Deri slams Reform Movement for ‘attempting to bring a new Judaism here’

Shas leader Aryeh Deri says he has nothing against Reform Jews, only Reform Judaism.

“We have nothing against Jews, in any place they may be. They are all our brothers. Our fight is against the approach, this ideology which is attempting to bring a new Judaism here, is trying to destroy everything that we built here over the years,” Deri says at the start of the weekly Shas faction meeting.

The Shas leader casts doubt that a new compromise will be renegotiated on the Western Wall pavilion for non-Orthodox Jews. He says the cabinet agreed to freeze the agreement and formulate a new plan, adding: “if they even present an alternate solution.”

And he blames non-Orthodox Jews pushing for the deal of attempting to bring down the government, describing it as a political ploy all along.

“Unfortunately, there was an attempt here to dismantle the government,” he says. “An attempt to topple the right-wing government. I tell you, with full responsibility, that if we had done everything we did and even more with the framework of a left-wing government, we would have received praise for the responsibility we are showing for the Jewish people, for preserving the unity of the Jewish people.”

Deri, who is also interior minister, says dividing the Western Wall “destroys Jewish unity.” He says all are welcome to pray at the Western Wall. “Every Jew in the world, and non-Jews, can come pray there.”

“We will not allow anyone from abroad to come here and try and manage us and divide and destroy everything we’ve built here for 70 years,” he adds.

— Marissa Newman