By Steve Guggenheim
Rabbi Jay Kornsgold of Beth El Synagogue in East Windsor is working to make the government of Israel more accepting to Jews that are not “ultra-Orthodox.”
Even though the ultra-Orthodox in Israel are only 9 percent of the population, it holds immense sway in the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, because all governments formed in Israel by the prime minister are coalitions, which are needed to get a majority of the 120-member seats. The major parties, Labor and Likud, have never garnered enough votes to control the Knesset, which is why such minor groups are so important. And even when they form a coalition government without the ultra-Orthodox they are afraid to go against the ultra-Orthodox knowing they will be needed in some future election.
Kornsgold is chair of the Masorti Rabbinic Cabinet as well as a member of the board of the Masorti Foundation. Masorti is the name for Conservative Jews outside of America.
So why is this important? The chief rabbinate, part of the ultra-Orthodox, is in charge of all religious functions. One can’t officially have a religious ceremony without its okay. Do you want to get married in a religious ceremony, you need its approval. Divorce requires its nod. Want a religious burial, it must say yes. Any other ceremonies of a religious significance, it must sign off.
In Israel, as in the U.S., a religious official such as a rabbi conducts the ceremony. One also needs a marriage certificate from government officials. But if one does not use an ultra-Orthodox rabbi one can’t officially have a ceremony. As a result many Israelis choose to leave the country to get married civilly. They go to Cyprus, the United States and elsewhere. When they return few bother to have a religious ceremony.
That is why Rabbi Kornsgold and others in the Masorti movement work hard to make change in Israel. He made a major speech during the just-ended High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur to raise awareness of what is happening. The more American Jews that let the Israeli government know their concern and that support the Masorti Foundation financially, the more chance there is of changing the rules.
Many American Jews go to Israel for religious ceremonies but they can be blocked by the ultra-Orthodox requirements even if they are Orthodox in the U.S. Rabbi Kornsgold says the three main movements in the U.S (Conservative, Reform and Modern Orthodox) may not agree on many things but understand they must work together to effect change.
The ultra-Orthodox’s power goes back to the founding of Israel. They went to new Prime Minister David Ben Gurion and said you have so many problems in getting a new state up and running we’ll take care of the religious aspects. From there, its power grew.
Kornsgold says there is some progress. At the Old Train Station in Jerusalem, before the Sabbath, there is a service with music. Years ago that would never be allowed.
But there is still a long way to go. There was an agreement among the major parties to allow for a parallel non ultra-Orthodox section at the Western Wall, the holiest place where Jews are allowed to pray. But when this was about to start the agreement fell apart because the ultra-Orthodox stopped it.
The Beth El rabbi, who frequently travels to Israel, says Jews in that country are excited about change that will curtail some of the restrictions. Kornsgold said it’s all about Israel being accepting of all Jews. He says Israel must be a place where everyone can pray the way they want to. His hope is to see a church and state separation as in the United States.
