An Open Letter to PM Netanyahu: Take Action to Strengthen Jewish Pluralism and Unity
Like many in the Jewish community, the Canadian Rabbinic Caucus Executive is concerned by recent Israeli decisions regarding the management of the Kotel (Western Wall) and the recognition of conversions in Israel outside the purview of the Chief Rabbinate.
This is why, with the support of CIJA and the Jewish Federations of Canada-UIA, we are writing directly to Prime Minister Netanyahu to ask that he take action to reverse these decisions. Below is the text of the letter, which has been signed by dozens of Canadian rabbis, including Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist representatives.
If you are a Canadian rabbi who would like to add your name to this letter, please contact us asap.
If you are a member of the Canadian Jewish community and would like to endorse this letter, please add your name below and help spread the word!
Dear Prime Minister,
We are writing as a group of rabbis reflecting the broad spectrum of Jewish practice in Canada, including Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist congregations. While we are diverse in our political and religious views, we are united in our passion for Israel, our love for Israelis, and our unshakeable commitment to the security and prosperity of the Jewish State.
Promoting a love of Israel among our congregants is a keystone of our daily work. We are proud that the Canadian Jewish community demonstrates an exceptional commitment to Zionism and a strong Jewish State, and has been enormously successful in building bridges between Canada and Israel at all levels.
It is in this context that we are writing to convey our profound disappointment and frustration regarding the Ministerial Committee for Legislation’s decision to advance a bill that bans government agencies from recognizing conversions performed in Israel beyond the purview of the Chief Rabbinate. In addition to the serious challenges this decision poses to rabbis and Jews-by-choice alike, it is a significant setback for Jewish religious pluralism in the world’s only Jewish homeland.
We are no less disappointed by the Israeli cabinet’s recent decision to quash the “one wall for one people” compromise agreement regarding the Kotel. Just as every Jew should feel they have a physical home in Israel if they need or desire it, every Jew should feel they have a spiritual home in our ancestral and holy land – and the opportunity to connect with the sites that have inspired Jews for time immemorial.
We ask that you take immediate steps to reverse these worrisome decisions. Doing so would reaffirm your government’s commitment to the freedom of every Jew to grow in their religious and Zionist identity.
We believe in Jewish unity, not uniformity. The spectrum of Jewish practice is diverse, but it need not lead to divisiveness. Our differences are eclipsed by all that unites us: millennia of shared history and a shared future. What happens to Jews today – no matter where they live or where they attend synagogue – invariably affects us all.
We are an indivisible people, which is why we are deeply concerned by these and any other actions that unnecessarily foment division within amcha.
We look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
The Canadian Rabbinic Caucus
Rabbi Eytan Kenter
Kehillat Beth Israel
Ottawa, ON
Rabbi Edward Elkin,
First Narayever Congregation
Toronto, ON
Rabbi Steven Garten
Rabbi Emeritus
Temple Israel
Ottawa, ON
Rabbi Raysh Weiss
Shaar Shalom
Halifax, NS
Rabbi Micah Streiffer
Temple Kol Ami
Thornhill, ON
Rabbi Chezi Zionce
Beit Rayim Synagogue
Vaughan, ON
Rabbi Jordan Helfman
Holy Blossom Temple
Toronto, ON
Rabbi Leigh Lerner
Rabbi Emeritus, Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom,
Montreal, QC
Rabbi Louis Sachs
Beth Tikvah Synagogue
Toronto, ON
Rabbi Jarrod Grover
Beth Tikvah Synagogue
Toronto, ON
Rabbi Catharine Clark
Congregation Or Shalom
London, Ontario
Rabbi David Seed
Adath Israel Congregation
Toronto, ON
Rabbi Jennifer Gorman
MERCAZ-Canada & Canadian Foundation for Masorti Judaism
Toronto, ON
Rabbi Michael Satz
Holy Blossom Temple
Toronto, ON
Rabbi Aaron Flanzraich
Beth Sholom Synagogue
Toronto, ON
Rabbi Hillel Lavery-Yisraeli
Beth Jacob Synagogue
Hamilton ON
Rabbi Elyse Goldstein
City Shul
Toronto, ON
Rabbi Howard Morrison
Beth Emeth Bais Yehuda Synagogue
Toronto, ON
Rabbi Michal Shekel
Toronto Board of Rabbis
Toronto, ON
Rabbi Stephen Wise
Shaarei-Beth El Congregation
Oakville, ON
Rabbi Anibal Mass
Congregation Shaarey Zedek
Winnipeg, MB
Rabbi Lionel Moses
Shaare Zedek Congregation
Montreal, QC
Rabbi Jordan D. Cohen
Temple Anshe Sholom
Hamilton, ON
Rabbi Michael Whitman
Adath Israel Poale Zedek Anshei Ozeroff
Hampstead, QC
Rabbi Sherril Gilbert
Congregation Dorshei Emet
Côte Saint-Luc, QC
Rabbi Dan Moskovitz
Temple Sholom
Vancouver, BC
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Rabbi Reuben Poupko
Beth Israel Beth Aaron Congregation
Montreal, QC
Rabbi Baruch Frydman-Kohl
Beth Tzedec Synagogue
Toronto, ON
Rabbi Debra Landsberg
Temple Emanu-El
Toronto, ON
Rabbi Jonathan Infeld
Congregation Beth Israel
Vancouver, BC
Rabbi Jeremy Parnes
Beth Jacob Synagogue
Regina, SK
Rabbi Lawrence Englander
Chair, ARZENU, International Reform Zionist Organization
Rabbi Emeritus, Solel Congregation
Mississauga, ON
Rabbi Philip Scheim
Beth David B'nai Israel Beth Am Synagogue
Toronto, ON
Rabbi Michael Dolgin
Temple Sinai
Toronto, ON
Rabbi Philip Bregman
Rabbi/Executive Director of Hillel BC
Vancouver, BC
Rabbi Yael Splansky
Holy Blossom Temple
Toronto, ON
Rabbi Miriam Margles
Danforth Jewish Circle
Toronto, ON
Rabbi Erin Polansky
Neshamah Congregation
Thornhill, ON
Rabbi Aaron Katchen
Mizrachi Bayit
North York, ON
Rabbi Shaul Osadchey
Beth Tzedec Congregation
Calgary, AB
Rabbi Sean Gorman
Pride of Israel Synagogue
North York, ON
Rabbi Dr. Geoffrey Haber
Director, Department of Spiritual Care
Baycrest
Toronto, ON
Rabbi Karen Soria
Beth Israel Congregation
Kingston, ON
Jonah Rank, Maskil
Shaar Shalom Synagogue
Halifax, NS
Rabbi Lori Cohen
Temple Shalom
Waterloo, ON
Rabbi Deborah Zuker
Agudath Israel Congregation
Ottawa, ON
Rabbi Steven Schwarzman
Beth El
TMR, QC
Rabbi Chaim Strauchler
Shaarei Shomayim Congregation
Toronto, ON
Rabbi Alan Green
Congregation Shaarey Zedek
Winnipeg, MB
Rabbi Joshua Corber
Beth Tzedec Congregation
Calgary, AB
Rabbi Matthew Leibl
Congregation Shaarey Zedek
Winnipeg, MB
Rabbi Rena Arshinoff
Toronto, ON
Rabbi Arthur Bielfeld
Rabbi Emeritus
Temple Emanu-El
North York, ON
Rabbi Mark Glickman
Temple B’nai Tikvah
Calgary, AB
Rabbi Rob Morais
Temple Israel Ottawa
Ottawa, ON
Rabbi Roy Tanenbaum
Rosh Yeshiva, Canadian Yeshiva & Rabbinical School
Toronto, Ontario
Rabbi Shalom Schachter
Beth Tzedec Synagogue
Toronto, ON
Rabbi David Bluman
Congregation Beth Israel
Vancouver, BC
Rabbi Michael S. Stroh
Holy Blossom Temple
Toronto, ON
Rabbi Aaron Levy
Kiever Synagogue
Toronto, ON
Rabbi Edward Goldfarb
Holy Blossom Temple
Toronto, ON
Rabbi Carey Brown
Temple Sholom
Vancouver, BC
Rabbi Tina Grimberg
Congregation Darchei Noam
Toronto, ON
Rabbi Hannah Dresner
Or Shalom Synagogue
Vancouver, BC
Rabbi Adam Stein
Congregation Beth Israel
Vancouver, BC
Rabbi Irit Printz
A World Without Bullying
Toronto, ON
Rabbi Wayne Allen, PHD
Toronto Jewish High School
Toronto, ON
Rabbi Harry Brechner
Congregation Emanu-El
Victoria BC
Rabbi Alan W. Bright
Shaare Zedek Congregation
Montreal, QC
Rabbi Adam Cutler
Beth Tzedec Synagogue
Toronto, ON
Rabbi Lisa Grushcow
Temple Emanu-El-Beth Shalom
Montreal, QC
Rabbi Cory Weiss
Temple Har Zion
Thornhill, ON
Dr. Mordecai Zeitz
Rabbi Emeritus
Congregation Beth Tikvah Ahavat Shalom Nusach Hoari
DDO, QC
Rabbi Claudio Jodorkovsky
Congregation Agudas Israel
Saskatoon, SK
Rabbi Kliel Rose
Beth Shalom Synagogue
Edmonton, AB
Rabbi Jeffrey Ableser
Congregation Beth El
Windsor, ON
Rabbi Boris Dolin
Congregation Dorshei Emet, Hampstead QC
Rabbi Audrey S. Pollack
Solel Congregation
Mississauga, ON
Rabbi Karen Soria
Beth Israel Congregation
Kingston, ON