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Synagogues to offer haven
to Central America refugees
NEW YORK—An ongoingstudy
conducted by New Jewish Agenda
(NJA) shows that as of Dec. 1, 17
synagogues have declared themselves
to be a sanctuary for Central
American refugees. In addition three
national Jewish organizations have
passed resolutions supporting sanc
tuary and six NJA chapters each
have declared themselves to be a
refuge.
The synagogues, Reform and
Conservative, are located throughout
the country. The three organizations
are the Union of American Hebrew
Congregations, the Central Con
ference of American Rabbis (Reform)
and the Rabbinical Assembly of
America (Conservative).
The study finds that Jewish involve
ment in sanctuary grew from the
arrests of 12 sanctuary workers last
January in Tuscon, Ariz., who are
now on trial. “Before the arrests
only two Jewish congregations had
public sanctuary declarations,” said
Paul Tick, national co-chair of
NJA’s national Central America
'Who is a Jew’ clash
spurs Israeli tensions
by David Landau
JERUSALEM (JTA)—Thesharp
differences over the “Who is a Jew”
issue that erupted among American
Jewish leaders attending the meeting
of the Conference of Presidents of
Major American Jewish Organiza
tions here last week has revived
political tensions within and outside
the Israel government.
“Who is a Jew” is the generic
term for the provision in the Law
of Return that defines as a Jew for
purposes of automatic Israeli citizen
ship anyone born of a Jewish mother
or converted to Judaism.
The Orthodox parties have been
for years pushing an amendment
that would add the words “according
to halacha” with respect to converts.
It would implicitly rule out conver
sions performed by Conservative
and Reform rabbis which are not
recognized by the Orthodox establish
ment that controls religious life in
Israel.
Conservative and Reform leaders
from the U.S. who forcefully oppose
the amendment, urged Israel’s leaders
to reject the Orthodox demands.
The leaders of six American Orthodox
groups vehemently denounced Prime
Minister Shimon Peres’ recent
proposal to freeze the issue for 10
years. Both groups took time out
from the Presidents Conference
deliberations to hold separate press
conferences on the issue.
The “Who is a Jew” amendment
has come before the Knesset twice
in recent years and was twice defeated.
Peres declared in Tel Aviv that
there would be “no compromise”
with the religious parties on the
amendment.
The latter indicated they would
not bring it before the Knesset at
this time. Political observers said
they are aware it would probably
fail again. But they are embittered
toward Peres and the Labor Party.
Menachem Porush, an Aguda Israel
Party MK, charged that Labor “is
apparently interested in being in
power in the United States, not in
Israel.” A spokesman for Shas,
another religious faction, said Peres’
statement was “very serious and
would have severe long term effects.”
Sources close to Peres pointed
out that he is prepared to accept
religious positions on many other
issues—for example, the measure
just passed by the Knesset banning
the sale of pork and the Sabbath
ban on Haifa’s funicular railroad.
But he will not bend the “Who is a
Jew” amendment because it is an
issue that effects not just Israel but
Jewish unity all over the world, the
sources said.
Task Force and coordinator of the
study.
When asked what makes sanctuary
for Central American refugees a
Jewish issue Tick responded,
“Throughout history, Jews, them
selves, have been homeless and in
exile. Periods of persecution have
forced countless generations to live
in fear.
“Just one generation ago, most
of the world denied Jewish refugees
a sanctuary, while a third of the
Jewish people perished in the
Holocaust. The state of Israel is the
way we, contemporary Jews, have
provided a safe haven for ourselves.”
“The concept of sanctuary has
expanded to include a variety of
services as well as housing refugees.
Synagogues we surveyed are tutoring,
providing material aid and financial
assistance to churches that have
taken in refugee families,” said
Mark Epstein, the other co-chair
of the task force.
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PAGE 7 THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE December 13, 1985