Make Your Voice Heard

At a time when the U.S.-based Reform movement continues to pressure the Israeli government into desecrating the sanctity of the Kosel and upending the status quo that has been place for seventy years when it comes to key matters such as giyour, kashrus, and marriage, the thousands of American Jews who will flock to Eretz Yisrael for Yom Tov are in a unique position to let their voices be heard on this vital issue by sending a postcard to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

This idea was the brainchild of Eliezer Cohen Esq., who is counsel for a real estate firm, serves as the gabbai of the vasikin minyan at Agudath Israel of Long Island in Far Rockaway-Lawrence, and is a baal korei in three to five shuls each Shabbos, as needed.

A frequent visitor to Eretz Yisrael, he described to Hamodia what made him think of the idea of a postcard to Prime Minister Netanyahu:

“I thought of the idea when I was reading an article this past summer about the lack of a voice of Orthodox Jewry, juxtaposed against the arrogant and domineering actions of Reform and Conservative streams of American Jewry that demand recognition by the Israeli government for their views. I wrote a letter to the Jerusalem Post, published Sunday August 5, 2017 while I was in Yerushalayim, wherein I voiced my strong opinion that non-Orthodox American Jews do not share the sentiments and feelings of the bereft leadership that purports to speak for them and for American Jewry.

“These leaders have no flock. They have lost the battle in America and have opened a front in the only place where there is a growing Jewish population, in the hope of becoming relevant.

“I was shocked when the Jerusalem Post printed my letter, which took them to task for their distorted views and misleading rhetoric.

“When I read about the need for the Chutz L’Aaretz Orthodox Jews’ invisible silhouette in the spheres of Israeli governmental decisions, I immediately texted Pesach Lerner, a friend for many years and a person who is at the forefront of trying to give a voice to the Orthodox camp,” Mr. Cohen continued. “I told him of my idea and that, with the masses of Jews who will travel for the summer, and travel to Israel for yeshivah, and so on, we should start a postcard campaign. I said that emails or electronic media will not have the same impact as piles of letters being dropped on the desk of the prime minister.

“Orthodox Jewry is a force to be recognized. We fill the yeshivos and seminaries and we have thousands who bring families to vacation for Yom Tov, summers, Chanukah, mid-winter, and any other opportunity to be in Eretz Yisrael. Many travel for a yarzheit, a bar mitzvah, to put on tefillin for the first time, to seek advice or a brachah from a Gadol. People do not understand our connection and the amount of money and investment we have in this land. The Israeli government has to know this, just as we will not accept a watered-down version of our religion.”

Hamodia spoke with four key members of Am Echad about its mission and about current developments.

Please tell us what role you see Am Echad playing in the current crisis regarding the Reform movement in Israel.

Dr. Lebovics: Am Echad is the voice of American Orthodox Jewry in Israel with regard to issues of religious pluralism, be it geirus, kashrus, Shabbos, the Rabbanut, the Kosel, or the Jewish nature of the State of Israel. Federations, Reform and Conservative groups create the impression that they represent all of American Jewry. In fact, they don’t even represent the beliefs of most of their own constituents.
Our job is to paint the whole picture for Israeli decision-makers. We are educating them as to our growth, youth and vibrancy, as opposed to the demographic demise of the liberal Jewish movements. We are also showing them the dedication to and unconditional support for Israel, coming from Diaspora Orthodox Jews.

Rabbi Lerner: The Reform movement continues its campaign of fake news. They continuously lobby members of the Israeli government, MKs, the Israeli and American media, telling them, “We represent American Jewry … You need to listen to us … you need to meet our needs and demands.” But, it’s not true!
The Reform movement is dying in America. Their leaders need some credibility, so they go to Israel and make demands.
Am Echad can correct all this fake news. We need to educate members of the Israeli government, members of Knesset, the Israeli (and American) media, etc. We need to share the facts, the truth about the Reform movement, its dwindling numbers, its 70% intermarriage rate, the number of temples that are closing.
Am Echad must draft an army of writers. Op-eds must appear in American and Israeli secular Jewish media. Let’s tell the world who we are, our vitality, our growth, that we are the future of American Jewry. There are always important askanim and business people in Israel; we need to take them to the Knesset, to meet with MKs. We need to explain that we care, we visit, we invest.
We need to bring MKs and the secular media to the United States. Let’s show them our schools, shuls, chesed organizations, Orthodox jewish media. Let’s show them our vitality, and then ask them, can Reform do the same? Go find a closed shul or yeshivah or day school during the day; go find an open Reform temple during the day! Let them experience the real American jewry; they really dont know.
Wherever Reform is, Am Echad must be. I realize that often puts us in the trenches, but that is what we must do for kavod shamayim.

Mr. Moskowitz: Decades after the Reform and Conservative movements created a bankrupt ideology, their leaders see what has become of their movements. What little Judaism their founders wished to preserve has been largely replaced by left-wing social activism under the guise of a religious movement with no real answer as to why anybody should stay Jewish. Their numbers are rapidly declining, and they are desperate for ways to remain relevant, so they have cast their eyes eastward.
The Reform and Conservative see two opportunities in Israel. What is apparent to all is that their battles for a “pluralist” Kosel have far less to do with any attachment to the site itself and far more to do with a way to go back to members with a cause to rally around and a way to justify their existence.
Second, they know that even secular Israelis are by and large more connected to Jewish identity and tradition than their secular American counterparts. A recent study in Haaretz, of all newspapers, said that 97% fast on Yom Kippur and go to a seder on Pesach. As their numbers in the U.S. dwindle, the Reform and Conservative see in Israel low-hanging fruit for forms of Judaism that can offer religious affiliation and some traditions, without the burden of any real level of commitment.
Am Echad represents the voice of politically conservative frum Jews who believe that the Israeli government is bound to uphold the religious status quo put in place when the state was established. It draws from different camps of Orthodoxy in an attempt to effectively advocate on issues that we can all agree on — Orthodox control of the Kosel plaza, maintaining Rabbanut control over marital laws, and so on. What we see as the basics of preserving some level of Jewish identity and a halachic observance baseline in the state.
It is incumbent upon Orthodox Jews to step up and declare that they are the ones who speak for the future of Diaspora Jewry. Non-Orthodox groups still represent the majority of American Jews, but their majority is decreasing, and is far less engaged and connected to Eretz Yisrael than we are. Am Echad is here to make that point clear.

Mr. Werdiger: The Reform have their voice heard by the government, and are telling them, “We are the power, we are the future of Jewry in America.

Therefore, we must have input on any deciding factors that affect the status quo in Israel.”
This is absolutely not true, and we tell them that if they are going to rely on the Reform, they are making a grave error. The future of American Jewry is in the hands of the Orthodox. Who is spending on kiruv and Jewish identity if not the Orthodox? And on the other hand, whose children are joining the BDS movement? What percentage of Reform kids will intermarry?
[I told Ayelet Shaked that a chiloni kid in Israel will most likely socialize with a Jewish child. In the Reform circles in America, two young people who are considering marriage will not know their true status. They will have to do real research to verify if they are Jewish due to the tremendous rate of intermarriage. She responded, “Wow, I never thought of it this way.” Our job is to engage in a process of educating the Israeli government with facts and statistics to show that the future of American Jewry is in the hands of the Orthodox.] It is also important to educate them that it is the Orthodox who visit Israel for the Chagim, it is the Orthodox who really care about Israel. Without the Orthodox visitors, the tourism industry would suffer a tremendous loss.

The current Am Echad effort is being led by a number of dedicated askanim. Please tell us a little about your role in this project, and what you hope to accomplish.

Dr. Lebovics: I co-chaired, together with Shloime Werdiger, the recent Am Echad Mission to Israel. I am currently working on setting up a more formal structure and expanded base of askanim, so that we can maintain a constant presence and make our voices heard in the ongoing debates.

Rabbi Lerner: I am part of the team of those fighting for Torah values, here and, when necessary, in Israel, and have been part of the team ever since Rabbi Moshe Sherer, z”l, asked me to join 20-plus years ago, when he created Am Echad. I always ask myself, “What would Rabbi Sherer advise me to do?”
Dr. Irving Lebovics and Reb Shlomo Werdiger have now taken the lead. I will support them and work with them as much as I can.
Sometimes I am part of other endeavors as well, with same goal. We were active when I was executive vice president of the National Council of Young Israel.
We cannot allow the Reform leadership to export their failures to Israel.

Mr. Moskowitz: I am very politically involved both here and in Israel and have a very good sense of the key issues. Most of this is a result of the philanthropy of my grandfather, Irving Moskowitz, z”l, who, together with, ybl”c, my grandmother Cherna Moskowitz, have donated millions each year to causes that strengthen the yishuv in Eretz Yisrael. The foundation continues to give millions every year. It’s given me a lot of access to political contacts in the Knesset, Congress, and various agencies. I work regularly with several right-wing MKs from Likud, Bayit Yehudi, and UTJ, and have very strong working relationships with them.
I also have a strong advocacy presence, trying to fight for the needs of Jews both in America on issues like religious freedom and school funding and have built up a lot of connections in Congress, as well through those channels.

Mr. Werdiger: Dr. Lebovic and I have many connections with people in Israel. Together, we are able to arrange meetings and appointments with many important politicians. We have articulate philanthropists who have met with the prime minister, the president. Together with Dr. Lebovics, we are using our personal connections to co-lead this mission.

The Reform movement’s membership is dramatically dwindling, and baruch Hashem, the Torah community is growing and flourishing. Yet as the upcoming Federation meeting agenda indicates, the Reform movement and its backers are continuing to do all they can to pressure the Israeli government into caving in to their demands. What can be done to counterbalance these efforts?

Dr. Lebovics: I assume you are referring to the upcoming Federation General Assembly to be held on October 22 and 23 in Tel Aviv. This meeting is being billed as a dialogue about the future religious nature of the Jewish state. Being that the Orthodox community was not invited to participate, it seems obvious that this is not a dialogue, nor do Federation officials want to hear opposing views. They are coming to tell the Israeli government what they demand. We have to be in Israel to present our views in whatever forum possible. We are working on plans to do just that.

Rabbi Lerner: We, at the Coalition for Jewish Values, or CJV, challenged the Federation. Am Echad needs to do the same. In the U.S., we should clearly state that the federations don’t represent those who will be the Jewish future of America. We need to change the conversation.
In the U.S. we don’t need to create a war, but Am Echad can write letters, coordinate meetings, have discussions. In Israel, we need to challenge them publicly. We need to ask the federations—Why are you coming to Israel to tell Israelis what federations think Israelis need to do?
We know better than you what’s good for us. Invite us! Invite the dati who are active in all of Israel. Invite those who support the chief rabbis. Invite Women for the Wall, who support tradition. Invite the residents of Yehudah and the Shomron, and invite representatives of the chareidi community.
Let’s have that conversation that Federation is afraid to have: In America you are hemorrhaging. Assimilation, intermarriage, lack of future for Jewish youth — that should be your number-one priority. You should be asking Israelis for help!

Mr. Moskowitz: The most important thing we can do is to come across as a strong united front. That means not being afraid to say what we stand for and what we expect from those in power.
We have to remember that we have the numbers, power and clout to make demands with the same confidence as the Reform and Conservative movements. We have Emes on our side, and that alone should give self-assurance.
We should be taking every step from the playbook of liberal Jewish groups. When an MK or an Israeli cultural figure comes to America, why should they be the ones to show them around and introduce them to congressmen and cabinet members? Many congressmen have more to do with Agudah, the OU and the National Council of Young Israel than with other groups. Under Obama, J Street certainly had more of an in at the White House than we do, but in the Trump administration, the situation is just the opposite. We have to realize that and take advantage of it.
The Israeli government will only be interested in our position if we can demonstrate that we have power, which we do.

Mr. Werdiger: Our message is that if Israel will make a decision that will affect us and will change the status quo — then we deserve to be part of its dialogue. We don’t tell the Reform “get out of here,” we’re not telling them, “you’re not Jewish,” but we are explaining to the Israeli government that they need to wake up and realize where the future of American Jewry is. Israel without the strong support of American Jewry is in danger, and this support does not come from the Reform. Their children demonstrate on behalf of BDS and against the State of Israel, and they will not be here in a few more years if they continue with their

mixed marriages.”
During our recent Am Echad mission to Israel, I spoke with one of the government ministers and told him: “If you are a religious Jew who lives in Israel, you don’t have to worry about who your child will marry. Even if you are secular, it’s not such a big story because chances are your child will marry a Jew. In America, it’s different, and that’s why it is necessary to recognize us. We aren’t trying to “flex our muscles,” but we are asking that our opinion be taken into consideration with regard to issues of altering the Jewish status quo in Israel. In regard to the Kosel, even President Trump understood that the custom is that men pray on one side and women on the other, and that there is a partition down the middle.”
The future of Klal Yisral in America is the Orthodox. We are the greatest and strongest supporters of Israel and we will be here forever, generation after generation. We are the strongest community, the one the Israelis have to recognize, and if the Israeli government wants to speak to American Jewry about making decisions – they should talk to us. Look at who strengthens Jewish identity, engages in outreach and advances Jewish education, whether it is in schools or on American campuses. It’s us, the Orthodox. Those whose children are not connected are the Reform, and I’m sorry about that. They are losing a disproportionate number of people to mixed marriages and assimilation. We have no problem with them; our heart goes out to them. By us, the situation is drastically different: We are investing millions of dollars and countless work hours into returning those young Jewish people who have grown so distant from genuine Judaism.
The Reform come to Israel as the representatives of American Jewry, and that’s a problem. Because the truth is that the future of Judaism in America is the Orthodox. In America alone, without counting Canada, there are 150,000 Orthodox children studying in yeshivos and girls’ schools. That is from across the spectrum of Orthodox Jewry, from Satmar Chassidim to Modern Orthodox . We are more pro-Israel than the other streams: We have purchased apartments in Israel for our children, we fly to Israel for the Yamim Tovim, we send our children to yeshivos and schools in Israel and support President Donald Trump when he makes positive decisions regarding Israel. By them, it’s the opposite.

What can Hamodia readers do on a practical level to help the efforts of Am Echad at this time?

Dr. Lebovics: It is important that we remind Israeli officials of our commitment to Israel both emotionally and financially. Diaspora Orthodox Jews visit Israel more frequently than any other group. We send and support our children and young married couples to study and live there. We contribute much to the economy of the country by buying Israeli products, purchasing apartments, and investing in businesses there. We visit regularly for Yamim Tovim, yahrtzeits, simchos, or just simply to be there.
Am Echad is starting an email postcard campaign to let the Israeli government know how often we visit Israel. We are asking everyone who is planning to travel to Israel, whether for Yom Tov, or to study there, or any other reason, to send an email to Tourism Minister Yariv Levin and let him know when you are arriving, how long you will be staying and why you are coming. Templates are being produced to make it as easy as possible to send this message. This one way everyone can help Am Echad in its important work.

Rabbi Lerner: Great question! On a community level, be sure your community leaders are involved and part of national Am Echad. Put together a group of 20-25 askanim, businesspeople for a mission to Israel — call the Am Echad office in Israel for their help in setting you up with meetings in Israel.
Have your community invite and sponsor a non-religious MK or media person from Israel; two or three individuals. Invite them to your community, show them your shuls, schools, chessed, etc. Have them meet the youth, the community Orthodox leadership. Invite your community to meet them in an open-house or town hall meeting. Let them experience your vibrancy; become their friends. Let them better understand and respect who we are, and keep in contact with them. It will affect how they vote, write, and more.
On a personal level, monitor your local Jewish and secular media. If Torah-true Judaism is being misrepresented, write a letter. Bring it to the attention of your rabbi, of your local Am Echad representative. If the media receive enough letters, they will be more careful next time; they may call you next time for comment.
If possible, invite media to meet with you, your community reps. Show them your shuls and schools, show them your vitality. You can call the Am Echad office for guidance and assistance, or call the Coalition for Jewish values for similar assistance.
Be sure that everyone knows about the Am Echad “I’m Coming to Israel, Mr. Prime Minister” campaign.

Mr. Moskowitz: You don’t need to be an askan to be engaged, and you don’t need to have money to get involved. What you need is a willingness to speak up to our politicians and to show that you vote and that you matter.
If left-wing groups are out in force at a rally at Trump Tower, we should be doing the same for the causes we believe in. We need to strike out on a grander scale if we are going to have the voice and presence that can demand to be listened to.

Mr. Werdiger: Hamodia has a tremendous readership, and when they visit Israel, they should make themselves heard. By using any personal connection, they can meet with local leaders and work on changing any negative perceptions that might exist. Let them know that we support Israel, and relay the message that, as such, we must have a voice in anything that affects the status quo.