Dear Mr. Prime Minister:
When you were a guest of the United States Congress in March, you insisted that the American Congress listen and respond to the words of Iranian leaders that threaten the State of Israel. You were adamant that we take words seriously.
In part you said on March 3, “For those who believe that Iran threatens the Jewish state, but not the Jewish people, listen to Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, Iran’s chief terrorist proxy. {mprestriction ids="1,3"}He said: If all the Jews gather in Israel, it will save us the trouble of chasing them down around the world.”
You have said in the past that the nations of the world should have taken the words of Nazi leaders seriously, but failed to react to what was being said.
Mr. Prime Minister, clearly you understand the importance of words and the deeds that follow.
Today, your Religious Affairs Minister said that Reform Jews are not part of the Jewish people and cannot be counted as Jews. We heard him very clearly. Now we will listen to your response.
Since the First Zionist Congress 118 years ago Jews of all streams and ideologies have worked together to bring the House of Israel under Israel’s tent. Whether living in Israel or creating ties to Israel, we, lovers of Zion, have included ourselves in the destiny of the Jewish State. Now, your minister, a member of your government, states those days are behind us. We are not members of the Jewish people.
Mr. Prime Minister, your legacy as the prime minister hangs in the balance. Will you continue to unite the Jewish people behind Israel, wherever the lovers of Israel live around the world? Or will you, through your actions, declare that your minister of religious affairs is correct: liberal Jews are not members of the Jewish people any longer? Mr. Prime Minister: Now is the time to choose your legacy. What will it be?
Your people are listening to take your words seriously. Are we, Mr. Prime Minister, or are we not part of the Jewish people? Shall we continue to support Israel in the American Congress? Shall we, Mr. Prime Minister, continue to support Israel in the Democratic and Republican Parties? Shall we, Mr. Prime Minister, continue to preach to the American Jewish community that the fate of American Jewry depends upon the fate of the household of Israel living in the Land of Israel? Shall we continue to organize groups to visit Israel, send our children on Birthright (Taglit) and to camps in Israel, encouraging constant exchanges between the People of Israel wherever they may be found?
Or shall we, Mr. Prime Minister, conclude from your actions that we were mistaken: that Israel is the state of a small minority of the Jewish people that excludes all liberal Jews?
Mr. Prime Minister, the time for petty coalition politics has come to an end. After an entire century of convincing the Jewish people that we are one people, Am Echad im Lev Echad, one people with a single heart, now is the time to decide: Is that or is that not true?
If Mr. Azoulay continues in your cabinet, Mr. Prime Minister, we know that you have taken his words seriously and you have responded.
The choice is yours. We await your words and your actions.
Ahad HaAm — One of the People of Israel
Rabbi Mark H. Levin, DHL, is the founding rabbi of Congregation Beth Torah.{/mprestriction}