The Coalition for Jewish Values, consisting of over 2000 Orthodox rabbis in the US, with branches in Israel, Europe, and Oceania, came out strongly against the Biden Administration’s decision not to invite right-wing party Ministers Bezalel Smotrich (Religious Zionism) and Itamar Ben Gvir (Otzma Yehudit) to the annual July 4th celebration to be held at the US Embassy in Jerusalem on July 3rd.
In a statement to the press, the organization declared: “The Coalition for Jewish Values, Israel region, condemns the decision of the Biden administration to ostracize the leaders of Israel’s religious Zionist parties, who represent over half a million Israeli voters, from the US Embassy’s July 4 celebrations next week.”
CJV Israel region Vice President Rav Steven Pruzansky said: “The administration’s disdain for Israeli ministers whose strong, proudly Jewish views reflect a substantial part of Israeli society shows contempt for the people of Israel.”
Enjoy what you're reading? Subscribe for more!
CJV Israel Rabbinic Circle co-chairman Rav Yehuda Oppenheimer added: “This hostility also undermines a core tenet of the principles of the American Declaration of Independence that is being celebrated at this event – the right of a free people to form the government of their choice that will ‘effect their safety and happiness,’ free of the attempts of a foreign power ‘to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction’ over the affairs of another State.”
“As such”, the statement continued: “Non-invitation is a shameful betrayal of fundamental American principles, and we urge its immediate reversal.”
“This affront continues the administration’s offensive policy of eschewing dialogue with Jews – Israeli and American – with whom they disagree, as well as its continuing efforts to dictate to the sovereign nation of Israel our policies on issues such as security, judicial reform, settlement, and others.”
The Coalition for Jewish Values is the largest rabbinic public policy organization in the world. CJV advocates for classical Jewish ideas and standards in matters of American public policy and has expanded its reach into Europe, Oceania, and now Israel. Its premise that public policy can only be enhanced by the application of authentic Jewish values – those rooted in Biblical and Rabbinic teachings through millennia of Jewish history – has special resonance and applicability in Israel.