A few years ago, when my son was in a commanding course in the IDF, he and his friends were given a task: to choose from a list that was presented to them two currents in Judaism and present them to the staff. Yes, this is how it is when you are the grandson of a grandfather from the Vizhnitz Chassidut, the son of a father who grew up as a "conservative" and a mother who was raised secular, and in recent years you and your family have been part of a traditional-conservative community in Israel.
Here, Benny thought to himself, he would finally be able to tell about liberal Judaism in Israel and explain the differences between conservatives and reformers, which are unknown to most Israelis.
Then, at the sight of the stream list, his eyes darkened.
Religious-nationalist, Chabadnik, Lithuanian - all on the list. Conservative and Reform? Hess to mention. Not even just "traditional", like most Israelis.
When he approached the commander and flooded him with his feelings, he was told that these currents were "irrelevant."
My son: "After all, the chance that I will command a Reform or Conservative soldier is immeasurably greater than the chance that I will command a Lithuanian."
Certainly as a graduate of a general command course in the IDF, which will not be embedded in the ultra-Orthodox Nahal, for example.
"This is the list, these are the names," the commander ruled.
I wished the soldier good luck.
The CBS reported in 2021 that the ultra-Orthodox sector in Israel constitutes 13 percent of Israeli society. These are factual data.
The CBS is currently conducting a census, which, according to its publications, is "intended to describe trends and map the way of life of the public in Israel, in order to help determine policy and provide services in the future." The CBS questionnaire will ask you: , Very religious, ultra-Orthodox, mixed or "other" lifestyle.
The avoidance of calling the liberal currents in Israel by their name raises suspicion that the State of Israel seeks to continue to close its eyes to the reforms and conservatives in the country.
After all, if she asks how many such people live in Israel, she may have to recognize their communities, recognize their marriage, etc.
This description, "other," is a blatant denial of the reality in Israel.
Erasing the needs of 800,000 citizens in the country is equal to erasing all residents of the city of Jerusalem.
Could we have accepted such an act?
Precisely in an age of government that speaks of an amendment "to begin with," according to Minister Kahana, a group that reflects open pluralistic Judaism is blatantly excluded.
The next time you hear that liberal Jews are "non-Israeli" movements, remember this statistic: 13 percent of the Jewish public consider themselves part of this Judaism.
Were we wrong?
Fixed!
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