For months, we have been witnessing, from members of the coalition, a campaign of insults, delegitimization, and incitement against Reform Jews. These are no longer isolated unfortunate remarks. This has become a political line.

First came the words of Galit Distel-Atbaryan, who, in a Knesset committee, suggested that Reform Jews were not truly part of the Jewish people. Then came the opinion pieces, by voices ideologically close to the current coalition, questioning the loyalty, seriousness, religious legitimacy, and national legitimacy of millions of Jews around the world Finally, the latest episode, perhaps the most grotesque and shameful of all: Minister May Golan, addressing Reform rabbi and Knesset member Gilad Kariv, used language unworthy of the Knesset, insinuating that in “delusional” Reform synagogues, marriages between dogs are performed.

Now every limit of decency has been crossed.

Let this be clear: Reform Jews do not need to prove their Jewishness to anyone. Not to May Golan, not to Galit Distel-Atbaryan, not to the self-appointed guardians of Jewish identity, and certainly not to a Knesset that would do better to concern itself with the real problems of the State of Israel: security, the threat posed by the Iranian regime, terrorism, internal social fractures, and the unequal burden of military service caused by those who evade their collective duty while claiming the right to dictate the Jewish identity of others.

And if the coalition really wants to talk about the diaspora, then let it talk about the antisemitism that diaspora Jews are experiencing today. Let it talk........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)