"The Kosel, remnant of the Beis Hamikdash, is the only place in the world which unites all of Klal Yisrael, from all the communities, circles and sectors. But this very site is also the focus of the destruction of this unity," were the words of MK Uri Maklev in a speech he made in the Knesset plenum directed to the Prime Minister, Netanyahu, regarding the recognition of the Reform community as expressed through the government policy as of late.
"A hostile group stands up and provokes and incites, insulting the sensitivities of the whole Jewish nation. They offend the honor of the sifrei Torah, insult the deep rooted Jewish generation-old traditions and abuse the holiest site which is the most unifying factor of our people, and there are those in the government who encourage and give them recognition?! What do they do for the sake of Jewry that they are so privileged?" he said in great pain.
"The Jewish people prays daily, `May our eyes behold Your return to Zion in compassion.' But they have slashed this prayer from their `siddur'. They have erased the plea of our people to `lead us upright to our country.' They have obliterated every mention of Jerusalem from their Reform prayer book. Do they, then, deserve a prize for this? What connection do they have to religion? Of what relevance is their seeking to hold `prayers' once a month, or to the very sanctity of the Kosel?"
He paused and added, "How can this be presented as Judaism? It is a phony. Suddenly they ask for a mikveh, when they never made use of one. Not one of the Reform communities in the U.S. has a mikveh so why should we let them have one here? How can one `sell' holy matrimony - kiddushin - together with a priest? It doesn't go together and their attempt to deceive the non-observant public is doomed to failure."
