Reform brings an ‘evil spirit’ to Judaism, religious services minister says

Minister of Religious Services Ya’akov Margi (Shas) blamed Reform Judaism for “centuries of assimilation,” in an Army Radio interview on Wednesday morning. He added that the Reform movement “thinks it is bringing a new spirit to Judaism, but in practice it is an evil spirit.”

His remarks come the day after Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein adopted a recommendation that would for the first time allow non-Orthodox rabbis to receive state funding.

On Tuesday Margi said that if the High Court of Justice decided to recognize Reform or Conservative clergy as community rabbis, he would ask permission from Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef to resign from the government.

Although the judges have not yet handed down their verdict, which is expected in the next few days, Weinstein’s approval marks the first time non-Orthodox rabbis have been deemed deserving of a government salary by the State of Israel, which heretofore has only recognized Orthodox Judaism.

Following Margi’s announcement, MK Nitzan Horowitz (Meretz) said a minister of religious services who practiced such discrimination should indeed resign. He added that the ministry should be closed, thereby saving the state hundreds of millions of shekels that he claimed finance jobs for ultra-Orthodox party patrons.

“The government’s decision to recognize Reform and Conservative leaders gives official recognition to these dynamic community leaders and rabbis who work tirelessly to build strong and vibrant Zionist and Jewish communities throughout Israel,” said Jewish Agency Chairman Natan Sharansky.

Sharansky added that the Jewish Agency is the only platform where all the streams of Judaism and Jewish organizations from around the world sit together at one table with the Israeli government; a table where the positions and views of community representatives and the various streams are expressed and influence issues facing the Jewish world and Israel.

“I believe this decision has both practical and symbolic importance. It contributes significantly to the strengthening of the relationship between Diaspora Jews and Israel. The Jewish Agency sees this decision as a bridge and as another step towards bringing unity to the Jewish people

Science and Technology Minister Daniel Hershkowitz (Jewish Home party) blasted Weinstein’s decision, saying that matters regarding the state’s Jewish identity should not be handled by attorney generals.