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| American Rabbi's that have impacted Israel |
Israel is being besieged by an impassioned people intent on determining their destiny. The political crisis of 2018-2022 felled 5 successive coalition governments each time their ill-fated legislative bills exposed a lack of confidence. Finally the 2022/23 Netanyahu government obtained a sufficient majority to confidently pass legislation. From the void, their latest slew of politically and legislatively inspired judicial reforms have triggered a massive uproar from the opposition.
The 2018-2022 crisis was the demographic tipping point of Israel's shift to a more religious, conservative constituency that finally produced a robust majority. On the other hand it reflects a dire future for Israel's less religious, liberal constituents, particularly the powerful, more radical, liberal political opponents who face very uncertain futures.
Hopeless liberals, including those from the center must reconsider their approach and support political personalities that adopt new strategies to win their favor, including from religious liberals. Many liberal bastions in foreign countries have been forced to make similar transitions to the center. However, in Israel the new rise of religious constituents is a dimension that has caused liberal leaders, who are generally less religious, to panic. How will they win votes from the liberal leaning, less religious constituents to marginalize conservatives, orthodox traditionalists?
Israel is wonderful and miraculous place, even the less religious would admit to it. Transforming the nation into a single unit where people can retain strong, independent views and efficiently function side-by-side is the goal of any democratic society. How Israel will make this transformation could be its' biggest miracle of all!
Israel is a State comprising a majority traditional and religious people. It inherited an abandoned, British designed, government framework that is flawed and relatively immature compared to major democracies. Indigenous to Israel is a long forgotten framework that, more than ever, its' liberal constituents will adopt to resolve their present political impasse and restore hope. Separation of Church and State conflicts with Israel’s legislated, orthodox implementation of Biblical-Rabbinic laws and exposes societal division. American Reform and Liberal (or US Conservative) Jewish communities have also joined the struggle for a less-religious Israeli state.
The Electoral College for Rabbinical representation, of each Israeli city, is an indigenously inspired institution that was bolted on after the formation of the State of Israel. Inherent in its mix of liberal (minded) and conservative Rabbis, of state-wide communities, is their potential and desire to earn and obtain more authority, from both political sides of Jewish constituencies. Such a representative achievement, through a single body, will enable these Rabbis to gain sufficient authority to modify ancient Talmudic interpretations of Biblical laws that many blame for dividing rather than uniting Jewish society in Israel.
Judaism's ancient path points to a judicial body that represents societal views, establishes customs and interprets or passes new laws that bring its indigenous nation up to date and keep it there. Politicians and communities will find it necessary to embrace indigenous Israel from within and to modernize and advance this legal authority. Liberal leaning religious leaders will reach new constituents and obtain political clarity that aligns Israel's ancient system for a common identity.
With support of liberal and conservative constituents, the Electoral College for City Rabbis will be motivated and directed to advance their representatives into the framework for government, perhaps as the equivalent of a senate or upper house. Historically a similar authority was vested in a Sanhedrin, but for a political body to achieve the judicial authority of Sanhedrin it would require respect and regard of Jews worldwide. The most religious, Hareidim prefer the status quo, rarely do Hareidi Rabbis compete for electoral representation to Israel’s city’s. However, they do participate in general elections and hold numerous powerful seats in the government. Once the institution of City Rabbis progresses from its present benign character to a more substantive arm of government, no doubt the Hareidim will compete for proportional representation.
If I leaned left and less religious I would embrace the struggle to liberalize orthodoxy, if I leaned right and more religious I would struggle for religious authority. The Electoral College for City Rabbis, as modified to include women Rabbis is the best venue to politically define a balanced religious authority. World Jewry would embrace the concept, through which religious and secular laws of Israel will ultimately converge so that the Sovereign Jewish Israel can be governed under one body of law for all.
