Word: jews
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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...unfortunate that a fellow Jew, Joshua M. Sharfstein in his opinion piece "A Higher Standard," not only relies, but proudly admits to relying upon the same detructive double standard which Israel's enemies utilize, in their attempts to render illegitimate the existence of the Jewish state...
...accordance with his misguided understanding of Israel's legitimacy, Sharfstein misinterprets the widespread response to the "who is a Jew" issue. The American Jewish community did not unify in the name of a "higher standard" but rather for an equal standard. The supporters of the new law hope to hold Jews all over the world to a "higher" orthodox standard. In doing so, they wish to judge Judaism in the same way that Sharfstein judges Israel. For this they are condemned...
Yitzhak Shamir is virtually besieged. Infuriated American Jewish leaders have descended on Jerusalem to berate the Prime Minister for promising to meddle with Israel's definition of who is a Jew. Thousands of angry calls and letters flooded his office, and secular Israelis took to the streets to denounce religious coercion. Acknowledged one Shamir aide: "I'd say he's got a bit of a problem on his hands. Blood pressures are soaring...
Shamir sparked the fire storm by promising to amend Israel's Law of Return, which grants automatic citizenship to any Jew. Shamir professes little personal interest in the details of Jewish conversion; his courtship of the religious parties simply reflects his determination to control the government...
...current law defines a Jew as anyone born of a Jewish mother or converted by a rabbi, regardless of whether the rabbi was Orthodox, Conservative or Reform. The new version would legitimize only Orthodox conversions. Most American Jews have no intention of emigrating to Israel, but they consider the symbolic slap profoundly insulting. The vast majority of U.S. Jews identify with the Conservative and Reform branches, and believe their religious legitimacy would be challenged. They also fear diminished support for a radicalized Israel. "This is something of an endeavor to make Israel more of a theocratic state," says Rabbi Alexander...