Belman: Allow less stringent conversion

By Ted Belman

Alin LevyWhen I posted on the controversy surround the conversion bill yesterday, it was not clear to me what Bayit Yehudi was upset about.

JPOST made it clear today.

    Deputy Religious Services Minister Eli Ben-Dahan of Bayit Yehudi is opposed to the clauses in the bill which would end the Chief Rabbinate’s centralized control over the conversion process, which is one of the central goals of Stern’s bill.

    Bayit Yehudi also opposes language used to in the bill to preserve the current status of Reform and Conservative conversions.


I would be happy to loosen the control of the Chief Rabbinate. It upset me to learn that that girl who was kicked out of conversion classes because she wanted to be an actress. This is untenable.

The Right of Return is granted to many people who aren’t halachicly Jewish. That works for me.

Haaretz reports that an aspiring actress, Alin Levy, cannot convert to Judaism because the profession of acting is “immodest”.

 

The vast majority of Israeli Jews find nothing wrong with being an actress. Levy should be allowed to convert to Judaism and to be like most Israeli Jews.

Similarly I believe that it is important to find an easy way for people who choose to come here under the law of return, to convert to Judaism. What is important is not whether the conversion standards are followed to the letter but that their children be recognized as Jews.

March 20, 2014 | 161 Comments »

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11 Comments / 161 Comments

  1. @ the phoenix:

    I respectfully tip my hat off to you, dove

    Thanks. Much appreciated. I knew it wouldn’t be easy. Nothing in my life has ever been easy – but it is norm. I actually have alot to be thankful for. I have been blessed. My household is still intact (very fragile sometimes but still in tact).

  2. @ dove:

    I too have found religion without “organized religion”. I think one of purposes of “organized religion” is control of women and our fertility.

  3. @ honeybee:

    Thanks HB. Just prior to me starting the ‘official conversion’ we were in the process of moving. I grew up in a 26 room house complete with nannies, cleaning and laundry ladies and a luxurious family cottage. I chose to walk away from that lifestyle (anti-Semetic parents)at the age of 18. I got hired by a Jew and took a small furnished apt. A house became available in my old neighbourhood that was affordable. There are 5 synagogues within walking distance. Coincidence? Not likely.

    I had a career change that landed in my lap and found myself owning a small business. The company I do contract work for does not want me calling on their clients on Fridays or Saturdays. Coincidence? Not likely.

    I believe that true Judaism does not even revolve around the synagogue. Without a temple we are our own temple. Our home is our temple. Friday nite candle lightings are usually done in the home. The synagogue is just an extension to congregate, study, worship, pray and socialize together after a sometimes very trying week.