Justice Minister Yosef Lapid and Foreign Minister Silvan
Shalom exchanged heated remarks during a government meeting
on Sunday to discuss a report called The Jewish People
2004.
The report, which was released last week by The Jewish
Agency's Jewish People Policy Planning Institute, painted a
glum picture of assimilation, estrangement from Judaism among
Jewish youth and increasing antisemitism against Jewish
communities abroad. During the ensuing discussion Minister
Natan Sharansky proposed setting up a Jewish senate composed
of representatives of Jewish organizations and communities
from abroad that would serve as an advisory board for the
Knesset.
During the discussion on the future of the Jewish people
Minister Lapid said, "It is inconceivable that there is no
equality in the State of Israel between the Orthodox, the
Reform and the Conservative. In the US 85 percent of the
young generation of Jewish intelligentsia are Reform and
Conservative Jews drifting away from Israel because in Israel
their rabbis are not recognized."
Upon hearing his remarks Shalom lashed out against Lapid. "It
is disgusting already to hear you attacking Judaism every
time we talk about Jewish issues. Don't make fun of what is
important to us." Lapid called Shalom an antisemite to which
Shalom responded by calling him ""a racist, an antisemite and
a clown whose entire party is based on hatred for the Jewish
religion." Later in the course of the meeting both ministers
retracted their remarks.
Wrapping up the debate Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said
today's youth does not know the difference between Minchah
and Ma'ariv, or between a siddur and a
machzor . . . [They] are not familiar enough with the
history of Eretz Yisroel."
During the discussion Interior Minister Avraham Poraz
suggested the State of Israel recognize Reform and
Conservative "conversion." Sharon replied that the government
would hold a special meeting on the issue and therefore it
was unnecessary to deal with the topic at present.
MK Rabbi Avrohom Ravitz told Yated Ne'eman that the
Prime Minister's description of the lack of Jewish knowledge
among youth is worrisome but actually the situation is far
worse, for the current generation of secular youth does not
even know how to say Shema Yisroel. "The signs of
coming closer to religion among secular youth should be
fostered, along with the willingness to recognize the
disturbing fact that ignorance reigns in secular education
and we are commanded to draw those who are far away
nearer."
According to Rabbi Ravitz during his meeting last week with
the Prime Minister on the issue of correcting discrimination
against chareidim and restoring funding to Torah
institutions, Sharon said a generation has come of age here
that lacks even rudimentary knowledge of Judaism. He promised
to instruct his staff to assist in funding Torah
institutions. Rabbi Ravitz then used the opportunity to
denounce Justice Minister and Shinui Chairman Yosef Lapid for
his goals of encouraging the Reform to penetrate Eretz
Yisroel, persecuting Judaism and its flag-bearers and
promoting total ignorance of the Jewish heritage across the
generations. "If you are really and truly worried over the
future of the Jewish people why don't you remove the Shinui
ministers from the government? They are leading the State
toward the brink and preach against Judaism incessantly."
MK Rabbi Moshe Gafni told Yated Ne'eman, "Sharon and
Shalom's remarks should not be denied their due credit. Some
Likud ministers are fed up with Lapid and other Shinui
members' talk against Judaism and the religious. Nevertheless
it should be stressed that Lapid's remarks and the deeds of
the Likud ministers and Sharon's government are identical in
their harm to Torah institutions and chareidi families. It
should be stressed that only if behind Sharon's words, which
should not be belittled, deeds also come, we will know these
words are genuine."
