Israeli Leaders Have Spoken

So much is being written about who is a Jew that I am starting to worry if I'm missing something. As an orthodox Jew I thought that the problem was taken care of back in the days of Ezra (390 B.C.E.). However, history has a way of repeating itself, and important events become timeless lessons for us.

The book of Ezra records the written truth relating to the return of the Jews under Zerubbabel from Babylon to Palestine by permission of King Cyrus of Persia and describes the second settlement of Jews. Back in the days when the great Jewish leader was Ezra, the people were asked to make aliyah to rebuild the Second Holy Temple. The recorded story tells us that some of the Jews who made the aliyah had non-Jewish spouses. They were told unequivocally that they could not be counted as Jews in the Holy Land and were asked to either separate themselves or undergo a conversion. Though some people were unhappy about the decree, for the sake of unity the people did what was asked of them. There was no talk of alienation or boycotts. I guess it would be safe to state that at that time there were no reform nor conservative rabbis, and so the conversions were Halachic.

Although we face the same problem today, many have forgotten the lessons of past history. History has a way of repeating the same problems, and yet we choose new and strange solutions.

Amos Elon, a wellknown Israeli author, writes in his book, The Israelis, that Golda Meir, "a lifelong secularist and non-observant Jew, urged the Israeli parliament to incorporate the talmudic definition of Jew into the secular state law: 'In the 20th century,' she said in 1970, 'we shall not throw away the prayer shawl and phylacteries.' She explained her position by saying that the state must not encourage 'mixed' marriages between Jews and Gentiles. Her reasoning was not 'religious' but 'national.' Mixed marriages between Jews and Gentiles were endangering the future existence of the Jewish people." Now remember, that's our Golda speaking - our beloved Yiddishe Mama.

In a recent book by Merril Simon called Moshe Arens, Statesman and Scientist Speaks Out the former Israeli ambassador to Washington and Israeli defense minister was asked to state his position  on "who is a Jew." Mr. Arens replied that "at the present time, the answer to that question must be the answer of the Halacha - the answer of the Jewish religion. After 2,000 years of exile during which we've remained Jewish because of Halacha and because of the Jewish religion, we're not suddenly going to come up with some new answer." As defined by Halachic law, a Jew is one whose mother is Jewish. Recently, the Reform movement has begun to recognize a Jew as one whose father is a Jew. Asked how he explains this discrepancy, Moshe Arens replied as follows:

"Most religious Jews will tell you that religious  law does not require interpretation or explanation. That's the law. That's the way it's been for 3,000 years, and that's the way it has to continue to be. At the present time, and until a significant number of Reform and/or Conservative Jews  make aliyah to Israel, the definition of a Jew must be that of Halachic law."

In reviewing the life of one of the founding fathers of Israel we find a book called Ben-Gurion Prophet of Fire. There is a chapter where we are exposed to a rather informative part of history dealing with the problem who is a Jew. Let me quote directly:

"There had to be a distinction, Ben-Gurion declared, between Jewish nationality and Jewish religion. "Whoever is conscious of being a Jew is a Jew' and should be able to register with the government as one." (It seems that his son, Amos, married out of his religion and had a superficial conversion performed. Ben-Gurion was interested to know what status there was for his family and others involved.)

In the end, Ben-Gurion backed off, seeing the problems it would cause. As great as he was, he felt that unity was needed and he put the law of who is a Jew above all. He accepted the orthodox law, thus settling the rule that a Halacha accepted by all, for all, would be the best overall.

When I think of these three personalities I don't see any flashing lights going off that say their views are those of the Ultra-Orthodox. (Part of this debate can be found in a New York Times book called Portrait of Israel by Moshe Brillant in chapter five, entitled "What is a Jew.")

I remember well how at times my fellow American Orthodox rabbis wanted more religion to be taught in the Israeli schools and what the Prime Minister Ben-Gurion answered, "If you want a more religious state, then move here and vote!"

Well, they have moved, and they have voted! Am Yisroel Chai.