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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  2. I will end my debate on the following point as I think it is relevant for all.

    “Love your fellow as yourself” —Leviticus.
    “This is a major principle of the Torah” —Rabbi Akiva.
    “A soul enters this world for seventy or eighty years just to do a favor for another” —the Baal Shem Tov.

    Perhaps nothing has been as detrimental to the Jewish people as the modern idea that Judaism is just a religion. We are much more than a religion; we are a single soul radiating into many bodies, bonding them as one.

    A healthy body is one where every part works in harmony. A healthy Jewish people is one big, caring family where each individual loves the other like his or her own self. Where one Jew faces rough times and the others hold his hands. Where one meets good fortune and all of us celebrate. Where no one is labeled or alienated for his or her beliefs, behaviors or background. Where each runs to do an act of kindness for the other, and shuts his eyes and ears to the other’s shame.

    Follow Hillel’s golden rule: “If you wouldn’t like it done to you, don’t do it to the other guy.”Love for those closest to home nurtures love for the extended family of humanity, and from there, love for all G?d’s creatures. But if love doesn’t start at home, from where will it come?

    Practically speaking . . .

    Start each morning by saying, “I accept upon myself the mitzvah to love my fellow Jew like myself.”
    Follow Hillel’s golden rule: “If you wouldn’t like it done to you, don’t do it to the other guy.”
    Speak only good about fellow Jews.     Don’t even listen to a bad word, unless some real benefit will come through your conversation.
    Care for your fellow Jew’s property and possessions as you care for your own.
    Always be on the lookout for opportunities to do another Jew a favor.
    Bring Jewish people together. Tear down the false barriers of age, affiliation and ethnicity.
    Invite other Jews to share in the most precious thing we have, our Torah and mitzvahs.

    http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/696977/jewish/Love-Your-Fellow.htm

  3. IDF rabbi: Soldiers who converted during army service are real Jews
    Rabbi Haim Druckman hits back at accusations that the army’s system is improperly supervised, following debate on petition over validity of the conversions.
    By Yair Ettinger and Haaretz Service | Sep. 6, 2010 |

    Haim Druckman, Lior Mizrahi, 29.08.04
    Rabbi Haim Druckman at the Office of the Prime Minister, Jerusalem August 29, 2004 Photo by Lior Mizrahi / BauBau

    The rabbi overseeing conversions within the Israel Defense Forces declared Monday that soldiers who undergo the process during their service were “real Jews”, defending the army’s program in the face of state criticism.

    Rabbi Haim Druckman, who was accused in the past of forging conversions, told Army Radio on Monday that the IDF’s conversion system was properly operating and in accordance with Jewish law (Halakha).

    Druckman was responding claims by the State Prosecutor’s Office that IDF conversions are not properly supervised and should be re-examined

    “The conversions are implemented precisely according to all the rules of Halakha, and the rabbinic judges in the IDF are fully authorized to carry out conversions,” said Druckman. “All of the soldiers who converted to Judaism in the IDF are real Jews,” said Druckman

    Druckman’s comments follow a dramatic court debate on the issue of army conversions. The High Court of Justice debated a petition submitted last March against the Chief Rabbinate and four municipal rabbis, for their refusal to recognize conversions authorized by state officials.

    Yochi Gnessin, who represents the State Prosecutor, questioned during the debate whether thousands of conversions carried out by army officials were actually valid.

    “All the conversions that take place in the IDF are legally questionable,” said Gnessin.

    Rabbi Druckman, who was the head of the state-sponsored Conversion Authority, was at the center of controversy in 2008, when the Rabbinical Court nullified thousands of conversions he had performed by Druckman. The rabbinical court’s accusations led to Druckman’s removal from office.

    Gnessin shocked the court presided over by Supreme Court President Dorit Beinisch when he informed the court that the conversion of thousands who became Jews under
    an IDF-sponsored program may be invalid.

    The court heard deliberations in a petition against city rabbis who refuse to register the marriages of converts.

    A number of the cases mentioned in the petition involve new immigrants who converted as part of the army program, and Gnessin sought to defend a number of city rabbis who refuse to register their marriages. “There is legal doubt about the conversions being carried out in the IDF,” she said.

    She also said that for years the Chief Rabbinate has questioned the thousands of conversions carried out under the auspices of the IDF.

    “A framework was set up without anyone at the Chief Rabbinate supervising it,” Gnessin said.

    “What the lady says is that all the conversions in the IDF are not kosher,” Beinisch said.

    “It is repulsive to think that a soldier who converted will be told such a thing,” Justice Uzi Vogelman added.

    An estimated 5,000 conversions have been carried out to date in the army.

    Unlike the civilian conversion program that is supervised by the Prime Minister’s Office, the IDF program has been spared the political bickering surrounding the crisis affecting conversions in Israel.

    The Chief Rabbinate has been complaining for years about the quality of conversion in the army program, which lasts three months, as opposed to the year-long civilian conversion process. Senior Rabbinate sources argued that the officials carrying out the conversions in the army are “too friendly” and pass 90 percent of those being tested, and do not require the converts to adopt a religious life style.

  4. 5,000th IDF Soldier to Convert to Judaism
    The IDF remains a major impetus to conversion to Judaism, with the 5,000th conversion to take place soon.
    AAFont Size
    By Maayana Miskin
    First Publish: 1/19/2011, 6:46 PM / Last Update: 1/19/2011, 9:09 PM

    Hagai Huberman

    The IDF’s 5,000th conversion is expected to take place soon.

    Since opening a program for conversion into Judaism, the IDF has become a center of Jewish learning, with thousands of soldiers who are not Jewish according to Jewish law taking part in courses on Judaism and roughly 800 per year choosing to undergo conversion.

    In total, 17,000 non-Jewish soldiers have learned about Judaism in the army’s Nativ program, and almost 5,000 of them have converted to Judaism. Most Nativ participants have a Jewish parent or grandparent, but are not Jewish according to halacha (Jewish law), which states that Jewish status is passed through the mother.

    Two-thirds of the soldiers who convert through Nativ are women, meaning that their children will be considered halachically Jewish.

    The data on immigrant soldiers and conversions was revealed Wednesday in a meeting of the Immigration and Absorption Committee. MKs discussed the role immigrant soldiers play in the army, and ways in which the IDF can ease the immigrant absorption experience.

    One out of five IDF soldiers was not born in Israel, according to IDF data. In 2010, 40,000 soldiers were immigrants. Sixty-five percent of immigrant soldiers were born in the former Soviet Union, and 12.5% were born in Ethiopia.

    Lieutenant-Colonel Carmit Naftali discussed the Amir program for soldiers from Ethiopia, which has roughly 700 participants each year. For the first seven weeks of their service, soldiers in the Amir program are trained separately and prepared for service in elite positions. During the last three months of service, the program helps soldiers prepare for higher education or professional training.

    Of the immigrant soldiers, 2,100 were “lone soldiers,” who do not have parents living in Israel. Advisor Tzvi Oud said he believes there are actually 3,000 lone soldiers, more than are listed as such in IDF databases.

    The IDF could benefit more from the lone soldiers by making sure that immigrants are put in positions that reflect their talents, Oud said. Currently, he said, soldiers who arrive in Israel after undergoing academic training elsewhere may be assigned to a position in which their previous training is not put to use.

    Sam Kadosh, who works with French-speaking Israeli students, suggested that the army work more closely with the leaders of immigrant organizations. By doing so, he said, the IDF could reach out to young men who are considering aliyah (immigration) but are unsure about whether or not to serve in the military.

    The IDF has what is respected as a very educational and successful conversion program. Done in an acceptable orthodox fashion without being nasty or hateful in approach. People converting learn Judaism and are living a Jewish life in Israel and the IDF. Even if they do not live a Haredi type lifesytle.

  5. @ yamit82:
    I am not trying to get you to change your mind because I am not a miracle worker.

    In this case you will not even listen that a lot of Israelis have a different opinion than you. Let alone consider their point of view.

    My way or the highway is not a solid foundation for building country of diverse people.

  6. I am not endorsing the following point of view so please do not direct any comments to me. I am posting it because this is how many Israelis feel.

    Stop obstructing the road to Judaism

    While the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee was busy approving the new conversion bill in its second and third readings, former Big Brother contestant Alin Levy was being “dismissed” from the conversion process.

    The coincidence of these two events achieved something more profound than even Shas’ scandalous election campaign could — it showed the draconian nature of the conversion process, in all its ugliness. Levy claims she was rejected because of her acting studies. She was told her behavior was immodest. She was accused of lying about her boyfriend.

    But none of that matters. The fact is, Levy won’t be able to join the exclusive club known as “being a Jew in Israel,” at least until she refines her etiquette, according to standards dictated by the Chief Rabbinate.

    It’s important to understand that applicants for conversion must dedicate themselves to keeping Shabbat, follow the laws of kashrut, wear a kippah (for men) or modest clothing, and much more. Individuals must face a rabbinical evaluation, answering truly complex questions about faith and mitzvot (the commandments). It’s as if Conservative, Reform, secular or other types of Jews do not exist. It’s as if Judaism was entirely Orthodox, and every Jew must submit to its laws.

    As the daughter of a Jewish father and a non-Jewish mother, during the conversion process I used to think about how in no other place on the planet would anybody question my Jewishness. But in Israel, neither my roots nor my educational background mattered. The thought was mind-boggling. Here, to become Jewish, one must be strictly religious. Being haredi is advisable, too.

    So, left with no choice, one lies. Most converts in Israel are not completing the process to adopt a religious way of life. Most probably do it to maintain family tradition, to realize a sense of belonging, in the way that they know. In all likelihood, many individuals opt for this approach hoping to reap the benefits that come with the title, such as the ability to marry in Israel — and since those circumstances are dictated from above, there’s nothing wrong in that, either.

    I didn’t enjoy lying for months on end, and I’m sure Levy doesn’t either, but in the absence of any other possible way to complete the process — that’s what happens. The system doesn’t just need to be adjusted, it must undergo fundamental change. Because of that, despite Hatnuah MK Elazar Stern’s bill, which provides a relatively easier process allowing local rabbis to perform conversions, it’s not enough. The fate of conversions cannot rest in Orthodoxy’s hands alone; Judaism is not their exclusive property. If Reform and Conservative conversions are accepted, then people can choose and stop lying. Whoever decides to undertake the process can do so wholeheartedly, according to the approach he or she finds most suitable.

    The current method not only reeks of unfairness, but cruelty. It’s an invasion of every part of one’s life, damages the soul, perhaps the very foundations of one’s faith. It triggers anger and antagonism, isolating not only the Chief Rabbinate, but all of Judaism. Moreover, it does Israelis a great injustice, myself as an example — my family was persecuted in the Diaspora and now we are being persecuted in Israel.

    Outside Israel, we were too Jewish; now, inside the country, we’re not Jewish enough.

    http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_opinion.php?id=7821

  7. @ Shy Guy:
    You always tend to go to the extreme. There are some parts of Orthodox that many people would call a farce. If you don’t want Reform or Conservative around the Orthodox are going to have to deal with that. What is it about Conservative that is not Judaism?

  8. dove Said:

    That actually depends on the individual

    Yidvocate is talking about the – for lack of a better word – the theology, not the individuals. There are good and bad apples in all peoples. And, yes, some bad apples are worse than others just because of the assumed expectations.

    Reform and Conservative is not Judaism. It is as much a fabrication loosely based on Judaism as christianity is. In certain ways, it is a greater fabrication. For example, in parts of the Reform movement, believing in G-d is optional.

    In our day to day lives, we call such movements a farce.

  9. @ honeybee:
    o

    You’re experience mirrors mine

    and probably way too many of us. After I got over the first Rabbi I thought….I like this idea. Just forget about religion and live my life. That worked for awhile then Hashem would cause me to walk through the doors again! 🙁

    Watching the Reformers was pathetic….they gave me such a hard time, but Judaism was working for me so I stuck with it. Frivilous converts would pass by me. One (and I could name many) bought her conversion by buying drinks and dinners. She decided to speed things up and upped the ante. I wanted to crawl under the pew the day she was received as a full fledged member. A woman – in forties, rather large, wearing a very short skin tight dress, hair almost bleached white instead of blonde up on the bimah….giggle giggle giggle. I’ll just light the candles rabbi you can say the prayer giggle giggle giggle. I never saw her back for another service except for one funeral.

    The kiddush that followed included a large Congratuations cake and a Mazel Tov as all the new converts got – except for me. No cake, no mazel tov. I knew the leadership was turning against me but had pressure to finish – so I sent out my own invitations so I would have some supporters there….

  11. @ Yidvocate:

    There is very little “Jewish” about Reform

    That actually depends on the individual – sometimes Reform or Conservative are the only denominations at person can start at – a good stepping stone. Orthodox should take each person who is interested in Judaism more seriously. Frauds can easily be discovered and weeded out.

    The first time I spoke to an Orthodox Rabbi he told me to forget about religion and just live my life and stay out of churches and synagogues. I was devasted. Hashem became my Rabbi.

    The second time I spoke to an Orthodox Rabbi he charged me and interupted our appointment with wanting to speak to a member of his congregation. I left early.

    The third time – I left a message that I was converting whether I had their blessing or not and I had no choice but go to Reform – a nightmare in many ways but I had had it. Someone was going to get er done.

    Many Reformers are very observant and kosher. The majority are not. The Reform doctrine if you will is too far left and too female gender specific (oposite of orthodox). Of coarse, all rabbis are not the same and a congregation will become the reflection of their leadership.

    The Old style orthodox definitely probably not tolerate me. The new Rabbi at the local orthodox is interesting so far and I think now it could work.

    I am a somewhat modest person – too shy for cleavage and don’t like to look like a skank with my skirt halfway up my butt – but I am no plain jane either.

  12. @ yamit82:

    Where do you find all these references?? There you are, on the middle of the night, searching through piles of files, books ,papers. Give me a very idea of how you must live. All to prove you are correct in you opinions?

  13. Bear Klein Said:

    Many people in Israel do not agree with you Yamit. Obviously you feel strongly on your viewpoint about the importance of the Jewish religion practiced as you believe is correct.

    Throughout our history there have been weaker elements who have shirked the sacrifices which Judaism entailed. They have been swallowed, long since, in the great majority; only the more stalwart have carried on the traditions of their ancestors, and can now look back with pride upon their superb heritage. Are we to be numbered with he weak majority, or with the stalwart minority? It is for ourselves to decide.”

    – Cecil Roth, A History of the Jews
    (Oxford University: Shocken Books, 1961) pg. 423

    “The preservation of the Jew was certainly not casual. He has endured through the power of a certain ideal, based on the recognition of a Higher Power in human affairs. Time after time in his history, moreover, he has been saved from disaster in a manner, which cannot be described excepting as ‘providential.’ The author has deliberately attempted to write this book in a secular spirit; he does not think that his readers can fail to see in it, on every page, a higher immanence”

    – Cecil Roth, Oxford University
    (History of the Jews, New York, 1963, p. 424)

  14. @ Bear Klein:

    Political state religion provide by only Haredi Rabbis with Political connections is not my idea of a Jewish Nation State friendly to its citizens.

    Conversion is a serious business. “Friendly” should not be operative work.

  15. @ Bear Klein:

    Lapid, Labor, Meretz and Hadash form a government. They decide by law that the reform rabbis are now in charge of the Rabinoot.

    That’s fine but you could no longer call it a “Jewish State”. There is very little “Jewish” about Reform. About as much as Christianity.

  16. Bear Klein Said:

    @ yamit82:
    Israeli Jews becoming more religious, poll finds
    By YONI DAYAN, JEREMY SHARON
    LAST UPDATED: 01/26/2012 12:44
    85% of Israeli Jews say Jewish holidays important; over 50% support instituting civil marriage.
    In addition, 73% of local Jews feel that Israeli and Diaspora Jews share a common destiny, while 61% feel that the Conservative and Reform movements should have equal status with the Orthodox.
    This comes from the: http://www.jpost.com/National-News/Israeli-Jews-becoming-more-religious-poll-finds
    Many people in Israel do not agree with you Yamit. Obviously you feel strongly on your viewpoint about the importance of the Jewish religion practiced as you believe is correct.

    Poll is not accurate. Want to see the #s polled and the question along with the demographics. That said most Israelis have no concept of what a reform or conservative Jew is. Every Israeli can opt if they wanted to a civil marriage. Since over 50% of all Israelis are either observant or what we call traditional Jews the vast majority to opposition of the existing system are those with Halachic problems, a very small minority. In a country experiencing a massive eligious revival and a return to Jewish orthodoxy hard to accept those poll numbers at face value.

    We are either a Jewish state that is Jewish or a place where Jews hang out…. If you want America stay in America but keep your American values out of my country as they are destructive. We have fought bloody civil wars in our history over just these issues. If those like me had lost we wouldn’t be here today.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S58ivjU9PeE

  19. honeybee Said:

    That sounds so un-kind said with a Yankee accent, say it with a Texas drawl and it sounds sweet as Tupelo honey. If TX should crate me up [ and all my gear] you would probably just write ” Not properly kosher enough, return to sender”.

    Not me, there are always exceptions to every rule and when all else fails there is always bribes.

  21. yamit82 Said:

    oor to Israel swings in 2 directions. Anyone can leave and I advise those who cannot live with our system to do so. In the democracies of the West it’s not uncommon to legislate undemocratic laws to protect democratic principles from the dangers of nondemocratic internal and external threats.

    That sounds so un-kind said with a Yankee accent, say it with a Texas drawl and it sounds sweet as Tupelo honey. If TX should crate me up [ and all my gear] you would probably just write ” Not properly kosher enough, return to sender”.

  22. yamit82 Said:

    a Texas Drawl, it

    I find that adding a TEXAS DRAWL give everything a special flavor. Now take Gov. Perry’s speeches with out the drawl, they might be boring. Rather like listening to some one from say ***up-state-NY??????????

  24. @ yamit82:

    Israeli Jews becoming more religious, poll finds
    By YONI DAYAN, JEREMY SHARON
    LAST UPDATED: 01/26/2012 12:44

    85% of Israeli Jews say Jewish holidays important; over 50% support instituting civil marriage.

    In addition, 73% of local Jews feel that Israeli and Diaspora Jews share a common destiny, while 61% feel that the Conservative and Reform movements should have equal status with the Orthodox.

    This comes from the: http://www.jpost.com/National-News/Israeli-Jews-becoming-more-religious-poll-finds

    Many people in Israel do not agree with you Yamit. Obviously you feel strongly on your viewpoint about the importance of the Jewish religion practiced as you believe is correct.

  25. @ Shy Guy:

    Wakey! Wakey!

    For those who are unfamiliar with the prayer,even with a Texas Drawl, it would translate into English: “Modeh/Modah Ani (I give thanks) lefanecha (to you) melech chai v’kaiam (living and everlasting ruler) shehechezarta (who returns) bi nishmati (my soul) bechemlah (with compassion) rabah (great) emunatecha (is your faithfulness).

    My understanding is that the prayer is based on the idea that each day when we awake, G-d returns our souls to our bodies. Every day, in effect, a new gift from G-d.

  26. Bear Klein Said:

    Many Jews in Israel are clamoring for religious freedom.

    The door to Israel swings in 2 directions. Anyone can leave and I advise those who cannot live with our system to do so. In the democracies of the West it’s not uncommon to legislate undemocratic laws to protect democratic principles from the dangers of nondemocratic internal and external threats.

    You advocate Israel becoming America in her pluralism. Hasn’t worked out to well for American Jews in America and you want us to adopt same suicidal norms here?

    Most Israeli Jews even those who are not pro orthodoxy or are religiously observant have no problem with the current system and the administration of traditional religious norms. Those who do have mostly brought their Jewish and ideological problems to Israel from without.

    The more Jews dilute their Judaism in other countries, the more they have moved away from traditional Jewish values and norms the more difficult it will become for potential converts.

    Only 100-150 years ago conversion to Judaism was a fairly simple exercise with few roadblocks but since the assimilation of the Jews of Russia and North America/Europe the Bet Din has stiffened their process.

    Since it is not necessary for any gentile to be Jewish it makes little sense to take good righteous gentiles and turn them into bad or apostate Jews. That’s the principle. With upwards of 90% intermarriage of American Jews today, they have created for themselves and us a serious problem but anyone who seriously wants to be a Jew in Israel should not oppose a sometimes long and difficult process.

    If they want a quickie prick and dip, they are better off staying where they are. We got enough problems already here without adding more. Our current birth rate is sufficient to guarantee our future without imposing artificial shocks we can’t handle.

  27. @ the phoenix:

    I am beginning to form that painting in my “minds-eye”. To paint with oils? I like oils so forgiving. The cat will near a fireplace with a bowl of cognac!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Must go now of to brunch with friend. Someone killed a rattler yum.

  29. @ the phoenix:

    I painted “Ruth Gleaning”, I paint loose. My favorite artist are from the ” Taos School” especially Ufer, and Berninghaus, Because Loki ll is being uncooperative I cannot sent my one of my favorite poems, so you must google ” Wild Plum at Night” by Orik Jones, ” Spanish Johnny” by Willa Cather and “Buffalo Bill” by e.e. Cummings.

    I painted TX as a charging bull and Yamit82 as attacking Zev, how would I paint you?????????????? A contented cat???????

    TX is taking me to Denver to see Jackson Pollock’s Conversance”.

  30. @ honeybee:

    I have not read her.

    “her”, would apply, obviously to Rachel. So look up “rachel bluwstein” the poetess…
    And ‘tchernihovsky” actual is not her but him.
    Shaul tchernihovsky. He wrote the poem about king Saul that I have posted for you.
    This might please Mister Arnold Harris (hopefully, proper etiquette was noted.. 🙂 )…. They both from Russia.

  35. the phoenix Said:

    A lady after my own heart

    Before this “thing” goes an further, who’s your favorite artist and poet?????????? Your may have several choices .

  37. @ Shy Guy:
    @ Yidvocate:
    @ Bear Klein:
    May I recommend that we all read again bear’s post #8.
    The hypothesis that :

    one day the dam will break something what you might consider worse than Micky Mouse could happen. That is what some do not realize.

    Does not seem unreasonable. I am convinced that BECAUSE of all this meddling and the HOLIER THAN THOU attitude by this clique on one hand, and countless exposures of SHEER HYPOCRISY on the part of these religious ones…

    Many Jews in Israel are clamoring for religious freedom.

    And further, those that WOULD love to get closer to the religion are very much prone to DAVKAH!
    And to those that fail to understand this, I bring back, what shy called a ‘broadway scenario’ in reference to an earlier comment that I have posted

  38. Bear Klein Said:

    I am curious what ulterior motives did Alin Levy have? What lies did she tell?

    Go ask the Rabbanut who dealt with her. This was their response to the false accusations in Ha’aretz.

    My source was in an article elsewhere last week. I no longer remember where. The biggest liar here is Ha’aretz. No surprise there.

  39. @ Shy Guy:
    I am curious what ulterior motives did Alin Levy have? What lies did she tell? Also what are your sources as the only I am finding in searching are comments that she was turned down for being an actress.

  41. Bear Klein Said:

    To put it mildly that would not be agreeable to you.

    It would not be agreeable to Hashem and Hashem’s Torah – any more than Jews for jesus is.

    It’s not what you or me want.

    And then we pay the price. And then we wonder why.

    Regarding the article about Ruth, the article forgot to theorize the opposite scenario: had Alin Levy come to Boaz’s Bet Din and lied plus be discovered to ulterior motives to convert, she would have been turned away just the same.

  43. @ Yidvocate:
    Let me provide you a hypothetical you may agree with.

    Lapid, Labor, Meretz and Hadash form a government. They decide by law that the reform rabbis are now in charge of the Rabinoot.

    They exclusively will make Jewish religious decisions in Israel. Marriage, Divorce, who is a rabbi, rabbinical courts will be controlled from now by the reform rabbis. The Haredi Rabbis are no longer allowed to preform legal wedding ceremonies or preform conversions or sit in rabbinical courts.

    To put it mildly that would not be agreeable to you. This is the situation in Israel currently in reverse.

    This is also not tolerable to many.

    So put your trust in a little freedom for local rabbis (who are currently all Orthodox) or maybe one day the dam will break something what you might consider worse than Micky Mouse could happen. That is what some do not realize.

    Many Jews in Israel are clamoring for religious freedom.

  45. @ Yidvocate:
    Actually a faith that the best rabbis will be found to do their best for the Jews of Israel. Local Rabbis have generally been the rule in Jewish history. Nowhere else in the Jewish world is the practice of Judaism controlled by a few people. Israeli Jews should be allowed freedom of religion.

    Political state religion provide by only Haredi Rabbis with Political connections is not my idea of a Jewish Nation State friendly to its citizens.

  47. @ Yidvocate:
    @ the phoenix:
    @ Bear Klein:

    All converts will face negative obstacles. I can’t really comment on the woman in this article as I do not know enough about her and her desire to be Jewish. This much I do know. G-d knows the desire of her heart – and if she decides to continue on the Jewish path elsewhere G-d will open the door for her elsewhere.

  49. @ honeybee:

    I was quoting Dove’s text

    honeybee – the point I was making to Mr Shy (when you Read the WHOLE text) is that women are on a higher spiritual plain than men – and some women even teach Torah to their husbands. Women who buy properties and own businessess are admired by intelligent Jewish men (also in the article). And the female matriarchs are considered on a higher level than the men – therefore closer to resembling G-d’s attributes. That is basically the gist of it.

    There is no shame in a women putting her familys needs first. The woman is the heart of the home and has great influence (good or evil).

    Men struggle more than women with being easily distracted when in prayer. Mature women recognize this and avoid tempting them.