The Politics of Religion in Israel
By Caroline Altman
What is the difference between an Orthodox, Reformed, and Conservative Jew?
Why is there such a divide between the Orthodox and these two more secular
sects of Jews in Israel? What is the implication of this divide for Jews,
Palestinians, and the cycle of violence that plagues religious politics in the Middle
East? These questions can be answered by religion and life style.
An Orthodox Jew lives by the laws and practices of the Old Testament. The Old
Testament, the Talmud (which includes rabbinic discussions of the Old
Testament) and the Midrash, (which offers interpretations of the Old Testament),
are followed according to their literal translation.
A Conservative Jew follows most of the tenants in the Old Testament but lives a
life style modified to allow for a slightly looser interpretation of the texts.
A Reformed Jew melds interpretations of the Old Testament, the Talmud and the
Midrash with the challenges of modern times. This looser reading of the texts
allows Reformed Jews to adjust the paths of their lives practically rather than
literally. While Conservatives see and consider the role of God in their everyday
lives and Reformed Jews pay closer attention to the teachings, both
Conservative and Reformed want to achieve parity with the Orthodox in that they
want the same kind of acceptance and political agency.
But there are no official temples for Conservative Jews or Reformed Jews in
Israel, no help for them to establish themselves in the holy land as an integral
part of society because, in the eyes of the government, there is only one way and
that is the way of the Orthodox. In Israel, the Orthodox are financially supported
by the government and exempted not only from working but also from serving in
the army and paying taxes—obligations met by the rest of Jewish society. In the
eyes of the government, because of the stringent requirements made by the
Orthodox, their sole social obligation and contribution is that of prayer. Any other
kind of Jew is viewed as a non-practicing or secular Jew, devoid of religious
affiliation.
The practice of Orthodoxy and its relationship with the state hinders Israel from
making positive efforts in its search for peace. That is because Orthodox Jews,
among other things, believe that Israel’s land should encompass all of what was
“Palestine” (Judea and Samaria). But peace is also hindered purely because of
the Orthodox lifestyle. By refraining from participation in daily toil or helping
others outside of their insular community; by living only through texts that sap the
strength of the country at large; by using government money for the support of
their able-bodied community; and by refusing to offer civic service in place of
their absence from the Israeli Defense Forces, they disallow for the kind of
change that will stabilize the region.
The parliament in Israel (the Knesset) is constructed much like Italy’s parliament
where constant changes in the leadership or government require coalitions to
group and re-group in efforts to form majority blocs. In the Knesset, just like in
Italy’s parliament, there are many parties. So, in order to get support from a
majority of seats in the Knesset, the Israeli politicians have to take the fractious
parties and glue them together with promises that appeal to the groups and
persuade them to work together. One of the largest parties is that of Orthodox
Jews. They are always the key to making a coalition because they have a lot of
followers, which means they have a great deal of power in the Knesset. In order
to meld with other parties to make a majority, they demand certain things from
the other parties that ask them to join. They have demanded and received not
only exemption from service in the National Defense Forces, and a lifetime of
government stipend for studying the Torah, but government land and money for
the construction of their synagogues. The Reformed and Conservatives in
contrast, have to raise their own money and buy their own land if they want a
temple. Without a place for Reformed and Conservative Jews to gather and pray,
and most importantly communicate ideas of moderation, the Orthodox have the
upper hand in decision making.
Those decisions incite and perpetuate the cycle of violence between Israelis and
Palestinians. Orthodox Jews have settled in the West Bank, land that belonged
to the Palestinians until the 1967 War. While the Orthodox work hard to build the
settlements in which they dwell, they build them all over the West Bank rather
than in just one area, with or without government consent. These actions stem
from feelings of entitlement to land they feel was gifted by God. There are some
settlements that live peacefully with their Palestinian neighbors but battles ensue,
especially when the Orthodox start colonizing another part of the West Bank
which is, for now, controlled by Israel.
The Orthodox disregard for fairness and their persistent drive to dominate
settlements in the West Bank has made it an impassable jigsaw puzzle
impossible for Palestinians to navigate but easy for them to resent; so they attack
the Israelis, turning to terror and bombs in demand of more than they should
legitimately have. Since the power rests with the Orthodox and other reactionary
coalitions, peace is hard to achieve. Instead, Israelites have taken draconian
measures to defend themselves. Until another force in the Knesset changes
Israel’s policies, takes power away from the Orthodox, and distributes it amongst
other, more moderate parties, the political climate in Israel cannot change.
Israel is a beautiful and wonderful land. There are a majority of people who
would like to change the way things are done, but they are fragmented and do
not have the means to influence those in control. So they demand that things
change but are not empowered. The Reformed and the Conservative Jews need
to take the extraordinary power from the Orthodox. The government must show
the will to empower less religious groups so that they can pray and organize for
stabilization of the region. Until there is a unified decision and determined effort
to take over the Right, we will see a continuation of this cycle of recrimination and
violence.