Jewish Identity Plan Raises Ire of non-Orthodox Jews in U.S.

[Israeli]

Anger sparked by Israel’s decision to fund mainly Orthodox organizations in new project to 'strengthening Jewish identity and the connection with Israel' among university students around world.

Or Kashti Aug 20, 2016

Leaders of the Reform and Conservative Jewish movements in North America are up in arms at Israel’s decision to task mainly Orthodox organizations with “strengthening Jewish identity and the connection with Israel” among university students around the world.

The two movements, as well as another major United States Jewish organization, apparently were not invited to present their activities on campuses or to submit their candidacies for the project.

Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Reform Movement in North America, said the decision “continues the Orthodox monopoly in Israel and extends it to the Diaspora. This is unacceptable to the large majority of Jews here. We don’t like being told how to strengthen our Jewish identity.”

The Diaspora Affairs Ministry said at the beginning of this week that it had launched the first stage of a comprehensive project to strengthen the ties between Israel and Jews living abroad. The program, to be introduced in hundreds of universities worldwide this year, will cost an estimated 250 million shekels ($65.6 million), one-third of which – approximately 80 million shekels – will be paid out of the state budget, with the rest coming from Jewish groups and philanthropists.

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