Landmark Knesset Conference on the Jewish character of the state includes Panim’s Meir Yoffe

The first in a series of conferences on critical issues facing Israel society initiated by Knesset opposition leader Tzippi Livni brought together more than 400 people to discuss Jewish identity and the character of the Jewish state.

The rationale behind her choice of this issue to launch the series can be understood in several quotes from the press:  "The aim is to develop a public discussion on essence and identity," said Livni. "We all know what a democratic state is, but we don’t know what a Jewish state is."

“After 62 years of fighting for Israel’s physical survival without dealing with content, it’s important that there will be glue to keep us together,” Livni said. “This conference is not against one community or anyone in particular. We want to find common ground and prevent hatred. This is not an ‘anti’ event. It’s a ‘pro’ event.”

At a time of deepening tension on matters of religion and state, the conference brought together top Israeli ultra-Orthodox, religious Zionist and Reform rabbis at one conference, under one roof, in the Knesset. Those invited to speak included Haredi rabbis Mordechai Noygershal, Moshe Garelik, and Dudi Zilbershlag; religious Zionist rabbis Benny Lau, Yuval Cherlow, Micha Goodman and Shai Piron; Reform rabbi Gilad Kariv; and the director-general of the Conservative Movement in Israel, attorney Yizhar Hess. Panels moderated by professors from the Shalom Hartman Institute discussed conversion, civil marriage, education, Haredi-secular relations, and the Jewish character of the state.

Livni said that various separate groups had formed in Israel, living side by side, from the Haredim who have taken advantage of the political system to determine what a Jewish state is and thus alienated the public, to the minorities, who are unsure whether this definition of the state harms their rights as citizens. Thus, she said, there is an urgent need to create a Jewish common denominator.

For various perspectives on the conference, click:

http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=176715
 
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3895091,00.html
 
http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=176150

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