Copy to: International Human Rights and Protection of Freedom of
Conscience and Religion Organizations
In August of this year the Government of Ariel Sharon made
a decision
to dismantle the Ministry of Religious Affairs and transfer
responsibility for the rabbinic courts to the Ministry of Justice and
its
head Yossi Lapid, the most antireligious politician in Israel.
This decision abolishes the independence of religious
organizations
and its financial structures. It is directed against the religious
part
of the population and infringes upon the rights and interests of the
religious population. This is discrimination and a direct violation
of
human rights.
The decision of the League of Nations in 1921 and decision
of the
United Nations in 1947 were to establish in Palestine a National Home
for
the Jewish people. Judaism is what defines the Jewish people
for the
whole world and is an inalienable part of it. Thus, any actions
against
religion, with the specific goal of its restriction are directed against
the Jewish character of the State, against a National Home for the
Jewish
people and, are, therefore, direct violations of the decisions of these
International Organizations.
The first Cabinet of Ministers of Israel headed
by Ben Gurion, was
created in 1949. The Ministry of Religion was created at the
same time
and was a member of the Cabinet. The plan that the Government
had was,
quote, that "the Government will keep this status quo of religion in
the
State". This principle was never violated since Israel was established.
The decision of abolishment of the Ministry of Religion
can come into
effect only after the Knesset approves it. We urge You personally
and
all members of Knesset not only to vote against this decision, but
also
to condemn this initiative as a violation of democracy and the rights
of
the religious population and one directed against establishment of
the
Jewish State in accordance with the above decision of the United Nations.
Finally, we want to stress that the
transfer of control of
religious life to the militant activist of an antireligious movement
who
called the abolishment of the Ministry of Religion " the very important
step of secular revolution" (Yosef Lapid) can be considered an
intentional humiliation of a religious population with the goal of
elimination of religion in the State.
Mr. Rivlin, please remind Mr. Sharon and all
Likud Members of
Knesset the words of the Likud founder Menachem Begin that he said
on May
15, 1948: "For Israel survival the National component must be combined
with Religion component."
Sincerely,
Chairman Mr. Raevsky Vitaly
(856) 482-6599
Cherry Hill NJ Branch Coordinator
mr. Belavsky Leonid (972)
664-1147 Dallas
TX
Branch Coordinator mr. Daskovsky Vadim (301)251-2727
Rockville
MD
Branch Coordinator mr. Dimshitz Alex
(425) 883-7095 Seattle
WA
Branch Coordinator mrs Gitis . Eugenya
(410) 764-0952 Baltimore
MD
Branch Coordinator mr.Fainleb Lazar
(215)742-3334
Philadelphia PA
Branch Coordinator mr.Kaganov Symon
(303)758-0079 Denver
CO
Branch Coordinator mr. Margolin Michael
(856)751-0255 Cherry Hill
NJ Branch Coordinator
mr.Opendic Vladimir (718)769-1865
Brooklyn
NY
Branch Coordinator mrs.Pello Sabina
(773)338-5055 Chicago
IL
Branch Coordinator mr.Rempel Yan
(215)953-9162 Langhorne
PA
Branch Coordinator mr.Rivkin Boris
(415)333-3466 San
Francisco CA
Branch Coordinator mr.Smilansky Vitaly
(781)593-7937 Lynn
MA
Branch Coordinator mrs.Shwartz Nehama
(212)475-4088 New York
NY
Branch Coordinator mr.Shustef Boris
(585)461-5549 Rochester
NY
Committee for Jewish National Home Eretz Yisrael
401 Cooper Landing Rd appt #307 Cherry
Hill NJ 08002 tel. (856)
482-6599 tel. (215) 953-9162
Fax (856) 482-6599
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Russian version
An introduction to MAOF
Haim Goldman
Haim Goldman
Dear Friends,
Would you believe that the undersigned has anything in common with
-- Professor Victor Davis Hanson (Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University),
-- Dr Charles Krauthammer, (Washington Post, Time, The Weekly Standard),
-- Caroline Glick (Deputy Managing Editor of the Jerusalem Post),
-- Jonathan Tobin (Executive Editor of the Philadelphia Jewish Exponent).
Amazingly, the editors of the MAOF website decided that the missives of the undersigned are worthy of translation and posting along the articles written by these distinguished authors.
The first letter was published without the consent of the undersigned.
However, after thorough examination of the laudable attitude of MAOF and of the excellent contents of the website, the undersigned had most graciously granted his permission for publication of his missives in both English and Russian.
“Analytical Group MAOF” [1] is an organisation founded about ten years ago by Russian-speaking Jewish intellectuals. The attitude of MAOF is definitely pro-Zionist -- unambiguously and unapologetically.
One of MAOF’s primary purposes is providing information and analysis about Middle-Eastern and world affairs as well as about Israel’s history, values and dilemmas. In addition to extensive publication activity in various media, MAOF also organises excursions and seminars. While the vast majority of the contents of the MAOF website is in Russian, texts originally written in English are provided in the original [2] as well as in Russian.
There are arguably about 250 millions of Russian-speakers worldwide and many of them do not read English. The indisputable motivation for the author’s permission was to grant those millions of disadvantaged people the grand benefit of reading the author’s ruminations. If the author is ever maliciously accused that his tacit motivation for authorising the publication was his craving to be listed along with the above-mentioned distinguished writers, his plea will definitely be “nolo contendere”.
The editors of MAOF expressed their gratitude by granting the undersigned a privilege that no other author got – the opportunity to review and correct the Russian translation before publication. The original letters of the undersigned are at [3] and their Russian version is at [4]. At of today, only two letters are posted but several other letters are pending translation.
You are kindly ENCOURAGED TO RECOMMEND the MAOF website to your friends and colleagues worldwide, particularly those who speak Russian. Those who do not enjoy the benefit of proficiency in the exquisite Russian language can find many thought-provoking and inspiring articles about Middle-Eastern and world affairs in the English section [2].
Sincerely,
Haim Goldman
28.10.2006
REFERENCES:
[1] http://maof.rjews.net
[2] section.php3? sid=37&num=25
[3] authorg.php3? id=2107&type=a
[4] authorg.php3? id=2166&type=a