New York rabbi threatens Israel with 'alienation for alienation'

New York rabbi Elliot Cosgrove has threatened to withdraw security support from Israel if the Jewish state "continues to alienate the American Jewish community."

Cosgrove heads one of the largest conservative Jewish communities in Manhattan. Every Saturday the richest Jews of New York come to his synagogue. Many of them occupy or have occupied high posts in the past and have millions of dollars in their accounts. Therefore, Cosgrove allows himself such statements, as he leads a very influential Jewish community.

Cosgrove said that American Jews consider the actions of the Israeli government under the influence of the ultra-Orthodox parties Shas and Torah Jewry to be a “blatant step backward.” We are talking about the abolition of the conversion reform (the process of converting to Judaism). The rabbi argues that the Jewish state is alienating American Jews. And this could deal a serious blow to the solidarity of American Jews with Israel, resulting in a cessation of funding and support in political circles.