moshe rabbeinu himself didn't dare to exclude jews in the way that the hareidim do today. by causing mahloket in am yisrael, they are destroying the third beit hamikdash, before it is even built.

1- Just as I am frustrated when a Chabad rabbi says, "Chassidus says..." rather than the more forthright, 'Chabad Chassidus says...' it equally pisses me off when a Conservative says, "American Jews..." when he should "Some Conaervative Jews..." More critically, as the Conservative no-longer-Movement is in abject crisis and whose numbers are declining as they close more and more of their own schools, well, I suggest they have much more to worry about, such as their own SURVIVAL!

The thing is, whatever "demonizing" of the non-orthodox towards the Haredim (and how dare us non-orthodox get upset over a guy farting in kollel getting paid more than a soldier) is all bark and no bite. The Haredi demonizing and sense of entitlement is like the bites from hundreds of piranha fish. Some Haredim I'm surprised haven't been deported back to the Pale.

Their certificates come in Cracker Jack Boxes.They don't have a clue about anything that keeps Israel true to Torah values.

Once and for all let’s set the record straight: there are no reform Jews, there are no conservative Jews and there are no orthodox Jews – there are no labels – you either are a Jew or you’re not! There are guidelines set by the Torah as to what a person must do in order to be considered a Jew i.e. the 13 tenets of belief, mikvah, bris etc. If you don’t believe or you don’t do what is asked to be done than you are NOT a Jew. It’s not the orthodox rabbi that is excluding you from the fold – it’s your lack of action and /or lack of faith that is keeping you out! The orthodox community did not throw out any person from the fold – it was the reform and conservative rabbis that left! You are welcome back anytime! Agee58

Seculars and even antireligious ones who live in Israel are more Jewish than all those "armchair" so called religious US Jews , Be they reform , conservative or any other "religious" denomination .

I Quote, Y Net Opinion "Projects that do not reinforce democracy in Israel should be crossed off our list. Those programs that contribute to democracy should remain. They will receive a “kashrut” certificate. The projects and programs that directly encourage democratic values, and emphasize Jewish pluralism, will be placed at the head of our list. They will receive a mehadrin kashrut certificate. Israel is too precious for us to remain indifferent.”

Israel is THE Jewish country, whatever they do about the judgement of new invented Judaisms in there is their business. Even if some individual Jews and others won't like it. Our business in the dispersion either join Israel or support her from the outside. We should support Israel even if Israel is not accepting our inventions or they elect Knessets that the Reform and Conservative organizations do not approve. If some Jews are making dependent their support if they getting their "money worth" let's be it. Or they also should have more children and go to Israel changing the demographic picture.

first assimilation and second their 'progressive'' political partners bankrupting the country and blaming u know who--ditto for the cultural rot-they should also worry america becomes too weak to be any help to itself or to israel

Slicha, gam yesh li yehudim po, b'Artzot Habrit. For 2000 years, there have been Jews and Judaism in Galut. There is nothing new under the sun. But don't worry, ani tzioni abd my daughter is an Israeli. Kol tuv!

I agree with most of the criticisms of the American Jews about the situation in Israel with regard to religion. I cant help thinking that if a small percentage of the millions of American Conservative And Reform Jews had left their comfortable homes and made aliyah they would have had a real impact on policy in this country.

Period.

Anywhere, of any description.

America is our home, not Israel. How much more do you expect from the American jewry? Money, support (in every way) is not enough. The Israeli problem is an Israeli problem, NOT our problem. Let's me clear, WE ARE AMERICAN who happen to be born jewish, Once and for all, if Israel is really an independant country, stand on your own, nact like it, STOP turning to US (AMERICA AND us Jews by birth) to prop you up. Grow up..........stop the dependency, the outrageous ideas, demands, etc., etc. WE ARE AMERICANS! NO IMMIGRATION to your "country"

The Orthodox must be destroyed. It is us or them.

Israel is not my concerns, franlky couldn't care less what happens to israel/israelis!

Non Orthodox Jews aren't worried about the Orthodox monopoly. They don't fear their children not being able to marry an Israeli. They fear their children making aliya and moving to Israel. Luckily for them 80% of American Jewish aliya is Orthodox Jews. Non Orthodox Jews place being liberals at the top of their agenda. They care about abortion and gay rights. Israel is at the bottom of their agenda. That and marrying a Jew which is why the intermarriage rate is going to approach 90% soon. Orthodox Jews of course lead the fight for Israel. Orthodox Jews lead moving to Israel. And the best and the brightest of the children of non Orthodox Jews become Orthodox Jews.

The Conservative and reformed movements exist primarily in North America. For them to demand that Israel prostitute itself to their values is very narcissistic. As for the "Jew by choice" you have been sold a bottle of Snake Oil by the Conservative movement. You can not be a second class Jew as you are not halachically a Jew. You are an educated Goy! Take your crocodile tears and your view that we , who were born Jews or converted correctly, are putting you down. You should go to the Conservative movement and hold them to task because they are the ones who sold your conversion to you. Ask them why it is not recognized by the majority of Jews and in Israel.

nor is there much security. People are complaining about religion and secular....all of the nonsense you hear in 3rd world countries. But the reality is far uglier: the prices keep rising, salaries go down, a sluggish, divided government and insane court system clog the lives of its people. Israel is no cake-walk at all. More Israelis LEAVING israel now than Olim coming in. A pretty sad statement. Quite honestly, Israel has messed itself up so badly, most American Jews are apathetic and turning away...as are many Israelis. Very sad indeed. Jews in our homeland, MESSING THINGS UP yet again. Gee....makes one feel sooooo good. Israel: GET A CLUE.

If you can t beat us,join us. But behave. If we love our land,we should also love our countrymen.

1. Israel should decide what is best for Israel. No one else can decide that. But donations from American Jews has helped Israel immensely. How many hospitals were built, ambulances bought, social programs funded, by their donations? How much less would the US support Israel if it wasn’t for Jews active in US politics? Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water. 2. These posts castigate American Jews for going away from religion, as defined by the orthodox. Yet all the time I read the same comments regarding orthodox and seculars in Israel (in these TB’s and other articles). And each post describes the “true Judaism” as...exactly the way the poster practices Judaism (surprise, surprise). 3. Often we read posts that tell those residing in the US that they have no right posting; since they don’t live in Israel they do not know the situation. Yet many of these posts that comment on Jews in the US are from those living in Israel, not the US. (I’m not sure if the phrase “what’s good for the goose is good for the gander” applies, but it seems like it might.) 4. It’s a shame that we can’t each get off our own high horses and not assume that only we are right, the other side wrong. Nothing is black and white, only shades of grey. And the details are important.

You are right; America needs jobs. And most of the funds Israel receives must be, and is, spent in America. Israel also trains our soldiers to fight in built up areas of the ME. Israel also installs armor on American vehicles, eg trucks, humvees. Israel also supplies needed intelligence of the ME that we can't easily get. (They also can't get it easily, but they manage.) It is two way street; both countries benefit. So if you don't want Israel helping our troops and don't care what happens to them, or if Americans lose jobs, then by all means don't support Israel.

are disliked by religious authorities that hold power.

Love it, just love it... TATA

Strange discussion. In a world of 7 billion there are what, 13-14 million Jews. The Orthodox want to reduce that number as much as possible. What happened to the promise to make the Jews as plentiful as the grains of sand on the beach? In the name of religious purity, the fundamentalists are destroying the Jewish people. In the US, Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox Jews are always advocating for Israel. We support the country on talk shows, forums, and most importantly with our non-Jewish friends and colleagues. Most Americans are not sure what to think (the Evangelicals that support Israel are not a majority of the population). But it is disheartening when we realize that certain sectors in Israel discriminate against some of us. If you don't accept our conversions, and marriages, and practices perhaps we are really not wanted. So, which is it? Populous as the grains of sand on the beach, or absolutely 100% halachically correct? Because it's clear you can't have both.

American Jews are disappearing through assimilation, intermarriage, extremely low birthrates, older people dying off, etc, etc. So, they should worry about themselves first.

You are too, too funny...

you are speaking about ..are our jobs.... You seem to think ithis version of 'pocket pool' is a beneficial circle jerk...when it's the US taxpayers who are the Jerks...They are being taken to the cleaners with that cockamamie scheme of being taxed, their jobs sent to Israel while Israeli's are paid with our own foreign aid...Are you serious??????? Are you so sure the US taxpayer, who has lost his job, understands this fancy footwork?? Well they don't ...it's stealing from the US, but you're all for it..But then isn't that what Israeli Firsters is all about...Stealing from the US, their money and their blood, and all for Israel...You're an unmitigated creep! Both counties never benefited from this scheme and you lie by repeating it! ...But it makes you look and feel better doesn't it? Saying it often enough, makes you blieve the lie....Par for the course! So what do you suppose will happen when that aid is stopped? Americans will be back at work...and Israel will implode finally! TATA