The Word On The Street

"The WORD on the street" is a way for those living in the United States to be connected with those living in the Land. The day's events, politics, pop-culture, family life, maybe even what’s on the dinner menu—all of this and more is likely to be found here. Visit regularly to hear the WORD on the street from our MAs and friends in Israel.

Who is a Jew?

12 January, 2011

'Who is a Jew?' is an on-going question in Jewry, and one that is very much on the minds of Israelis at present. It is a question charged with emotion, as the present controversy in Israel's parliament reveals. Often those who identify themselves as Jews before immigrating to Israel, upon their 'homecoming' find they are not considered Jewish by the rabbinical establishment in the Land.

The Rabbis have traditionally taken the view that if your mother is Jewish then you are a Jew. Many immigrants from the former Soviet Union, however, have only a Jewish father. They willingly serve in the Israel Defense Forces and identify themselves fully with life in Israel, with all its dangers. The army, in return, offers them the opportunity to take a conversion course and become officially Jewish. Many avail themselves of this opportunity with sincerity. The ultra-orthodox, who do not serve in the Army, refuse to consider such conversions legitimate and are at present resisting a bill in Israel's parliament declaring these Army conversions irrevocable.

The debate is heated. Once again the Government coalition is threatened, at a time when Israel's people themselves are struggling to find their legitimate identity in a world that is constantly telling them the very existence of their State is 'illegitimate'!.

We are reminded that the divided Kingdom that followed Solomon's reign has not yet been re-united; for that we await the second coming of the One "greater than Solomon."

Hebrew Christian Fellowship