A sense of space: Envisioning an Israel that enables religious difference   (02/02/2010)

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Donniel`s "A Sense of Space"
Your eloquent reflection resonates with most Jews worldwide. Is there no way to change this state of affairs in a democracy?
Dick Kaufman, USA, Feb 27 2010 7:45:00:000PM

Thanks!!
Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts and feelings with us.
Bracha Fletcher, Israel, Feb 10 2010 8:38:00:000AM

Thanks
Thanks for expressing so eloquently what many of us feel. The big question is what can we do to make this vision of a pluralistic Israel come to be. If anything, we seem to be headed in the opposite direction.
Annice Grinberg, Israel, Feb 5 2010 2:32:00:000PM

Religious differences
Unfortunately, today`s situation of religious coercion in Israel is based on a wrong political decision at the beginning of our state, a decision, that was meant as a expression of well deserved sympathy to religious zionism and then became a moloch, used by the ultra-orthodoxy to blackmail all following governments to support reactionary orthodox Judaism`s many antidemocratic demands. Thus we do not have any religious freedom (of choice) in this country, in many ways a sort of religious Hamastan has developed. In spite of the fact, that the majority of Israelis are democratic, modern and tolerant, in matters of religion, due, so I think, to a kind of "stetl" nostalgia, we cannot bring ourselves to join modern world and keep the state defining our Jewishness solely through religious affiliation. At least in this matter, we have become well intergrated into this region.
Paul Uri Russak, Israel, Feb 4 2010 8:16:00:000AM

Enabling religious difference
Amen. Selah.
Myron, Israel, Feb 4 2010 5:00:00:000AM

all jews
Israel, for me, is a place that was a jewish homeland. It was not defined by its peoples` religious denomination. It was defined by their committment to the state of Israel. It seems to me that Jerusalem is soon going to be only for the orthodox jew. What would the founders of the state feel about the way of the state towards religion.... the religious right. It is not only in Israel but all over the world. We are following a pattern that can be detrimental to any nation or religion. There must be a way to allow the conservative and reform jew a place in Israel and the diaspora.If not, we are doomed as a people. The next generation will either choose orhodoxy or nothing. It is happening everywhere. How can we teach our children respect and honor, when our religion is going the distance.???????
Sharon Hecht, Canada, Feb 4 2010 3:43:00:000AM

A Sense of Space-Outstanding commentary
Thank you for great insights on this subject.
Alayne Sulkin, USA, Feb 4 2010 1:02:00:000AM

Jewish Identity
It is enormously distressing, and ultimately debilitating for Israel, that the definition of Jewish identity should be left in the hands of zealots.In Canada there are many Jews whose fathers were there in `48, who themselves have been long committed to the Zionist cause, but whose children are excluded by orthodox rabinnical dictate. Only Israelis can rectify this deplorable state.
Bill Rosenfeld, Canada, Feb 3 2010 9:29:00:000PM

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