New York, NY, February 6, 2014…The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today welcomed a statement by Member of Knesset David Rotem in which he apologized for “any misunderstanding and offense generated by the contents of my comments yesterday,” regarding his remarks on Reform Judaism.
According to reports, Mr. Rotem, the Chairman of the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, referred to the Reform movement as “not Jewish” and “another religion” during a committee discussion on February 4. ADL had called on the MK to retract his “offensive and unjustified” statements and apologize to the Reform Movement.
ADL National Director, Abraham H. Foxman, welcomed Mr. Rotem’s apology and clarification, and said he hopes “this unfortunate incident will demonstrate to the MK and his colleagues the need for greater sensitivity to deepen their knowledge about the different Jewish denominations active in Israel and the Diaspora and the importance of fostering the Jewish unity and understanding Mr. Rotem called for in his statement of clarification.”
Mr. Rotem’s statement was posted on his Facebook page.