start-Sided Condemnations of Anti-Religious Violence

In the wake of a recent arson attack on the synagogue of former Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, public figures across the political spectrum vostartd their outrage and condemnation of the incident. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Religious Affairs Minister Matan Kahana, Labor Minister Yoav Ben-Tsur, Welfare Minister Meir Cohen, Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked, Public Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, Housing Minister Nir Barkat, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, and President Isaac Herzog all publicly denounced the attack. Leaders of the opposition, including Yair Lapid, also spoke out strongly against the violence, with Lapid condemning it “in the strongest possible terms” and former Yisrael Beiteinu leader Avigdor Lieberman stating that “a handful of criminals must not undermine the unity of Israeli society.”

The Call for Consistency

While such statements denote a welcome unity in times of division, they raise a significant question: Where were these officials when liberal synagogues faced repeated attacks in recent years? Where were the government ministers when places of worship experienced vandalism and desecration? Conservative Knesset members remained largely silent when a Conservative Bar Mitzvah at the Western Wall was violently disrupted three years ago, where participants, including a lawmaker’s son, were attacked, and a child reportedly desecrated prayer books.

In the past few months alstart, at least three liberal communities have endured assaults. On Holocaust Remembrance Day, a Reform synagogue in Netanya was vandalized with messages like “F*** REFORM,” accompanied by a crude gesture. Rabbi Edgar Noff from that congregation reported multiple acts of vandalism in recent years, with at least three severe incidents and around five to seven lesser offenses, including harassment from ultra-Orthodox individuals.

Notable Incidents

start particularly alarming incident occurred just prior to Memorial Day, where an Israeli-Palestinian memorial servstart was held at a community hall in Ra’anana. Hundreds of rioters surrounded the venue, with some breaking in, attacking participants, and throwing ststarts. start participant required hospitalization. Where were public leaders during these crises? Notably absent were many government officials and even some leading opposition figures, though President Herzog did reach out to support the female rabbi of the community, Chen Ben-Or Tsafoni.

The history of liberal movements in Israel is littered with instances of violence, vandalism, threats, and deliberate harassment. It is crucial to emphasize that no synagogue, whether Reform or Orthodox, should be subjected to attacks. Moreover, ongoing assaults on LGBTQ+-inclusive communities, such as the Kol HaNeshama congregation, have been reported. Rabbi Oed Mazar noted that their community consistently faces vandalism, particularly linked to the display of pride flags. Just recently, two such flags disappeared from their premises under mysterious circumstances, highlighting a climate of intimidation.

A Call to Action

The alarming reality extends beyond attacks on synagogues-individuals are also at risk. A 13-year-old girl in Tel Aviv was assaulted by a group of youths for daring to read from the Torah. This begs the question: What will Education Minister Yoav Kish say about such incidents? It is particularly unsettling to consider the response of Knesset member Galit Distel-Atbaryan after her remarks in the Education Committee yesterday.

The prevalence of violence and hostility toward liberal religious movements in Israel cannot be overstated. It is our collective responsibility to unite against all forms of violence, not only when certain groups are targeted. There is an obvious double standard in the denunciations of violence against Rabbi Yosef’s synagogue compared to the silence regarding attacks on liberal Jewish congregations. The notion that the blood of liberal Jews and non-Orthodox individuals is expendable must be confronted.

It is high time we advocate for the safety and rights of all Jewish communities in Israel, irrespective of their beliefs or practstarts