177:. He stated: "How would we feel if we were told not to sell an apartment to Jews? We would protest, and we protest now when it is said of our neighbors"; and: "Such things cannot be said - not about Jews, and not about Arabs. They cannot be said in any democratic country, and especially not in a Jewish and democratic one. The state of Israel rejects these sayings."
403:
A response letter was directed to the
Israeli government by various Israeli academicians and artisans, criticizing the lax approach by the government to racial and religious incitement by rabbis, and calling for the prosecution of the original letter's signatories for incitement to racism. Among the
388:
issued a counter-letter proclaiming "professional and social contacts" between Jews and non-Jews to be positive, and that "Jews who are confident in their Jewish identity do not have to fear contact with people from other nations," a statement also supported by the council's 50 male Reform rabbis
222:
in an interview that, "In my opinion, their statement shames the Jewish people... I see this general statement as an embarrassment to the Jewish people, and another nail in the coffin of
Israeli democracy. Let me make this absolutely clear: I believe these people do the most damage to the state of
333:)....Statements like these do great damage to our efforts to encourage people to love and support Israel. They communicate to our congregants that Israel does not share their values, and they promote feelings of alienation and distancing." Notable American rabbis who signed the petition included
434:, I remember the Nazis throwing Jews out of their apartments and city centres in order to create ghettos. I remember how they wrote on benches that no Jews were allowed, and, of course, it was prohibited to sell or rent to Jews. We thought that in our country, this wouldn't happen."
261:
demanded that Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemn the letter (which he later did), and take disciplinary action against state-employed signatories of the letter, saying in a statement that "Rabbis who are civil servants have an obligation to the entire public, including
227:
only if it wields its democratic powers totally and unreservedly. This moral right will be taken from us if we prove to the world that, when it comes to democracy, we deny anything which does not suit us from a Jewish point of view." He also urged the
437:
Public opinion: When a poll was conducted of Jewish
Israelis' reaction to the letters denouncing those who rent or sell homes to non-Jews, 48 per cent of Israeli Jews opposed the rabbis' call, while 44 per cent supported
88:
Many of the rabbis who signed the letter were municipal rabbis, state employees in charge of religious services, who receive salaries paid for by the taxpayer. Among the signers were rabbis from
199:
tidal wave threatening to sweep
Israeli society into dark and dangerous zones. The Labor Party under my authority is working to draw all of Israel's citizens together, in the spirit of the
863:
321:, and we still bear the scars of hatred. When those who represent the official rabbinic leadership of the State of Israel express such positions, we are distressed by this
430:
condemned the letter. Noah Flug, the chairman of the
International Association of Holocaust Survivors, stated that, "As someone who suffered as a Jew and underwent the
903:
679:
964:
806:
123:, a narrow plurality of Jewish Israelis were opposed to the rabbis' call not to rent to Arabs: 48 percent opposed the statement, and 44 percent supported it.
537:
513:
385:
389:
The Reform rabbis also argued that the rebbetzins' attitude toward
Israeli girls was "condescending", portrayed them as "weak", and perpetuated
1044:
704:
452:
258:
369:, and Marc Angel. Signatories included members of all major American Jewish denominations. A separate condemnation was issued by the Orthodox
842:
246:: Braverman had called for Eliyahu's ouster as early as November 18, 2010. On December 12, 2010, Braverman threatened to push for his party,
1034:
200:
633:
1039:
1024:
139:(rabbis' wives). It urged young Jewish women to not date Arabs, and to not work at locations where non-Jews might be present.
120:
370:
366:
243:
782:
742:
188:
1019:
1009:
170:
380:
rabbis: Roughly 50 Masorti rabbis signed a counter-letter allowing Jews to rent to non-Jews, while 40 female
Israeli
827:
1029:
229:
907:
541:
487:
from actions and pronouncements in connection with leadership duties or religious pronouncements, similar to the
484:
882:
354:
346:
184:
162:
463:, who condemned the "summoning to interrogation of the great leaders of Israel", and the "persecution of the
309:
U.S. rabbis: Numerous
American rabbis also condemned the letter. An online petition for rabbis posted by the
1014:
460:
350:
330:
488:
296:
292:
313:
on
December 10, 2010, had nearly 1000 rabbis as signatories by December 16. The petition stated that "
377:
334:
28:. Although the letters sparked considerable outrage, evoking condemnation from prominent Israeli and
250:, to quit the coalition, stating that, "There is a hatred of foreigners. The nation is turning into
969:
518:
472:
338:
281:
277:
247:
192:
119:
According to a poll conducted by the Harry S. Truman Institute for the Advancement of Peace at the
747:
656:
427:
213:
158:
828:"Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein's Response to the Letter Banning Sale of Homes to Gentiles in Israel"
285:
266:. It is unthinkable that they would use their public status to promote racism and incitement."
239:
32:
and others, a poll showed that 44 percent of Israeli society supported the letters' messages.
945:
922:
802:
763:
723:
597:
578:
556:
358:
985:
867:
468:
390:
310:
864:"Nearly 1000 of World's Rabbis Urge Israeli Colleagues to Reject Racist Religious Ruling"
680:"Report: 44% of Israeli Jews Support Rabbis' Edict Forbidding Rentals to Arabs in Safed"
393:. Their counter-letter encouraged Israelis not to listen to "hate-mongers and fanatics".
480:
476:
405:
381:
342:
322:
318:
303:
300:
93:
74:
70:
1003:
417:
206:
89:
29:
24:, signed by a number of Israeli rabbis, that were discriminatory towards non-Jews in
811:
787:
413:
409:
263:
224:
169:
party: On December 7, 2010, Netanyahu condemned the letter in a speech before the
288:
rabbinical figure: Lichtenstein wrote a lengthy and erudite letter of opposition.
989:
887:
421:
326:
62:
21:
233:
180:
78:
843:"Leading Rabbi Denounces Colleagues' Edict Against Renting Homes to non-Jews"
456:
431:
362:
174:
136:
113:
101:
616:
949:
767:
727:
601:
582:
560:
109:
97:
783:"Dozens of Israeli rabbis back call to forbid sale of property to Arabs"
904:"Female Israeli Reform rabbis speak out in favor of contact with Arabs"
847:
637:
449:
218:
210:
50:
764:"Minister Braverman threatens to quit, says Israel turning into Iran"
617:"50 Israeli Rabbis issue ruling forbidding renting of homes to Arabs"
306:
rabbis in Israel: Eliashiv and Steinman strongly condemned the edict.
196:
132:
82:
25:
337:
Rabbi Julie Schonfeld, executive vice president of the Conservative
223:
Israel." He continued: "Israel can justify its faith in itself as a
85:, which is a crime in Israel, but he refused to answer the summons.
705:"Netanyahu Slams Top Rabbis' Call to Forbid Renting Homes to Arabs"
572:
570:
464:
166:
105:
66:
54:
46:
251:
58:
807:"A Bit of Good News on the Don't-Sell-to-the Arabs Controversy"
986:"Bill Would Grant Rabbis Immunity Regarding Freedom of Speech"
20:
was a scandal that erupted surrounding the appearance of two
195:
party: Barak stated that, "The rabbis' letters is part of a
131:
The second letter was released on December 28, 2010, by the
743:"Braverman calls to oust Safed rabbi for racial incitement"
634:"Rabbis' wives urge Israeli women: Stay away from Arab men"
531:
529:
724:"Barak: Rabbis', wives' letters part of racist tidal wave"
538:"Safed rabbi refuses police summons over anti-Arab letter"
404:
signatories to the response letter were former politician
57:, that urged Israeli landowners not to rent apartments to
232:
to determine whether the letter constitutes the crime of
61:, or any other non-Jews. The letter was initiated by the
651:
965:"Holocaust survivors warn of stirrings of neo-fascism"
598:"Safed Rabbi fails to answer investigation summons"
841:Yair Ettinger; Tomer Zarchin (10 December 2010).
557:"Druckman: It's a rabbi's duty to voice opinions"
73:. On January 2, 2011, Eliyahu was summoned to an
946:"Intellectuals: Firing racist rabbis not enough"
883:"U.S. Rabbis Offer Rare Rebuke of Israeli Edict"
579:"Safed rabbi interrogated on incitement charges"
483:) that would give rabbis who work for the state
703:Barak Ravid; Chaim Levinson (7 December 2010).
826:Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein (14 December 2010).
514:"Rabbis' wives call on Jews not to date Arabs"
18:December 2010 Israeli rabbi letter controversy
8:
652:"Rebbetzins: Women, stay away from Arab men"
135:organization. It was signed by at least 27
628:
626:
678:Asaf Shtull-Trauring (28 December 2010).
317:(The Jewish People) know(s) the sting of
448:Eliyahu was supported by members of the
116:; and from other towns and settlements.
963:Blomfield, Adrian (December 31, 2010).
501:
386:Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism
923:"Women Reform rabbis: Stop the hatred"
881:Josh Nathan-Kazis (15 December 2010).
781:Sherwood, Harriet (December 7, 2010).
507:
505:
259:Association for Civil Rights in Israel
7:
762:Attila Somfalvi (22 December 2010).
722:Attila Somfalvi (29 December 2010).
921:Nashoni, Kobi (December 30, 2010).
467:and its rabbis". National Union MK
596:Kobi Nahshoni (31 December 2010).
53:ruling) signed by an estimated 50
14:
741:Jonah Mandel (18 November 2010).
475:(originally drafted by former MK
902:Marcy Oster (30 December 2010).
862:Naomi Paiss (16 December 2010).
577:Kobi Nahshoni (2 January 2011).
555:Kobi Nahshoni (3 January 2011).
512:Mark Weiss (29 December 2010).
984:Gil Ronen (12 December 2010).
944:Yair Altman (2 January 2011).
830:. Kol HaRav - Rabbinic Voices.
632:Levinson, Chaim. (2010-11-19)
536:Marcy Oster (3 January 2011).
254:following the rabbis' letter."
121:Hebrew University of Jerusalem
77:interrogation on suspicion of
1:
1045:Judaism-related controversies
371:Rabbinical Council of America
367:Hebrew Institute of Riverdale
1035:Multiracial affairs in Asia
244:Minorities Affairs Minister
201:Declaration of Independence
171:International Bible Contest
1061:
641:. Retrieved on 2011-01-06.
908:Jewish Telegraphic Agency
542:Jewish Telegraphic Agency
485:immunity from prosecution
153:Politicians and activists
45:The rabbis' letter was a
615:noam (7 December 2010).
384:rabbis representing the
355:Union for Reform Judaism
216:(Likud): Rivlin said to
163:Prime Minister of Israel
351:Religious Action Center
271:Religious organizations
1040:Anti-Arabism in Israel
1025:Human rights in Israel
489:parliamentary immunity
349:, the director of the
264:Israel's Arab citizens
925:. Israel Jewish Scene
297:Aharon Leib Shteinman
293:Yosef Shalom Eliashiv
185:Deputy Prime Minister
126:
40:
805:(14 December 2010).
365:, the leader of the
191:, and leader of the
165:, and leader of the
970:The Daily Telegraph
428:Holocaust survivors
339:Rabbinical Assembly
282:Yeshivat Har Etzion
278:Aharon Lichtenstein
1020:Politics of Israel
1010:2010 controversies
748:The Jerusalem Post
660:. 28 December 2010
657:The Jerusalem Post
416:, and politicians
159:Benjamin Netanyahu
127:Rebbetzins' letter
1030:Housing in Israel
866:(Press release).
286:Religious Zionist
240:Avishay Braverman
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619:. Promised Land.
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189:Defense Minister
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868:New Israel Fund
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511:
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491:enjoyed by MKs.
469:Michael Ben-Ari
445:
400:
391:male chauvinism
311:New Israel Fund
273:
155:
150:
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129:
43:
38:
12:
11:
5:
1058:
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1015:2010 in Israel
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481:Agudat Yisrael
477:Shmuel Halpert
461:National Union
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406:Shulamit Aloni
399:
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323:Chillul HaShem
319:discrimination
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299:, the leading
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284:, and a major
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204:
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173:for adults in
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94:Ramat HaSharon
75:Israeli police
71:Shmuel Eliyahu
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41:Rabbis' letter
39:
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519:The Telegraph
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418:Zehava Gal-On
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207:Reuven Rivlin
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90:Rishon LeZion
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68:
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48:
35:
33:
31:
30:American Jews
27:
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979:
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939:
929:December 31,
927:. Retrieved
916:
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812:The Atlantic
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788:The Guardian
786:
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698:
687:. Retrieved
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662:. Retrieved
655:
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636:
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550:
517:
453:Ya'akov Katz
414:Dani Karavan
410:Yoram Kaniuk
335:Conservative
314:
225:Jewish state
217:
130:
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108:(suburbs of
87:
44:
22:open letters
17:
15:
990:Arutz Sheva
888:The Forward
471:proposed a
422:Naomi Hazan
412:, sculptor
327:desecration
63:chief rabbi
1004:Categories
689:2011-01-06
664:2011-01-06
496:References
331:God's name
315:Am Yisrael
301:Ashkenazic
280:, dean of
234:incitement
181:Ehud Barak
148:Opposition
137:rebbetzins
79:incitement
973:. London.
791:. London.
457:Uri Ariel
432:Holocaust
408:, author
363:Avi Weiss
175:Jerusalem
114:Jerusalem
102:Kfar Saba
51:religious
950:Ynetnews
768:Ynetnews
728:Ynetnews
602:Ynetnews
583:Ynetnews
561:Ynetnews
376:Israeli
359:Orthodox
143:Response
112:); from
110:Tel Aviv
98:Herzliya
47:psak din
848:Haaretz
709:Haaretz
684:Haaretz
638:Haaretz
459:of the
450:Knesset
443:Support
378:Masorti
361:Rabbis
357:); and
353:of the
291:Rabbis
219:Haaretz
214:Speaker
211:Knesset
36:Letters
398:Others
382:Reform
345:Rabbi
343:Reform
304:Haredi
276:Rabbi
197:racist
133:Lehava
83:racism
55:rabbis
26:Israel
465:Torah
248:Labor
193:Labor
167:Likud
106:Holon
67:Safed
59:Arabs
931:2010
473:bill
455:and
420:and
295:and
257:The
252:Iran
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479:of
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