Reform Reflections: Reform Judaism should not enter Israeli politics

Elections are in the air. The Israeli public is reeling from the bad odor emanating from the Prime Minister's good cigars, and we are all wondering how he will manage to conduct his defense while conducting affairs of state. His key political opponents, perhaps incensed at the thought that Olmert will reserve the best first-class seat on the next flight, are working on their impersonation of righteous indignation. Observers of the geopolitical scene from Left and Right are wondering how Israel's interests can be well served when a negotiation on territorial compromise is taking place in between plea bargains and legal consultations.

Elections are indeed in the air, although it is by no means clear when they will come down to earth. Ehud Olmert has Houdini-like qualities of evasion and distraction, and he may even manage to survive the latest threat to the integrity of his administration. Assuming that some time in the near future his position will be untenable, the big question is: which new party will rise to prominence? In each of the recent elections, a political party has appeared which receives many votes and then fades into obscurity. Shinui, revived by the recently-deceased Tommy Lapid, was one such example - the Pensioners are another, and this time it may be the Greens or the Anti-Corruption Party.

Earlier this week I received an e-mail from a Chicago-based attorney identifying himself as a committed Liberal Jew. (Regular readers of the talkbacks to this blog may be surprised that any Jews in the Liberal camp respond at all - usually my correspondents are stronger on diatribe than dialogue.) In his letter he urges the Israeli Reform Movement [or to give it its full name, the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism (IMPJ)] to prepare to launch itself into the political sphere. He included details of a platform relating to the Arab-Israel conflict, and expresses the view that the time has come for Reform Jews to get involved in the political process.

The question of party political involvement has been a subject of debate among Israeli Reform Jews at least for the last 25 years, since my own involvement in the movement began. At events such as last week's IMPJ conference the issue is occasionally discussed, as much in the corridors as in the main plenary sessions. The argument for getting involved in politics is compelling. If we are interested in changing the way in which the state funds religious and cultural activities in this country, we have to roll up our sleeves and get to work. If we want to move to center stage, away from the comforts of the periphery, we have to be prepared to get our hands dirty in the sandbox of politics. If we want to move beyond the posture of self-righteous critics and commentators, we have to bring our ideas to the voting public and start making a difference.

Despite these reasons for forming a political party, I am convinced that this is not the way forward for Reform Jews in Israel. I don't believe the large numbers of Israelis who tell pollsters that they approve of our version of Judaism will cast their votes for us, and even if they did, I would be very concerned that in trying to be part of the solution, we would only end up being part of the problem.

The unholy alliance between religious groups and party politics in Israel has done immeasurable harm both to religion and politics in Israel. It is true that many of the key moral decisions facing the Jewish people are being taken in the Knesset, and that if we want to exercise influence we need to be part of these decisions. For this reason I am delighted that some of my colleagues in the Reform Movement are taking part in the fascinating and controversial conversation about Israel's Constitution. They have produced an important document outlining a nascent political philosophy.

We Reform Jews should visit the Knesset often, but as a Movement we should not try to get a permanent address there. Those who remind us that as long as we stay outside the political system we will remain powerless to effect change and to channel state resources are accurate - but the price to be paid for becoming yet another political party is too high.

I predict that in the coming years some of the extraordinary men and women studying for the non-Orthodox rabbinate in Israel and in other leadership development programs will become Members of the Knesset and in time government ministers. They will do so, however, through the channel of existing political parties. As a Movement, our challenge is to find a way of being relevant and responsible, while avoiding the usual scourges of the political life: compromise, mediocrity, and corruption.

So when the forthcoming elections finally come forth, don't bother looking for TRIP, The Reform in Israel Party, among the dozens of obscure and unlikely candidates. There are only two options for such a party: it may fail or it may succeed. I am alarmed by both of these possibilities.