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.

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Shas - all shook up

Members of the Shas Party have contributed much to understanding and tolerance over the last few weeks in Israel. Two weeks ago it was Nissim Ze'ev, who likened the prevalence of homosexuality in Israel to the phenomenon of Avian Flu, and suggested that only radical action similar to the mass culling of chickens could help root out this abomination.

Last week it was Shlomo Benizri, who has suggested that the most efficient way for the government to protect against the threat of earthquakes would be to abolish homosexual practices, since it is a well-known scientific fact that homosexuality causes earthquakes.

Now there is an important difference between these two learned contributions to the public debate on sexual orientation and public health. The reference to bird flu is certainly an original insight of MK Zeev, who certainly deserves all the credit for this breakthrough in immunology. This is not the case with regards to MK Benizri, who has not been slow to point out that he has done nothing more than quote our sacred sources.

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