What will be the consequence of Israel's failure to recognize Jews-by-choice?
In a previous article I discussed a dramatic demographic change occurring within American Jewry- 1/6 of all American Jews were born in a different religion. That article discussed how this trend could fundamentally change how the American Jewish community views the State of Israel in terms of its conflict with the Palestinians. But, this is not the only issue with Israel where the changing demographics of American Jews will have a strong effect.
Israel has a complicated legal relationship with American Jews-by-choice from progressive streams of Judaism. Israeli immigration laws views any convert from a recognized Jewish community as a Jew for the purpose of Israeli citizenship. Therefore, reform and conservative Jews-by-choice can immigrate to Israel as freely as born-Jews.
However, some of the legal authorities in Israel are controlled by the Chief Rabbinate. The Rabbinate has a strict Orthodox viewpoint and therefore doesn’t view conservative and reform Jews-by-choice as Jews. This means that some state legal entities in Israel will not serve progressive Jews-by-choice as Jews- as an example, a conservative Jew-by-choice would not be able to legally marry a Jew in Israel.
How do Jews-by-choice in America think about this stance with regards to their identity? Many of the subjects of my previous article had strong opinion on this matter that lend some interesting insight into how dynamics of this issue can further shape the relationship between American Jews and Israel
To some American Jews-by-choice, the Rabbinate’s denial of their Jewishness stings. It feels like a repudiation of a dramatic life choice, a bridge to a new identity that is permanently blocked.
Its “a little heartbreaking knowing that I'm …living this great Jewish life. And if I went there, there'd be people who put pretty big stumbling stones in my way unless I go through their process,” Chris, a social worker living in North Carolina
“I was pissed off,” said Yosef, a teacher in New York. “It was nauseating. I didn't like it. And it sort of felt like….what's the point? Why convert if I can’t do it right?”
Still other Jews-by-choice shrug off the Rabbinate’s consideration.
“I love the Orthodox, I really do. They remind us of a lot of things. But unfortunately, they're not representative of a lot of Jews. So it's easy to kind of avoid them and their opinion doesn't matter to me,” said Noa, a military contractor in North Carolina.
“The Orthodox rabbinic is not interested in marrying me or burying me,” said Rabbi Ruth Adar, a convert who prefers the term “naturalized Jew” rather than “Jew-by-choice.”
“I feel like I am completely in concert with lots of other Israelis, especially Israelis, whose families came from the former Soviet Union. And so, you know, we should vote and strike to straighten this mess out.”
To Rabbi Ruth, Israel’s issue with her Jewishness is representative of a issue that most naturalized Jews will face. Rabbi Ruth regularly teaches classes to potential converts and actually enjoys when this difficult situation is brought up.
“I find it pedagogically really useful when people encounter this, because one of the very important things for naturalized Jews to get is you are never going to be accepted by everybody,” says Rabbi Ruth.
“There will always be somebody who says, ‘Oh, you're not really Jewish.’ And whether it's the State of Israel, in the form of the Rabbinate, or whether it's Mrs. Cohen at Temple, it is both really hurtful to have that said to you, and absolutely a part of life as a naturalized Jew, that will happen multiple times.”
Now that conservative and reform Jews-by-choice make up an ever larger share of American Jewry, the effect of this legal status quo might further sour relations between American Jews and Israel. Some Jews-by-choice go so far as to say that this legal stance could turn them away from supporting Israel financially.
“We're part of American Judaism, so you can't ignore us,” said Chris. “(It) will come to shape like how do American Jews donate to Israel…” and will lead to questions of “how are our dollars being spent?”
Still others see this difficulty as yet another battle in the long war of defining who can be considered Jewish. Though certainly willing to call-out this perceived mistreatment, some progressive Jews-by-choice refuse to see this as a cause for separation from Israel or their fellow Jews
“What I take comfort in is knowing that this is not at all unique in Jewish history,” said Rabbi Ruth. This “is why the Rabbis kept harping about baseless hatred, and the destruction of the temple. Jews fussing with each other in really mean ways is nothing new.”
“I have a lot of faith in the Jewish people. I think of Judaism as this little all-terrain vehicle that's just bumbling along through history. It's like a one of those old Willis army jeeps, and it's just trundling along. And everybody in it is arguing over how to drive it and which way to go, and the whole thing, but somehow we keep getting we keep going…I trust the Jewish people.”