The 929 Bible Conference is expected to open tomorrow (Tuesday) in Jerusalem with the participation of thousands of people, but the name of one facilitator drew negative attention to the event. Ram HaCohen, the rabbi of the Othniel settlement, and his brother, Rabbi Aviya HaCohen, both rabbis who identify with the liberal side of religious Zionism, argued that this was a clear encouragement for assimilation.
Now Rabbi Benny Lau responds to the attack of the two, who claimed that it was an encouragement of assimilation, and says that this was not on the agenda at all when Aharish was chosen to lead a panel called "Torah for All in the World."
"The truth is that it surprised me. I thought the crusade would be more in the direction of a Reform rabbi or 'the Jews are coming.' Lucy Aharish was chosen as a facilitator as one of the most integrated Arab figures in Israel. "The last thing that can be said about her is that she is a symbol of assimilation, she is so respectful of identities and says that her children will choose their path."
Rabbi Bnei Lau, Photo: Gideon Markovich
"Someone did a very nervous campaign here, and it's a shame. This is a very important and invested conference with a lot of joy and creativity, with its sole purpose being not to confront anyone. On the other. "
Rabbi Lau argues that there is no place for disqualifying a person just because of his identity.
"Does Makor Rishon disqualify Gadi Taub? Do the religious disqualify Idan Raichel? There is an attempt here to see the flaw and not the good, to look for something to disqualify. "We invited her to talk about the values of assimilation among the people of Israel. She is a symbol of Israeli journalism, not a symbol of assimilation. These are people with narrow eyes."
"Rabbi Ram is the teacher of my children, and they are hurt because he did not bother to pick up the phone.
Rabbi Yaakov Madan called, talked and expressed his pain.
We grew up together in the same beit midrash, Rabbi Ram, Rabbi Madan and I, and if you do not know how to call before you go out with shouts of contempt and insult - where is your 'man for his friend'? "
"I say honestly - the choice of Lucy Aharish was made in good faith. For months we were in production circles with quite a few people of all colors, religious, secular, and no one raised the issue of assimilation. I have no intention of strengthening the assimilation trend in Israel. To say that I "Looking for a way to intensify assimilation is an insult."
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