MK Israel Eichler of United Torah Judaism has made a career out of being a provocateur extraordinaire. So comparing Reform Jews to the mentally ill, as he did two days ago, is not much more for him than another day in the office. Eichler provokes, knowing that he will be rebuked – and, indeed, Reform leaders were quick to respond with outrage.
To be honest, if somewhat cynical: this is the kind of provocation that serves all sides well. The Haredi MK makes himself notable in the fight against Reform Judaism and signals to his constituency that the enemy makes him essential as their representative; and his remarks give Reform Jews yet another opportunity – there is no shortage in these – to make themselves notable as the antithesis of Haredi Judaism. Being the antithesis of Haredi Judaism is what makes Reform Judaism appealing in the eyes of many Israelis who would rarely, if ever, set an actual foot in a Reform congregation.
Reform leader rabbi Rick Jacobs might have exaggerated a little when he claimed that a “seismic shift” is taking place in Israel’s state-religion relations – but just a little. In the last couple of weeks, the Orthodox establishment was forced to swallow not one bitter pill, but two: one – in the Western Wall, a compromise that ensures a future sharing of territory and power and gives progressive Judaism official recognition by the state; and two – Israel’s High Court ruled that ritual baths (mikvahs), in which Orthodox control was also taken for granted, must open up to non-Orthodox conversion rites.
Two blows, and so far a relatively meek response from the Orthodox establishment. Do not count the insults, the idiotic comments from Haredi MKs, the disgusting rhetoric – these are just words. The Haredis have real political power. They are a part of a very narrow coalition that cannot survive without them, they command hundreds of thousands of people that can demonstrate and make themselves heard; and yet, all we get is some insults.
The other day, the Haredi Council of Torah Sages had a discussion on the growth of the Reform movement. Deputy Education Minister Meir Porush condemned Prime Minister Netanyahu’s meeting with Reform leaders, saying that “the connection between Netanyahu and Reform Jews sounds an alarm and we are very worried because this is the most dangerous sect for the future of the Jewish people.” More words. But what about action? Haredi leaders were urged to do their outmost to reverse the trend, but they were not instructed to quit the government, topple the coalition, wreak havoc. Protestation and condemnation is all we get at this time, and this hides the underlying understanding that things are indeed changing and that the Haredi parties’ power to change them back is indeed limited.
Today, the rabbinate is going to discuss the change in the Mikvah status quo. The Haredis are trying their luck with new legislation that proposes to place the ritual baths under the authority of the Israeli chief rabbinate, and hence circumvent the High Court ruling. Whether they will have the votes for such a proposal is not yet clear. But even if they do, and even if other obstacles make the recent ruling complicated to implement, the message from the court was another sign that Israel is becoming more used to having Reform and Conservative practices as part of its vast menu of religious expressions. That the Orthodox establishment is not happy with such a message is natural: monopoly is what every establishment wants, and the breaking of monopolies is always painful.
That is the proper interpretation of all the recent rebukes and profanities from MKs and ministers. They are the result of fear, not confidence. They are the result of weakening authority, not growing assertiveness. For quite some time, I have been arguing that Israel is getting closer to a tipping point “when enough Israelis will no longer abide by rabbinate rules” and the institution “will finally be recognized by Israelis to be what it already is – a nuisance rather than a huge problem.” What is specifically true for the rabbinate is generally true when it comes to Orthodox monopoly on religious life in Israel. And since it is, there is not much reason to get excited about this or that MK ranting about other Jews. Let them speak, and try to focus on building great Jewish institutions – because the days in which fighting Orthodox monopolies is the main mission of progressive Judaism in Israel are fast coming to an end.
