Leaders of the Jewish Federations of North America and local federations have spoken out loudly about their disappointment in the Israeli government's decision to suspend the Kotel resolution and about a contentious conversion bill that was recently put on hold.

The Media Deception about Reform Jewry

We have been bombarded by articles about the recent decision of the Israeli government to freeze the Kotel Plan to give Reform official access to the Kotel, and to work on a new conversion law that would keep control of geirus with the official Israeli Rabbinate. All the representatives of Reform complained that the actions ignore the desires of "American Jewry" and threatened to lower their level of donations to Israel and even to stop supporting it politically. In truth, their is more sound than substance to the complaints.

How Does the "Areivim" Fund Work?

The Areivim Project includes tens of thousands of member families who are mutual guarantors, one for the other. In any case of death of a parent, Areivim provides a fund of NIS 200,000 for each unmarried orphan. Each family that is a member of Areivim pays six shekel on a one time basis for each [new] orphan which provides the funds. Thus, in a quiet and modest fashion, a fund of NIS 200,000 is established for each unmarried orphan, according to the decision of the Areivim rabbinical trustees, as is detailed in the Areivim regulations. The amounts are reviewed by a rabbinical board from time to time.