Applauding the JCF’s pluralism stance

In deciding to allocate money to Israel's Reform, Conservative and modern Orthodox movements, the S.F.-based Jewish Community Federation has taken a strong and necessary stance on behalf of religious pluralism.

The grants, up to $100,000 this time around, will help Israel's more liberal movements institute programming and construct buildings that could help them solidify their support and status in the Jewish state.

Strains between Israel's Orthodox and non-Orthodox movements have been tearing apart the country for years. Despite interest among the country's liberal Jews for an alternative to Orthodoxy, lack of government funding has greatly slowed the advancement of pluralism.

The JCF here has long been a supporter of pluralism in the Jewish state. But directly funding the movements represents a new, and highly symbolic, gesture.

Though some large federations already contribute to the Reform and Conservative movements in Israel, and locally, the East Bay and Greater San Jose federations fund such efforts, the JCF's newly announced grants could influence others to follow suit.

With the election of Ehud Barak as Israeli prime minister, hopes are high for a new government receptivity to non-Orthodoxy. We fervently hope Barak's reign will bring some calm to the internecine strife and bring equality to the various religious streams.

Recently criticized by Reform movement leaders for not funding liberal Judaism in Israel, the JCF should be praised for putting its money where its mouth is. Hopefully, individual donors will follow suit.

The time is ripe for change. Even from as far away as the Bay Area, we can make a impact.