After suffering the ravages of the communist regime, including imprisonment for his religious tenets and for his beliefs in freedom of ideas, it comes as somewhat of a shock to hear Israeli Interior Minister Natan Sharansky repeat his views on conversion, over and over, on radio, television and in the newspaper. Of course, that one conversion is Orthodox. Israel is a nation that thrives on diversity. A recent Supreme Court decision stated that religious diversity is essential to a democratic Jewish state.
Religious pluralism is indeed fundamental to the concept of Israel as a Jewish democratic state.
One can only imagine what might occur if Sharansky's view held sway in other areas of life here. Yes, imagine the haredim no longer able to grant kashrut supervision to the many products that today carry their stamp. And while we are at it, let us put an end to the rabbinate's varying levels of supervision. If we're doing this already, let's go all the way. Perhaps all Israeli citizens could wear the same style of clothing.