Comments on: Making the Law of Return Work for All Jews, by Rabbi Asher Lopatin

By: Yaakov-Meir

Yaakov-Meir — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 19:03:21 +0000

I am someone who might be accepted to make Aliyah under the Law of Return, but I will not be recognized as a Jew by Orthodoxy. I have converted under a Masorti Beth Din in Europe composed by 3 (male) rabbis, I have accepted on myself kabbalat mitzvot, I believe in Torah min-haShamayim, I have decided to join my destiny with the Jewish people, and it is refreshing to have found this blog and the people writing in it.

By: Asher Lopatin

Asher Lopatin — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 12:51:43 +0000

I hope we do get hard working “opportunistic” Jews who come to Israel in the hundreds of thousands or millions. That’s what made America a powerhouse. Immigrants are the best thing for a country to keep it vibrant and dynamic. And these opportunistic Jews will be drawn into the majority Jewish culture and hopefully accepted – or converted – by a welcoming, confident, Jewish community that is appropriate for them.

Shalom and best wishes,

Rabbi Asher Lopatin

By: Joe Schmoe

Joe Schmoe — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 05:17:52 +0000

I do support a much more inclusive interpretation of who is a Jews. However, there is the problem of “opportunistic” Jews turning up. The third would try to enter Israel, because, relative to many other countries, it is a land of opportunity!

How about anybody claiming to be a Jew, but having a basis for that claim! For conversions, this is a toughie, but it would work in most other areas.

By: Asher Lopatin

Asher Lopatin — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 04:32:00 +0000

Yes, the Law of Return is a reaction to a history of anti-Semitism, demonstrated by Naziism and other vicious and inclusive perpetrators. When Judaism is the dominent culture, as it is and will be in Israel even with a million more immigrants, intermariage is a different problem and conversion plays a signiicant role.

Shalom and best wishes,

Rabbi Asher Lopatin

By: Lisa

Lisa — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 03:29:41 +0000

Your argument that the Nazis would have killed these faux Jews amazes me. Now we’re letting Hitler dictate our internal affairs? We get to increase intermarriage by a huge amount for the sake of “unity”?

By: Shachar haamim

Shachar haamim — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 18:37:01 +0000

Your definition of “Israel as Jewish” also makes Illinois Jewish, New York State Jewish and the USA Jewish, b/c Jews live there and by law can alswys immigrate there (or at least are no prevented from immigrating there by virtue of the fact that they are Jewish).
An intellectually honest approach to the Israeli-Arab conflict shows that unlimited immigration of Jews was ALWAYS a major source of agitation to the Arabs. Even if your One-State will keep the Law of Return in some form or another it will disappear frm the law books within a few years of the transformation of the State of Israel into the “One-State”.

By: Asher Lopatin

Asher Lopatin — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:38:45 +0000

Oy! No way! Yes, Israel is Jewish cause Jews live there and can by law always emmigrate there. That’s it.

Shalom and best wishes,

Rabbi Asher Lopatin

By: YOSEF

YOSEF — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:31:57 +0000

You still have not resonded to the article by Rav Aharon that vehemently opposes your idea

By: David S

David S — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:03:34 +0000

Rabbi Lopatin, it is clear that your group here along with other Rabbis such as Rabbi Angel, have moved philosophically towards a bigger tent version of Judaism whereas the Right Wing have moved more and more towards the idea of philosophical purity in some cases rewriting Torah mi-sinai in order to advance their agenda. In my view, this pull away from the center is the most demoralizing aspect of our current times since it is crystal clear that it does not help the Jewish people. In my view, the only way to deal with it is to vocally call out those who would add to the Torah through excessive stringency.

By: Michael Makovi

Michael Makovi — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:44:27 +0000

Okay, I'll summarize my views on church and state very quickly: Israel is a Jewish state - ergo, Jewish law should be the law of the land. But, in keeping with a traditional Jewish attitude, that a Jewish community is geographic and not a question of voluntary membership, I believe that a Jewish community is accountable to everyone under its jurisdiction, and that the community must be solicitous for the welfare of everyone, observant and not. Therefore, halakhah must be the law of the land, but it must be the most lenient, inclusive form of halakhah available.