The Masorti Beth Din here in Israel and those elsewhere in Europe and USA expect gerim to commit to halacha, but do not interpret halacha in an inflexible and sometimes even cruel way as do the Orthodox authorities.
The issue at stake is indeed not halachic but political. Orthodox Judaism is not "Authentic" or "Torah-true" Judaism, it is a negative reaction to the Galut experience, in particular to the advent of the haskalah, Reform Judaism, Zionism and democratic ideas and values.
There are and have been great teachers and saints in the Orthodox community, as well as decent ordinary pious Jews, but there are also a lot of racists, bigots and self-righteous people who could be defined as "navalim BeReshut HaTorah".
Our converts are far from "fake", I assure you. In a country in which corruption and dishonesty is rampant (including in the Ortho. establishment)they are amongst the finest Jews to be found.
Rabbi Yehiel Grenimann |
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