Real estate magnate Isaac (Ike) Fisher appears to be the first member of the American Reform Jewish community to openly announce he is halting funding for projects in Israel until such time the issue of the egalitarian prayer area at the Kosel is resolved. This, along with concerns that the current administration will give exclusive authority for giyur to the chareidim, to the exclusion of Reform and Conservative conversions to Judaism.

In a most recent investment, last week, Fisher purchased $1 million in Israel bonds, and according to a Ynet report, he has asked for his money back until such time the egalitarian prayer area matter is resolved. He is also a member of Friends of Tel Aviv University and donates sizable sums to the university in memory of his mother.

Ynet adds Fisher is financially involved in other projects including the development of Ohr Akiva and Yerucham. It is added that coinciding with the bar mitzvah of Fisher’s son Kobi, he dedicated funds to create a soccer team for Ethiopian children in Pardes Chana.

As a member of the Central Council of AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee), Fisher was also involved in investing time and money to lobby Congress against the deal with Iran. He has now announced he is suspending activities in AIPAC.

The list of other major contributors counted among the rank and file of the Reform Movement is sizable, and this is why PM Netanyahu worked to freeze the Giyur Bill for six months, fearing a major fallout has the bill backed by the chareidi parties been permitted to pass as this time. The Prime Minister is clearly waking a tight rope between meeting demands of Reform and Conservative leaders as well as keeping the chareidi parties from dismantling the coalition government.

Fisher is quoted telling Ynet, “This is a serious act of contempt for the rabbis and leaders of our communities. They (chareidim and PM Netanyahu) say ‘you don’t matter. They say to our women ‘your Judaism isn’t Judaism.’ It is intolerable and we have an obligation to put an end to it.”

“As you know, I actively support Israel,” Fisher began. “But I wish to inform you that my support is being suspended until the Israeli government changes its decision on the Kotel and conversions.”

Fisher seems to have had enough, announcing, “Israel must now understand its public includes all the people of Israel”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)