The Sephardic chief rabbi of Israel traveled to the United States last week to hammer out the specifics of a new agreement on Orthodox conversion practices.
Rabbi Shlomo Amar met in New York with officials of the Rabbinical Council of America, the largest union of Orthodox rabbis in North America. The meeting was the latest in a series of negotiations held in recent years between American leaders and the chief rabbi, who is seeking the introduction of stricter standards and greater control over American conversions.
The recent talks between Jerusalem and New York come amid a parallel power struggle within Israel, pitting the Zionist, moderate wing of Orthodoxy against the more hard-line ultra-Orthodox community. The Chief Rabbinate, a government institution intended to reflect the Religious Zionist worldview, has of late fallen increasingly under the influence — some say control — of ultra-Orthodox rabbis. Disputes over a variety of issues, including reducing the number of conversions and permitting agriculture during the sabbatical year, are sparking growing resistance from more moderate Orthodox leaders. Earlier this month, 45 rabbis associated with Religious Zionism, which, unlike ultra-Orthodoxy, accepts the Jewish state as a religious entity as well as a political one, volunteered to serve on newly proposed conversion courts that would be independent of the Chief Rabbinate. Their effort is meant to help expedite conversions among Israel’s 300,000 emigrants from the former Soviet Union, many of whom have Jewish familial roots but are not Jewish according to Halacha, or religious law.
American leaders have remained tight-lipped on the details of last week’s meeting, with the RCA releasing a short statement afterward that said the discussions had been “wide-ranging” but contained no information about substantive development.
Rabbi Basil Herring, executive vice president of the RCA, said that his group, along with its affiliated rabbinic court, the Beth Din of America, is moving forward with a plan to create a regional network of conversion courts throughout North America. The plan was developed in consultation with the chief rabbi over the past 18 months. Currently, many local rabbis have been handling conversions independently in their own communities, and some conversions have not been recognized by religious councils in Israel.
Over the coming year, according to Herring, the RCA plans to open 20 conversion courts throughout North America. They will operate according to centralized procedures intended to ensure that all conversions are recognized in Israel, but this will also make conversions harder in many cases. According to guidelines for the courts, released last April, judges will refuse to convert the adopted children of Jewish couples if the parents do not practice a fully Orthodox lifestyle.
“In our view, this is a major step forward,” Herring said in an interview with the Forward. “It provides benefits and a win-win situation” for both rabbis and converts. How rabbis will be appointed to the conversion courts, and what role the chief rabbi will play in approving them, is still the subject of negotiations, according to Herring.
Jewish leaders outside the Orthodox community said they continue to be frustrated by the supremacy of the Chief Rabbinate in Israel and its complete control over such matters as conversion, burial and marriage within the Jewish state. Non-Orthodox Jews, including secular Israelis, often travel outside the country to be married in ceremonies that will be recognized only by the Jewish state’s civil authorities.
“In America, we have about 21% of affiliated Jews who are Orthodox, versus 39% Reform and 31% Conservative, so you can see this is a minority that is claiming authority for the majority,” said Kathy Kahn, director of the Department of Outreach and Membership at the Union for Reform Judaism. “The [conversion] ritual performed [by a Reform or Conservative rabbi] could be completely authentic, but if the rabbi is not recognized, it does not matter.”
During his four-day visit, Amar checked in with Orthodox and Sephardic leaders and groups in New York and Chicago, including students at Yeshiva University and several Orthodox high schools. “One of the things he really wanted to do is really learn about the American Jewish community and the Orthodox Jewish community,” said Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb, who is executive vice president of the Orthodox Union, the main congregational arm of Modern Orthodoxy in America. Weinreb said he used his own half-hour meeting with the chief rabbi to educate him about the full breadth of the O.U.’s programs.
“I hope I corrected his perspective of the O.U. as just being a kosher supervisory organization,” Weinreb said.
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What read in this article is why many Jews in western Europe left Orthodox Judism. My family among them. In some ways they remind me or many other forms of orthodoxy. Is sad, in their need for power these so called " leaders" are pulling the same things they have been doing for more years than want to think about. I am the daughter of 2 Jewish parents, raised to learn in the " language of the land". Because I was not raised in any of the "gilded Ghettos", some how was not considered Jewish enough! The whole idea of a Chief Rabbi was invented by secular forces hundreds of years ago as an answer to the Papacy! Hope he packs his bags and returns home safely to his appromxately 1110 BCE period of thinking. I also hope Israel as a country wakes up and remembers that not all those choosing to express their faith are those who might not even know they have the heritage in their family trees. Look any where from the American State of New Mexico, to Poland, Russia, South America and various other points around the globe where every day as people research their family trees this is found. Depending on where they might live will depend on what reception they receive. Am happy to say the Reform welcome them. the others well that is another and very sad story.
Judaism is not a democracy. The tribal laws can only be changed by a legal process that does not include laymen or those not authorized by the orthodox clergy. The orthodox Rabbinate in Israel is the "Official Church" of Israel, just as the Anglican is the official Christian church of England. You could say that the Rabbinate in Israel is the "Catholic" form of Judaism - authorized as such by the "status quo" agreement made between Ben Gurion and the relgious parties - and which does not recognize the authority of the other "protestant" forms of Judaism. That is to say, it recognizes them as Jews, but does not recognize the right of the other clergies to convert, marry, or officiate at any other major domsstic function. While 75% of American Jewry may not be happy with this fact of life, it isn't going to change, anymore than the Anglican church ceasing to be the official church of England. As for "conversion," it means bringing others into the tribe. It is a very serious matter. There is no reason to become a Jew. It is not an exclusive path to salvation, nor does it bestow riches. It cannot be made superficial. The one who sincerely aspires to join the tribe MUST be prepared to cut all ties and roots to the past, and to stringently adhere to the Laws of Moses if for no other reason than our religion says so. One who was born into it had no choice.One who chooses to join, has to bake it very seriously and have a very deep and abiding desire to make this commitment. I don't think the venues provided by the clergy of the Reform and Conservative movements are qualified to be truly serious about it.
Judaism is not a democracy. The tribal laws can only be changed by a legal process that does not include laymen or those not authorized by the orthodox clergy. The orthodox Rabbinate in Israel is the "Official Church" of Israel, just as the Anglican is the official Christian church of England. You could say that the Rabbinate in Israel is the "Catholic" form of Judaism - authorized as such by the "status quo" agreement made between Ben Gurion and the relgious parties - and which does not recognize the authority of the other "protestant" forms of Judaism. That is to say, it recognizes them as Jews, but does not recognize the right of the other clergies to convert, marry, or officiate at any other major domsstic function. While 75% of American Jewry may not be happy with this fact of life, it isn't going to change, anymore than the Anglican church ceasing to be the official church of England. As for "conversion," it means bringing others into the tribe. It is a very serious matter. There is no reason to become a Jew. It is not an exclusive path to salvation, nor does it bestow riches. It cannot be made superficial. The one who sincerely aspires to join the tribe MUST be prepared to cut all ties and roots to the past, and to stringently adhere to the Laws of Moses if for no other reason than our religion says so. One who was born into it had no choice.One who chooses to join, has to bake it very seriously and have a very deep and abiding desire to make this commitment. I don't think the venues provided by the clergy of the Reform and Conservative movements are qualified to be truly serious about it.
That my rabbi, a female Reform rabbi, is recognized as a rabbi in Berlin but not in Jerusalem is a disgrace. As my mother used to say, "It's a shonda from the goyim", too. The tail is wagging the dog and driving a wedge between Jew and Jew, Diaspora and Israel. Aren't our enemies gleeful!
Several years ago(if I remember correctly),there was an attempt at a joint Bet Din in Denver between Orthodox,Reform and Conservative clergy;I think it worked for a short time before falling apart because of some Reform spokespeople publicly announcing that Reform would hold to patriliner descent to count individuals as Jews.Still,there must be some rabbi's in this group that can work together on this issue as I consider Reform,Conservative and Orthodox the only three "movements"-at least on paper to be within Judaism's parameters of God,Torah and Israel.The Israeli Rabbinate's major talent seems to be in regard to polarizing Jews to Judaism.Recently,"Humanistic Judaism" announced that they had established "rabbi's" in Israel-and in a free society,people will do what they're gonna do.
The Chief Rabbi wanted to learn about the American Jewish community. Great!!!!! So, what does he do?? He spends four days here in two very large cities--both in general and Jewish populations and meets with only Orthodox Jews. Who is advising this guy?? Rabbi Amar reminds me of a friend who came from England for two weeks and visited New York City, Boston, New Orleans, San Francisco and Chicago. While visiting me in Atlanta at the tailend of his trip, he remarked about the lousy quality of American cuisine. Knowing the cities where he had been, I was astounded at his characterization. I asked him where he had been eating. He replied at Burger King, McDonald's, KFC, etc. My friend had as good and complete an insight into American cuisine as Chief Rabbi Amar got about American Jewry. Maybe my friend and Rabbi Amar had the same travel agents??
All this fuss over a matter of the heart that is really between God and the convert? Read the book of Ruth. There wasn't a rabbi in sight when she made her change of heart that led her to become the great grandmother of King David.
Respectable Rabbi, I am trying last 3/4 years of period to join Judaism by leaving islam but still could not succeeded. Kindly help me to acheive the goal. Sir, I assure you that I am 100% in conversion to Judaism. Waiting for quick and hopeful reply.
Dear sir,
I want to join Jewish Community and learn Judaism. What should I do to acheive the goal? I have been suggested that I should meet with Rabbi near to me and attend Synagogue.
There is no Rabbi / Synagogue in Pakistan, so I am worried due to non completing said formalities advised by Jewish Intellectuals.
Lal Bux Solangi from: Pakistan.