A big part of the problem, according to Rakefet Ginsburg, is money.
From 2006 to 2009, Ginsburg was a Shlichut in Milwaukee, serving as an Israeli emissary for the Milwaukee Jewish Federation. Today, she’s a leader in Israel, serving as deputy executive director of the Masorti Movement, the Conservative stream there. She feels her movement has been unfairly marginalized in Israel, especially when it comes to government funding.
To understand the money issue, you’ve got to understand that there’s no separation of church and state in Israel. The government pays for Jewish religious buildings, the construction and maintenance of mikvahs and various rabbis’ salaries, she said. But that’s generally financial support for Orthodox needs – not Conservative or Reform.
“There are rabbis in every neighborhood in Israel. All of them are positions that are only for Orthodox,” Ginsburg said. “Almost all of our rabbis, we pay our salaries by ourselves. We are not recognized.”
At the Western Wall in Jerusalem, there’s an area where men and women can pray together, she said. But it’s still not what we think of when we think of the wall – it’s a different portion. The government invests to improve this alternate area, but she feels it’s not the same.
The power struggles aren’t necessarily about Orthodox power but more Haredi power, she added, referring to those strictly Orthodox Jews who generally reject modern secular culture.
“And it’s not only the coalition at the present, it’s also the way the politicians think about their future coalitions,” she said.
Ginsburg, who works at the Masorti central office in Jerusalem, says her movement is growing in Israel. Today there are 75 affiliated congregations in Israel. Four or five years ago there were about 50, she said. She added that 10 percent of Israelis identify with Conservative or Reform.
As deputy executive director, Ginsburg spends her time connecting with and supporting congregations. It’s her role to start and develop Conservative communities in Israel. She travels around Israel, meeting with rabbis, volunteers and congregants.
Milwaukee got her going
Ginsburg said her involvement with the Conservative movement in Israel is a direct result of her own personal growth from living in the Milwaukee area for three years.
She came to view the Jewish world and “pluralistic Judaism” in a different way. Previously, her Israeli identity was more dominant than her Jewish identity, she said. After her stint in Milwaukee, pluralistic Judaism became a greater part of her identity, a part of her Israeli identity, she said.
“You get out,” she said, “you see your own world in a different perspective.”
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It started with Milwaukee
Deputy Executive Director Rakefet Ginsburg said her involvement with the Conservative/Masorti movement in Israel is a direct result of her own personal growth from living in the Milwaukee area for three years.
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