Two proposed amendments to the constitution of Ireland’s Jewish
Representative Council, which would have redefined who is a Jew in
Ireland, were withdrawn at its biennial meeting in Dublin.
The amendments would have extended the description “Jew” to people who
converted and/or were accepted into Progressive Judaism but who yet do
not meet Orthodox standards of Jewishness.
This would include
intermarried converts, adoptees who were born of a gentile woman but
raised as Progressive Jews.
The proposed amendments reflected discussion
in Israel as to whether Orthodox rabbis should set standards for all
Jews, especially where citizenship and other civil rights, such as
marriage, were concerned.
The central issue for Irish Jews is whether
Judaism in the State is more about profession of faith than about
birthright.
The first proposed amendment down for discussion at Sunday night’s
meeting read “that the definition of Jewish Community set out in Clause 1
of the Constitution of the Representative Council be amended to read:
‘Jewish Community shall refer to persons who are deemed to be Jewish
according to Orthodox or Progressive Judaism.’”
The second proposed amendment was “that the requirement for Members of
the Council as set out in Clause 5 of the Constitution be amended to
read: ‘The Council shall consist of the following Members of the Jewish
Community, all of whom must be residents of the Republic of Ireland and
aged over 18 years of age.’”