Protest over rabbi’s arrest
MASORTI, LIBERAL and Reform rabbis staged a demonstration outside the Israeli Embassy in London over the arrest of a rabbi who officiated at a nonOrthodox wedding in Haifa.
The 17 clergy and their supporters erected a chupah in Kensington on Monday and smashed a glass to mark their outrage at the arrest of Rabbi Dov Haiyun, of the Masorti movement, who was detained last week for performing non-Orthodox weddings.
Jewish marriages in Israel may only be conducted under the auspices of the Strictly Orthodox rabbinate. Anyone conducting a wedding who is not Strictly Orthodox faces up to two years in prison.
According to rabbinical courts, Rabbi Haiyun performs “criminal and illegal” weddings for couples who are prevented from marrying under Jewish law.
Jonathan Wittenberg, senior rabbi of Masorti Judaism, said: “I’m shocked at the pre-dawn police interrogation of Rabbi Dov Haiyun for the ‘crime’ of officiating at Masorti weddings.
“Masorti Judaism in the UK calls on the Israeli government to end all harassment of non-Orthodox Jews and to ensure complete freedom of religion within the Jewish State.”
Rabbi Aaron Goldstein, chair of the Conference of Liberal Rabbis and Cantors, said the rabbi’s arrest “was not Shem Ha’Shamayim — for the sake of heaven”.
Rabbi Fabian Sborovsky, chair of the Assembly of Reform Rabbis and Cantors, said: “Progressive rabbis and Jews around the world stand united against the appalling treatment of our colleague at the hands of the Israeli rabbinate.
“We call on the government of Israel to uphold the values and founding vision of Israel’s Declaration of Independence to ensure freedom and equality of religion for all.”