Posted by Rabbi Gilad Kariv, Director of Public Policy for the Israel Religious Action Center & Rabbi Andrew Davids, Executive Director of ARZA

The news of the sudden hospitalization of Prime Minister Sharon and of the serious deterioration of his health shocked the citizens of Israel and the Jewish world. Many of us remain glued to the media, following the televised reports and the many commentaries on the situation. It’s true that only two weeks ago the Prime Minister had a minor stroke, but his determination to continue functioning and his well-oiled public-relations team created the impression that the Prime Minister would overcome his health difficulties.

For we Reform Jews, the sense that the Prime Minister’s stroke was minor allowed us to breath a sigh of relief. For so many of us, his continued and steady hand on the helm was critical to the ongoing support of the values that we hold central to our understanding of Judaism. Under his leadership, we have seen him masterfully, and almost single-handedly move the Israeli consensus to a point where the value of peace and compromise superseded the value of land. An always controversial political and military leader, Ariel Sharon gambled his own political future on the action of unilateral disengagement from Gaza, a position which we in the Reform Movement supported wholeheartedly. As Prime Minister, Sharon had articulated strong support for the rule of law and strengthened civil society, values that we Reform Jews maintain as critical to a healthy society. In fact, this past June our Movement’s leadership was featured in the news in Israel and in the Anglo-Jewish press because of our actions that supported Sharon’s candidate for the Chairmanship of the World Zionist Organization and Jewish Agency for Israel. Sharon’s candidate was our candidate and our candidate was Sharon’s candidate. Rabbi Eric Yoffie, President of the Union for Reform Judaism, received the call requesting this help from Prime Minister Sharon himself, reflecting the shared values of our Movement and this leader.

These same shared values were reflected in Thursday night’s transfer of the Prime Minister’s authority to Minister Olmert and the continued functioning of the government of Israel, which met this morning for a special session under the leadership of the acting Prime Minister. These acts, which one would never find in any other government in the Middle East, represents proof of the vitality of Israeli democracy and the absolute internalization of the principle of continuous government. Along with this, the hospitalization of the Prime Minister has caused a significant shake-up in Israeli politics on the eve of elections. Large question marks are now hanging over the “Kadima” party, which had been expected to be the big victor in the upcoming elections. There is no doubt that Kadima will run independently in these elections, although it is doubtful whether it will be able to succeed as the surveys had forecast.

The current situation has opened anew the question of who will be the next Prime Minister of the State of Israel and of the question of the composition of the future governing coalition. This will have great implications in regard to how our Reform values are supported, neglected or rebuked in the near future. A situation where the Knesset will house three medium-sized parties (Kadima, Likkud, and Labor) will made it difficult to create a stable coalition and to advance significant policies. This is true for civil issues and for issues of religion and state. Even though Kadima is a right-center party, it was expected that, thanks to significant electoral support, important steps like legislation for civil marriage and advancing reform in religious services would have been completed. In light of a drop in the power of “Kadima,” the Shinui party, which was predicted to fall drastically, may maintain much more of its power than was expected. The political fog that has now fallen over Israel requires close monitoring of party developments over the next few weeks and an increased effort by pluralistic organizations after the elections, during the time of coalition discussions.

In conclusion, it is also important to remember that above all the political issues, there is the personal and family tragedy of a man who has dedicated his years to serving the people of Israel. Many of his political opponents learned to appreciate his political determination over these last few years. Others who followed him for years felt betrayed by his recent political leadership. Either way, the vast majority of the Israeli public feels deep sadness and real concern for the fate of the Prime Minister. We here in the North American Jewish community share these feelings with our Israeli brothers and sisters in this difficult period.

Sadly on this occasion, too, there are already rabbis on the margins of the Orthodox rabbinical establishment who have spoken up without any semblance of honor, humility, or respect. These rabbis called upon their followers not to pray for the health of the Prime Minister because he authorized the disengagement plan. These rabbis bared the ugly face of religious zealotry. Reform Judaism in Israel has for many years struggled with the serious phenomena of rabbis who receive their salary from the state’s coffers, yet who incite against state leaders and elected officials. We hope that the Israeli public will recognize the seriousness of these phenomena and will join Reform Judaism in its struggle with the divisive zealotry of the Israeli religious establishment.

Reform congregations in Israel, in North America and the world over join together with all Jews to pray for the health of the Prime Minister. Reform rabbis and congregants are requested to pray for the recovery of the Prime Minister today and during their Shabbat prayers. Following is a translation of what has been circulated to our congregations in Israel:

May the One who blessed our ancestors Abraham and Sarah; Isaac and Rebecca; Jacob, Leah, and Rachel, bless the Prime Minister of Israel, Ariel the son of Sarah of the Sharon family. In light of all the Jewish people praying for the Prime Minster’s recovery, may God strengthen Prime Minister Sharon with courage and vitality, and cast upon him God’s own spirit in order to heal him completely, spiritually and bodily, along with all who are ill, in the Jewish people and in the world. May God strengthen the hands of the Prime Minster’s physicians, their hearts and their understanding, and let us say Amen.

Over the next few days, weeks and months, we shall see how the leadership of the State of Israel will be able to build on the visionary work and dedication of Prime Minister Sharon as the country negotiates and navigates through tumultuous and difficult times. This time of crises, like all other times of crises, remind us of the importance of our engagement as Jews and as Reform Jews, in the lives of our Israeli brethren and in the State of Israel.