JERUSALEM (VINnews) — President Isaac Herzog aroused a storm of criticism after announcing that he had visited the sukkas of the chief rabbis “as well as the conservative sukka in Ra’anana”, effectively conferring legitimacy on the conservative community in Israel.
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Herzog arrived at the sukka of Rabbi David Lau in Modi’in and then went to visit the sukka of Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef in Jerusalem. The rabbis honored the president and discussed his illustrious grandfather, Rabbi Yitzchak Eizik Halevi Herzog zts’l.
However a short time later the spokesman for the president’s residence stated that the president had visited the rabbis “as well as the conservative sukka in Ra’anana” and the chief rabbinate reacted sharply. A statement by a rabbinate official said that “This is like thrusting an arrow into the heart of the rabbinate and is an unprecedented act in which the institution of the presidency is conscripted to oppose another state institution. This is especially true when it refers to the rabbinate which represents most of the nation in Israel.”
The official added that “no previous president exploited the visit to the sukkos of the chief rabbis to justify visits to the conservative sukka. The rabbis were very insulted by Herzog’s behavior, since until now he had demonstrated deference to the chief rabbinate.”
When Herzog visited the conservative sukka he said that “I think that your voice is important. You are doing important and pioneering educational work and this is why it was important for me to come here.”
Apparently this was not Herzog’s only recent nod of approval towards the conservative movement. A recent photograph from selichos which took place at the president’s residence shows conservative cantor Neria Refael Knafu leading the selichos with a curious prayer shawl which bears little resemblance to a tallis.
I do not support the efforts of the Conservative movement, especially in Israel.
I also do not support hyperbole cloaked as journalism.
“…conservative cantor Neria Refael Knafu leading the selichos with a curious prayer shawl which bears little resemblance to a tallis.”
A Talis can be any sufficiently sized 4-cornered article of clothing, made from almost any fabric, and knotted with kosher tzitzis. So, whatever the cantor was wearing apparently meets the definition of a talis.
It just wasn’t a TRADITIONAL-looking Talis (which is the term VINnews should have used).
Vinegar, son of wine!
Herzog went to the conservatives because he is just like them
maalen bikodesh vein moridin.
Was the conservative sukkah a kosher sukkah? Do they abide by Halacha when building a sukkah
Jews who care about the future of Judaism and the Jewish people should encourage and when appropriate teach Jews of all kinds how to live jewishly without insulting or repelling them. We have enough Jews who have been “turned off” by thoughtless or unkind words and deeds.
“thrusting an arrow into the heart of the rabbinate”
The Chief Rabbis don’t follow halachah. The Conservative Sukkah might actually be kosher.
Joke!
What’s Herzog?! Not even attempting to be a conservative Jew and the “Rabbis” are upset? Let it hit them straight in the eye. He cares as much for Judaism that a conservative Jew and an orthodox Jew is all the same. Not wveb a joke! He’s a Zionist first and doesn’t give a nickel for anything Jewish. Cuz he’s the president of Israel?! Thats all the more saying that he’s a secular Zionist that just trys to flatter his constituents.
Whata lame joke!
Foolish Zionists.
Well really, aren’t these guys angry most of the time?
The US President’s name is not Herzog. Therefore, the headline should read “Israeli President Herzog”, not just “President Herzog”.
Zionism is dead thankfully who cares what this mehalel shabbos
The Zionist State is a Zionist, not Jewish, “State”. Soon enough, when Hashem has “had enough”, that idol and its “State” will disappear and there will be no more doubts about what Judaism is.