Most Israelissupportequalrecognitionfornon-Orthodoxrabbis Pollfindsthat 71 opposeRivlin'scancellationofdisabledbar mitzva ceremony due to Conservative rabbi'sattendance By SAM SOKOL sentingthe Reform and Con- ever, with the Conservative various marginalizedsectors servative movements should movement accusingRivlin of of Israelisociety,even as they majorityof Israelissupports be treated the same as their "an act of cruelty"in having may often be controversial equalgovernment treatment Orthodox counterparts. "reneged"on his offerto allow in his own politicalcircle,he of Orthodox and non-Ortho- The presidentand the Maso- both an Orthodox and Con- repeatedlydemonstrates that dox rabbis, accordingto poll rti Movement (Conservative servative rabbi to co-officiate. he has huge blind spotwhen released by the religiousequal- Judaism in Israel)have been "Unfortunately,religious itcomes to freedom of religion ityadvocacyNGO Hiddush on at odds since negotiationsto figuresseeking to advance and the equaltreatment of all Monday. hold bar mitzva ceremony for their agendathroughthe cyn- streams of Judaism,"he said. Out of the 507 Israelisques- disabled schoolchildren at his ical use of children refused to Asked about the poll,Rabbi tioned by Rafi Smith Polling, officialresidence fellthrough respond to every framework JulieSchonfeld, executive vice 71 percent stated that they earlierthis month. proposed by the President's presidentof the Conserva- believe President Reuven The celebration,initiallyslat- Office,and we are saddened by tive movement's Rabbinical Rivlin "was wrong to cancel ed to be held in Rehovot, was this approach,"the President's Assembly,told The Jerusalem the bar mitzva ceremony for canceled by Mayor Rahamim Office said in statement at Post that she believes it shows disabled children scheduled to Malul in April because he the time. that "there is tremendous be held at the President's Resi- objectedto itbeingconducted Commenting on the results, openness, even eagerness, in dence, onlybecause one of the in Conservative synagogue Hiddush CEO Rabbi Uri Regev Israelisocietyfor pluralistic prayer leaders is Conservative by Conservative rabbi. called on the presidentto approachto Judaism." rabbi." The Masorti Movement "reconsider his decision to "President Rivlin has won- Oppositionto Rivlin in this approached the Diaspora cancel the ceremony." derful opportunityto bringhis matter was higheramong sec- Affairs Ministryand asked it "The presidentmust not act message of unityand civilityin ular respondents )%39(and to find suitable solution, as if he is the exclusive pres- Israelisocietyto the streams, Soviet immigrants )%48(than and the ministry proposed ident of Orthodoxy,to the and we would welcome his among traditionalJews )%47(the ceremony be held at the exclusion of the largeststreams leadershipin that arena." and the national religiousPresident's Residence and of world Jewry.It'stime for Rivlin has had run-ins with .)%76( began discussions with the President Rivlin to get over non-Orthodox streams before, Twenty-nine percent of President's Office to bringthis his disdain for religiousplural- havingfamouslytold an Israe- respondentssupportedRivlin. about. ism. It'svery unfortunate that li newspaper in 1989 that Fifty-ninepercentof respon- The two sides were unable to while the presidentexpresses Reform is "idol worshipand dents agreedthat rabbis repre come to an agreement, how such praiseworthyconcern for not Judaism." Reform and Conservative leaders indicated concern when he was chosen as pres- ident, but he has since made overtures to mend the divide, seekingto assure Diaspora leaders in several forums that he is not againstthe largest Jewishdenominations outside of Israel. JeremySharon contributed to thisreport.