Israeli Ambassador to U.S. Says He Will Apologize to Reform Jewish Leaders

U.S. Yechiel Leiter said Thursday evening he will personally meet leaders of the Reform movement to apologize for comments made by Women's Advancement and Social Equality Minister May Golan. Leiter described Golan's remarks as unacceptable. He said he would convey the apology on behalf of Israel and noted that he is an Orthodox Jew serving as Israel's representative in the United States.

Golan made the comments after reports that Rafi Kedoshim had been appointed as her adviser. She said Kedoshim would not achieve in 200 lifetimes what he might accomplish by marching with the Women of the Wall or officiating dog weddings in delusional synagogues.

Golan rejected Leiter's criticism. She said the ambassador had taken her remarks out of context and that her comments were directed only at Kariv personally, not at any Jewish community.

Kariv said Golan had defamed millions of Reform Jews in Israel and around the world. He described the remarks as antisemitic and accused the government of legitimizing hostility toward non-Orthodox Jewish streams. Anna Kislanski, CEO of the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism, condemned the comments.

She said they reflected ignorance, incitement, and contempt toward millions of Jews and harmed the connection between Israel and Diaspora Jewry. The incident occurs amid renewed debate in Israel over relations with non-Orthodox Jewish movements.