Posted on 10/19/18
NEW YORK, October 17, 2018 – Ahead of the Jewish Federation of North America General Assembly opening next week, Am Echad has expressed concern over the GA’s anti-Orthodox program and imbalanced speaker list. Am Echad represents the interests and concerns of the Orthodox community in the US, Israel, and around the world.
While billed as an opportunity for dialogue between American and Israeli Jewish communities, in reality the GA program represents only one voice, that of liberal Jewish leadership in both countries.
The leadership of the American Orthodox community has been completely left out of the program, despite the fast growth of this demographic. The Orthodox community is the only segment of American Jewry to be growing and has has the majority of its youth engaged in Jewish life. On the Israeli side, a handful of Orthodox speakers either serve as token voices or represent fringe opinions in the community.
The program places emphasis on challenging the country’s religious status quo with panels on “Market Forces: The Business of Religious Pluralism,” in which attendees can hear how the Federation funds “alternative avenues for everything from Shabbat transportation to kashrus to marriage” and “Israelis Work the System: The Plan for Greater Pluralism” – a panel of activists working to change how Israeli traditionally perceive religion.
“American and Israeli Jewish communities are very different. So there is indeed a very real need for dialogue – to really understand the full range of opinions in both countries. Unfortunately, this is not happening at the GA. Instead of giving the participants an opportunity to hear very prevalent opinions held by real Israelis, the Federation chose to engage in groupthink,” said Mr. Sol Werdiger, Am Echad Co-Chairman.
Likewise, in it’s discussions of the peace process, the Federation has left out any opinions representing Israel’s right wing majority. The panel on the “Peace-Process Realities in Israel” includes Arab-Israelis but does not include a single panelist, who believes in the Jewish people’s right to live anywhere in the country.
“American Jewry is understandably interested in and concerned about Israel. All views within the Jewish world should be heard, however, not just one perspective,” said Dr. Irving Lebovics Am Echad Co-chairman. The message sent by the GA through its program and chosen speakers indicates that only one perspective deserves airing. Maybe the Jewish Federation could spend some time listening instead of just lecturing.”
Am Echad Leadership Mission was in Jerusalem, Israel, in February 2018, expressing their viewpoint to various Israeligovernment officials.
Jewish Federation of North America General Assembly is to open next week in Tel Aviv with thousands of delegates coming from the US to attend.