Rabbi Richard Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism, says Israel must halt legislation targeting non-Orthodox Jews, warning that restoring bipartisan US support may become ‘enormous, perhaps impossible’Rabbi Rick Jacobs, currently visiting Israel, is deeply concerned by the erosion of support for Israel among politicians and public opinion in the United States.Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism in North America, has been working to rally support abroad for the world’s only Jewish state. At the same time, he says, he is being forced to confront legislative initiatives in the Knesset that could harm Reform Jews, including the Western Wall bill, which seeks to place all procedures at the site under the authority of the Chief Rabbinate.GalleryOn the left: Rabbi Rick Jacobs, archive. ‘We need policies that honor the commitment that Israel will be a home for every Jew’ (Photo: Courtesy of the Israel Reform Movement)Asked by ynet what Israel should do to repair its relations with Diaspora Jewry, Jacobs said the answer begins with stopping policies that alienate non-Orthodox Jews.“Israel must stop advancing policies and legislation that distance Reform Jews in Israel and around the world simply because they live their Judaism as we do,” he said. “There are efforts by the Foreign Ministry and consulates to build bridges, but we also need policies that honor the commitment that Israel will be a home for every Jew. We continue to support security assistance for Israel’s self-defense, even when members of Congress disagree. It will take a long time to rebuild trust.”Jacobs said the current government is endangering Israel’s bipartisan standing in Washington.“The current government is putting bipartisan support for Israel among politicians in the United States at risk,” he said. “Most Democrats still strongly support Israel, but tensions are growing, and there are also signs of cracks among Republicans. Bipartisan support is essential to Israel’s long-term security, and restoring it will be an enormous task, perhaps even impossible.”A survey by the Jewish Federations of North America showed that nearly 90% of American Jews strongly support Israel as a Jewish and democratic state. They may disagree with specific policies, Jacobs said, but remain committed to the country and its values.