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Comments (0)An Israeli lawmaker told a delegation of American Jewish leaders that he would consult with Diaspora Jewry on issues involving conversion.
David Rotem, the author of a bill that will allow local rabbis in Israel to perform conversions to Judaism, made his comments Monday during a meeting in the Knesset with Diaspora Jewish leaders led by Jewish Agency Chairman Natan Sharansky and Jewish Federations of North America Senior Vice President Rebecca Caspi.
Overseas Jewry is concerned about a provision in the conversion bill which says that a convert to Judaism who visited Israel before converting either in Israel or overseas would be prohibited from becoming an Israeli citizen under the Law of Return.
The Jewish Federations of North America has issued a statement strongly rejecting the proposal and has written directly to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the subject.
Explaining that no law will be passed before the Knesset’s Passover break, Rotem assured the group that no future bill would affect the status of conversions outside of Israel. Rotem, of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, also stressed that Netanyahu is aware of the importance of these issues for Jews around the world.
“From my conversations with the prime minister and the government secretary, it is clear that the law that is viewed as problematic by Jews in the Diaspora will not be passed during the current Knesset session which goes into recess on March 21,” Sharansky said. “We have received assurances that we will be consulted in this process, so that the views of world Jewry are taken into consideration.”
Bezalel Academy Moving to Downtown Jerusalem
The Bezalel School of Arts and Design plans to build an $80 million campus in downtown Jerusalem.
Proponents say the plans will help revive the city center. The first phase of the new campus plans has been completed and detailed plans are now being drawn up, Bezalel President Arnon Zuckerman, told JTA. Building is set to begin in the summer of 2011 and will take four years to complete. The academy is currently located on Mount Scopus. It will move to Jerusalem’s Jaffa Road.
The move is expected to strengthen the identity of Jerusalem as a cultural center as well as a historic center, bringing visitors and audiences to the heart of Jerusalem, Zuckerman said. It also will bring 3,000 students and 500 faculty members into downtown Jerusalem.
“We believe that the academy needs to be in an urban center and not isolated as it is now on a mountaintop,” Zuckerman said.
He said the new building will enable interaction between creative disciplines and be accessible to the public.
Bibi’s Boy the Best Among Young Bible Mavens
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s youngest son won Israel’s National Bible Contest.
Avner Netanyahu, 15, will represent Israel in the International Bible Contest, which is held annually in Jerusalem on Israel’s Independence Day.
The prime minister and his wife attended Tuesday’s national finals in Kiryat Shemona.
Some 12,000 Israeli students participated in Bible contests this year leading up to the national finals.
Sara Netanyahu’s three older brothers have won the national Bible quiz, and her father is an expert in Bible study.