Israeli ultra-Orthodox Cabinet minister slams Reform Judaism, says doesn't consider them Jews

Published July 23, 2015

Israel's minister for religious affairs has criticized Reform Judaism, saying he doesn't consider members of the denomination to be Jews.

David Azoulay of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party told Israel's Army Radio Tuesday that these are "Jews who lost their way" and he hoped they would "return to the midst of Judaism according to Jewish law."

The comments followed an Israeli Cabinet decision to reverse an initiative aimed at easing the conversion process to Judaism. It marked a blow to the previous government's attempts to break the ultra-Orthodox monopoly in Israel and make Judaism more inclusive.

The more liberal Reform and Conservative streams of Judaism make up the largest denominations in the United States but they are mostly marginal in Israel, where religious life is dominated by a strict ultra-Orthodox establishment.

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https://www.foxnews.com/world/israeli-ultra-orthodox-cabinet-minister-slams-reform-judaism-says-doesnt-consider-them-jews