The petition
A CALL TO THE GOVERNMENT OF ISRAEL
TO RECOGNIZE RABBI MIRI GOLD
As North American Jews committed to both our religion and to the State of Israel, we are disturbed by Israel's discrimination against non-Orthodox branches of Judaism. This discrimination is illustrated by the case of Rabbi Miri Gold, one of 16 Rabbis serving the Gezer Region. Fifteen of these Rabbis - all Orthodox men - are recognized by the Government and receive a Government salary. Only Rabbi Gold, a Reform woman Rabbi ordained by the Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem and holding the pulpit at Congregation Birkat Shalom in Kibbutz Gezer, receives neither Government recognition nor a Government salary, despite the facts that:
* Rabbi Gold serves as the Rabbi to large numbers of Gezer residents.
* The Municipal Council of Gezer has acknowledged her as a Rabbi in that Region.
* The Israel Supreme Court has declared that all branches of Judaism should be accorded equal treatment by the Government.
* A state committee studying the issue of rabbinic posts in regional councils has acknowledged a state obligation to fund non-Orthodox religious services.
Litigation on behalf of Rabbi Gold has been pending in the Israel Supreme Court for over three years, but there is still no decision on the merits.
We recognize that Jews outside of Israel cannot demand changes in Israeli law, but the discrimination against non-Orthodox Jews and practices affects Jews throughout the world and impedes Israel from becoming a true beacon to the nations. Accordingly, we call upon the State of Israel to:
1. Recognize immediately Miri Gold as an official Rabbi of the Gezer Community, and
2. Apply Government funding to support the work of Rabbi Miri Gold and her peers, and to equally support all streams of Judaism in the spirit of klal Yisrael, thereby fulfilling the religious pluralism and freedom that should be the hallmarks of the only Jewish and democratic state.
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