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MASORTI MOVEMENT: DOWN BUT NOT OUT
by Mati Wagner, Jerusalem Post, June 25, 2005
Despite a serious dearth of funds, the Israeli Masorti (Conservative) Movement will continue to maintain full financial support for the NOAM youth group, its MAROM student organization, and local congregations including funding for weddings, conversions, and circumcisions, Dr. Irit Zmora, Chairperson of the movement, said on Friday.
Although the cash-strapped movement was forced to fire its president, Rabbi Ehud Bandel and its spokesperson, Inbal Cohen, as reported by The Jerusalem Post last week, Masorti Judaism is still far from bankrupt, added Zmora.
"We are sorry to be losing the talents of two very capable and dedicated advocates of our Movement's ideas and priorities," said Zmora.
Only about 10% of the movement's $2 million is funded locally by private individuals, while $780,000 is provided by the Jewish Agency for Israel's religious streams allotment and about $500,000 from abroad. Zmora explains why Israeli support is so low.
"Israelis are used to getting free religious services from orthodox institutions that receive significant state funding," said Zmora. "So they are unwilling to pay for our services, which receive absolutely no state support.
"Also, most of our growing communities are South American immigrants who came here to escape a failing economy. They simply don't have the money to pay for a rabbi's salary."
Zmora said that the firing of Bandel would be a blow to the movement's lobbying efforts for more state recognition of Conservative Judaism.
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