It seems they were successful. Extremists on the left stood up for egalitarian principles by disrupting an outdoor Kol Nidrei service Sunday night. They forcibly removed the makeshift Mechitza set up by the Orthodox organizers of the event. Taking it upon themselves to uphold the integrity of the Supreme Court that ruled in favor of a law banning segregation of the sexes in public spaces. For which the Dizengoff Square location of the event surely qualifies.
‘Way to go’ said Israel Reform Action Center (IRAC) leader Orly Erez Likhovsky, whose idea of Judaism is the to follow the cultural spirit of the times. What Judaism is not in her view is the ‘archaic’ system of Torah laws and customs. The idea of separating the sexes for public prayer is sexist in her eyes. Thank goodness for these brave souls who stood up for woman’s rights. Thereby saving the honor of Judaism. “Hooray for our side!’ ‘Now maybe secular Israeli Jews will give Reform Judaism a second look
The truth, though, is otherwise. As noted in an earlier post what these miscreant Jews did is what centuries of antisemites did. Which was to attack not only our bodies but our very Jewish souls. Only these ‘antisemites’ were Jewish!
The thing is - these ‘heroes of egalitarianism’ only believe in equality for people like themselves. It did not occur to them that there might be other secular Jews that actually appreciate those ‘archaic’ laws and customs. Of course they know that Orthodox Jews appreciate an Orthodox style service. But we don’t count. And what kind of secular Jew would want to participate in such an archaic ritual as separate seating for men and women at a prayer service. Cannot be!
Except that it is. As reported by the Jewish Press, many secular Jews were outraged by what their fellow secular Jews did that night. So much so that many of them have taken upon themselves more religious obligations and customs because of that event - in a sort of ‘See what you accomplished?!’ 'You made us more Orthodox' mode
What Likhovsky doesn’t seem to realize is the Reform Judaism is meaningless to the vast majority of Israelis. There is a popular saying about secular Israelis that goes something like this: ‘The shul which I do not attend is Orthodox’. Which means that an Orthodox synagogue is the only synagogue they consider legitimate. Even if they never attend its services.
Now it’s true that Reform Judaism has made some inroads with the secular Israeli public. But it is a drop in the bucket compared to the vast majority that does not recognize this denomination - despite Reform’s attempt to get that recognition. No matter how much they scream: ’Hey! Look at us! We’re on your side!’ That doesn’t translate to recognition of their version of Judaism. Most secular Israelis instinctively know what kind of Shul their grandparents attended, Hint: It wasn’t Reform.
Likhovsky might believe that Reform Judaism is the wave of the future for Jewish survival. But she could not be more wrong. I think the reaction of outrage by secular Jews to what happened last Sunday night bears this out.