WAVE: Reform Movement in Israel

Rabbi Rick Jacobs, the leader of the Reform Movement in North America, warned on Wednesday that the recent comments by the chief rabbi of Jerusalem, who said that Reform Jews were “worse than Holocaust deniers,” could lead to threats and acts of violence against non-Orthodox Jews in Israel. Jacobs added that it is “indefensible” that the…

Jerusalem’s Sephardic chief rabbi on Tuesday lashed out at Reform Jews, saying they were worse than Holocaust deniers for defying Orthodox Jewish law on gender separation and insisting on the right to mixed-gender prayer at the Western Wall in the city. … “They’re trying to throw dust in the eyes [of the public] and say…

A 39-year-old resident of the ultra-Orthodox town of Bnei Brak was indicted on Monday for issuing death threats against leaders of the Reform movement and for vandalizing a Reform synagogue in the Tel Aviv suburb of Ra’anana twice in the past few years.  The Jerusalem District prosecutor’s office did not disclose the name of the defendant in the indictment. The defendant has also been charged with terrorizing prominent Israeli atheists and targeting activists in Breaking the Silence, which collects testimony from Israeli soldiers about their service in the territories.

An indictment was filed in the Jerusalem District Court against a 39-year-old resident of Bnei Brak for extortion, threats, vandalism, and intent to commit arson. According to the indictment, the defendant used to send threatening letters to leading figures in the Reform community, including Anat Hoffman, chairwoman of Women of the Wall and director of…

… Although this only happened a few hours ago (as I write), I have to admit that it has affected me deeply. I have seen a lot of people confront me in anger. I have had chairs, rocks, spit, and many other things thrown at me by fellow Jews. I have never lost my resolve…