United Torah Judaism MK Yisrael Eichler said Tuesday that Reform Jews "fake Judaism" and likened them to Christians.
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Eichler made the remarks during an interview with Haredi website Kikar Hashabbat, during which he was asked if he plans to be cordial to Labor MK Gilad Kariv – a Reform rabbi.
"Heaven forbid, there is none of that when it comes to the wicked, so says God," Eichler replied. "Seculars are not wicked, because they are like 'Tinok shenishba' and they must be loved and kept close," he said, referring to the Talmudic notion that seculars are Jews who sin inadvertently as a result of having been raised without an appreciation for Judaism.
"Reformists falsify Judaism – like Christians. I think Christians are more honest because Reformists lie – they don't observe the mitzvoth, they don't observe Shabbat, they marry off Jewish girls to non-Jews. This is assimilation. It's a great danger."
Retorting, Kariv tweeted, "Who do you think is guilty of bigger blasphemy – MK Eichler, who spreads hatred or the rabbis he represents, for insisted on holding mass events during the pandemic, which cost many their lives?"
