December 22, 2010 by eJP  

 
Although the pursuit of Tzedek and Tikkun Olam is galvanizing increased numbers of young Jews worldwide, few opportunities exist for meaningful communication and collaboration between Israeli environment and social justice professionals and their colleagues around the globe. Until now.

Thanks to a multi-year investment by the UJA Federation of NY, totaling $415K, three leading Jewish nonprofit organizations – Bema’aglei Tzedek in Israel, Hazon in the United States and the Jewish Social Action Forum in the UK – have launched Siach: An Environment and Social Justice Conversation, a brand-new, global network of experienced Jewish environment and social justice professionals, as well as highly dedicated lay leaders, from Israel, North America and Europe.

It is with both great respect and grave concern that I write today, as the six-month moratorium on the conversion legislation proposed by MK David Rotem draws to a close.

I was among the Jews in North America who welcomed the call for a freeze on this proposed legislation and supported the appointment of Jewish Agency Chair Natan Sharansky to lead the efforts in finding an acceptable solution to this issue, one that is of critical importance to the unity of the Jewish people. (Read The Perils of the Israeli Conversion Bill.)

Should the proposed conversion law go into effect, I fear it would send a dangerous, exclusionary and wholly unacceptable message to many: that there is only one “official” brand of Judaism. Most of North American Jews—85 percent—belong to, or identify with, the Conservative and Reform movements, which would be directly—and negatively—affected by this proposal.