The potential for strain in American Jewish-Israel relations, arising out of disagreements over conversion and other personal status issues in Israel, exists in the year ahead. The Israeli Supreme Court in April 2000 is scheduled to consider a number of cases involving conversions supervised by non-Orthodox rabbis. Around the same time, the first class of conversion candidates in the Jewish studies institutes — inspired by the deliberations of the Ne’eman Committee — will be graduating and going before the rabbinical courts to complete the process. These institutes, established during the period of the previous Israeli government, employ teachers from the Orthodox, Conservative and Reform movements in Israel. The Barak government is appropriating funds to expand this program to address the needs of tens, and possibly hundreds of thousands of Israelis, particularly from the former Soviet Union, who wish to convert to Judaism in Israel. If the graduates are accepted by the rabbinical courts without difficulty, many observers believe this would give impetus to efforts to find pragmatic and consensus-based solutions to other personal status issues such as marriage and divorce. The JCPA supports the efforts of the Israeli government to strive for national unity, bringing together all citizens of the country and cultivating tolerance, civility and mutual respect.

The organized Jewish community will be seeking to work in partnership with Israel to reinforce the ties between our two communities. Rabbi Michael Melchior, the Israeli minister responsible for world Jewish affairs, has been appointed by Prime Minster Barak to spearhead this effort. Major American Jewish philanthropists, Federations in North America and the Israeli government are committed to developing a fund ("Birthright Israel") that will enable all young American Jews to have at least one expense-free experience in Israel. Hillel succeeded in enlisting more than 6,000 college students to participate in an Israel experience during winter break 1999. Many federations and CRCs are utilizing the United Jewish Communities’ Partnership 2000 program as a vehicle for building close, mutually beneficial relationships with Israel and Israelis.

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