after the parent group of Jewish Federations, the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) along with the heads of the Conservative, Reform and Reconstructionist movements issued a letter against the proposed legislation.
As explained by JFNA, the Law of Return, governing immigration to Israel by Jews, is perhaps the one Israeli law where world Jewry can be considered constitutents. The proposed changes would not recognize conversion via the streams that represent 85% of Diaspora Jewry. In effect the law, if passed, would impact on the unity of the Jewish people.
The letter presented by JFNA's coalition to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the Prime Minister to advocate for the withdrawal of the bill. "As strongly as we support Israel, " JFNA wrote, "we oppose this law."
For more information on this topic see: http://www.jewishfederations.org/page.aspx?id=217776
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