Resolution on the Establishment of Ongoing Working Groups for Religious Freedom in the State of Israel

Whereas the Committee for the Unity of the Jewish People of the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) was created to provide an ongoing forum for the worldwide Jewish community to come together and address the global issues of Jewish unity;

And Whereas these issues over the years have included the topics of conversion to Judaism, religious pluralism and diversity with regard to matters of personal status and religion in the public square, especially at significant religious national sites such as the Kotel, equal funding of the streams, marriage equality and the like;

And Whereas these issues represent an ongoing challenge to the unity of the Jewish people in that religious pluralism and equality do not yet exist despite decades of advocacy;

And Whereas the frequency of ongoing events with regard to attacks on religious pluralism in Israel further highlight the current and growing chasm of the unity of the Jewish people;

Therefore, Be It Resolved that the Board of Governors of the Jewish Agency for Israel create three permanent staffed working groups:

            One to address the ongoing issues on conversion to Judaism;

            One to ensure the Jewish Agency is an ongoing and effective voice striving to resolve                  the issues relating to full religious freedom, pluralism and equality in the State of Israel;                      and

            One to review all JAFI programs to ensure compliance with all previous resolutions on                  religious pluralism in all JAFI programs.

And Be It Further Resolved that these working groups be expected to submit written reports a month prior to every meeting of the Board of Governors of the Jewish Agency its goals, process, conclusions, strategies and recommendations to further the mandate of the Jewish Agency and its Committee for the Unity of the Jewish People.

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