The umbrella organization of British Jews today (Wednesday) unprecedentedly attacked MK Bezalel Smutrich, chairman of Religious Zionism, who is currently in London for a series of meetings with rabbis and heads of Jewish communities. Against the background of the positions of the chairman of Religious Zionism regarding the conversion reform.
We reject his abominable views and the hatred ideology of Bezalel Smutrich and call on all members of the British Jewish community to show him the door.
Get back on the Bezalel plane, and you'll be in the world forever.
You are not welcome here.
- Board of Deputies of British Jews (@BoardofDeputies) February 9, 2022
In a tweet posted by the organization on Twitter, they attacked the Knesset very harshly and wrote: "We reject Bezalel Smutrich's disgusting views and hateful ideology and call on all members of the British Jewish community to show him the door. Get back on the Bezalel plane, and you will be remembered forever. Here".
On the other hand, the Knesset member actually sent a conciliatory message and wrote on Twitter: "British Jews, I love you, all of you."
British Jews, I love you, all of you.
- Bezalel Smutrich (@bezalelsm) February 9, 2022
As mentioned, this morning the chairman of Religious Zionism announced a quick trip to the Jewish communities in the Diaspora for a series of meetings with rabbis and Jewish community leaders. In a tweet published by MK Smutrich, he wrote: "I landed a few minutes ago in England "The State of Israel has a responsibility and commitment to world Jewry.
- Bezalel Smutrich (@bezalelsm) February 9, 2022
In defense of Smutrich, MK Ophir Sofer from Religious Zionism appeared: "A shameful tweet and it would have been better to delete it. Bezalel Smutrich is the leader of a party in Israel that represents about a quarter of a million voters. .
At the same time, Smutrich further noted about the flight, that it was "against the background of far-reaching changes in issues concerning the entire Jewish people, and in particular the issue of conversion.
He further emphasized that "the reform in conversion and its effects on the struggle for assimilation raises concerns in the Jewish communities in Europe" and that "conversion is not only an internal Israeli matter but one that concerns the entire Jewish world and therefore changes must be made in dialogue and thinking with Diaspora Jewry."
"Since I entered the Knesset when I was deeply exposed to the critical importance of the connection between Israel and the Jewish communities in the Diaspora, I try to be attentive to the needs and concerns of Diaspora Jewry in all my activities in Israel. On the subject of conversion, I changed my custom except to leave the country and decided to pay a quick visit to European communities. I come out with the wonderful words of the late Prime Minister Menachem Begin:
Shortly after the organization attacked Smutrich, it was MK Nachman Shai who actually backed the organization and said that "Smutrich has nothing to look for in Britain, the community there has already expressed its opinion. Racism has no place anywhere. Go back home."
It should be noted that this is not the first time that the old umbrella organization has attacked Israeli representatives.
In the past, the organization also sharply attacked the Israeli ambassador, Tzipi Hotovli, when she began her term, due to her political views.
Smutrich is scheduled to meet in the coming days with rabbis and senior leaders of the Jewish communities in Europe to discuss the challenges of the Jewish communities during the Corona period, Jewish identity and relations with the State of Israel.
In a position paper sent on behalf of the Committee of European Rabbis to the Minister of Religious Affairs, Matan Kahana, the rabbis raised their concerns about the status of the official communities and courts in the Diaspora and the harm to their efforts to prevent assimilation.
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