Despite commitments to the contrary, the Israeli Knesset is considering legislation that poses a dangerous threat to the rights of Conservative, Reform and all non-Orthodox Jews, who comprise the overwhelming majority of world Jewry.
Although some American Jewish leaders said this week that they will be entering upcoming negotiations over the proposed Israeli conversion bill free of preconceptions, a leader of Reform Jewry said there remains a "red line" for his movement.
Many American Jewish leaders are relieved that the conversion bill sponsored by MK David Rotem did not come up for a vote in the Knesset before its summer recess, but they are still reeling from the turbulence it has caused, and hope that the three months until the legislature reconvenes will be used to revise or block it.