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Last update - 10:11 27/12/2007
The barrier to conversion
By Haaretz Editorial
Tags: Conversion 

It is hard not to take an extremely cautious approach to the fact that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is planning to adopt the recommendations of the inter-ministerial committee that examined ways to increase the number of converts among the roughly 300,000 non-Jewish immigrants from the former Soviet Union. Similar declarations have already been made by previous governments, committees have come and gone, and reasonable and humane conversion still appears to be a mission impossible.

The barrier to conversion is no coincidence. Ultra-Orthodox rabbis are pressuring and threatening the government, and are intentionally creating problems for the rabbinical courts that operate on behalf of the state. From a Haredi point of view, the saying that "converts are as difficult for Israel as psoriasis," is not just colorful language. They are really not interested in allowing others to join the Chosen People.

The Haredi barrier is not the only one. Bitter infighting, saturated with political power plays, deal-making of the lowest form, and strong-arm tactics driven by personal animosity have brought division to the national religious camp.
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In matters of conversion, just like in matters of matrimony, liberals in that camp side with the view that as many immigrants as possible must be helped to attain that desirable entry ticket into Israeli society with relative ease. On the other hand, all roads to conversion are blocked by pedants and purists, who succumb to ultra-Orthodox rabbis on all issues. They transform conversion into an ongoing nightmare, which may repel the new immigrants from the entire process and alienate them from Israeli society and Judaism.

Conversions are being carried out by the most stringent guardians of the halakha, who are essentially a minority group among world Jewry. They pose halakhic requirements for the converts and their families that are very strict. At the gate to the national home established by Zionists now stand representatives of the anti-Zionist ultra-Orthodoxy.

Moreover, the rabbinical courts have been transformed of late, with the signed authorization of a secular-liberal justice minister, into increasingly more Haredi. The Neeman Committee proposals, which sought to forge a path of cooperation between the three streams of Judaism on matters of conversion, have been forgotten in some drawer.

But despite all that has been said here, the prime minister's intentions should be welcomed, and hopefully the barrier blocking a wave of conversions can be lifted. For those among the immigrants who are interested in conversion, this is good news. For all the rest - those who do not wish to convert and those who are unable to do so - the government must find an appropriate solution outside the parameters dictated by religion.

The State of Israel encouraged and brought to the country hundreds of thousands of immigrants on the basis of their connection to the Jewish people. It thus has a historic and Jewish responsibility to complete the process of fully accepting them into Israeli society.
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  1.   I am sick of this rabbinical tyranny 10:35  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 27/12/07
  2.   I envision this as a Woody Allen movie 10:45  |  Natallie Durson 27/12/07
  3.   The Problem.... 10:52  |  Convert.. 27/12/07
  4.   NDURSON Why not like Kite Runner.So the world can see Mullahs 11:09  |  PETER SM 27/12/07
  5.   #3 Convert: Welcome home! 11:10  |  Tzvi 27/12/07
  6.   CONVERT unfortunately you are not the only with serious complaint 11:18  |  PETER SM 27/12/07
  7.   #1 Agreed ! 11:36  |  Sara 27/12/07
  8.   who wants FAKE converts- the real issue 11:40  |  A jew 27/12/07
  9.   the hareidim welcome GENUINE converts 11:41  |  Alexa 27/12/07
  10.   Psoriasis? Is that the correct translation? 11:41  |  Yaakov Sullivan 27/12/07
  11.   CONVert, if only there were no Rabbis pushing FAKE conversion 11:42  |  Jewboy 27/12/07
  12.   Conversion to What? 11:49  |  Yaakov Sullivan 27/12/07
  13.   What motivated Yaakov to convert? 12:09  |  curious 27/12/07
  14.   The Barrier to Conversion 12:44  |  Alicia 27/12/07
  15.   Curious #13.................He probably didn`t 13:03  |  Ari ben Yisrael 27/12/07
  16.   Barrier to Conversion 13:22  |  Ralph Deja 27/12/07
  17.   Thank you for a truly wonderful Editorial Haaretz !!! 13:44  |  Anthony Fallon 27/12/07
  18.   #2 Natallie Durson- yes and I have an idea 13:44  |  Dorothy 27/12/07
  19.   Anthony Fallon, it goes even further 13:58  |  Yaakov Sullivan 27/12/07
  20.   HUMane Conversion is Just & Right 13:59  |  Rafi 27/12/07
  21.   Sovereign Israel Rabbinic Authority Is Part of the State 14:02  |  Joseph E . 27/12/07
  22.   Ralph Deja on barrier to conversion 14:05  |  Yaakov Sullivan 27/12/07
  23.   Reply # 21 Israel is not a halacha state 14:16  |  SJ 27/12/07
  24.   #12 curious and not being curious 14:20  |  Yaakov Sullivan 27/12/07
  25.   To be or not to be 14:33  |  that is the question 27/12/07
  26.   #2 Natalie, I have a job for you in my next movie 14:36  |  Woody Allen 27/12/07
  27.   An untimely topic 14:43  |  Tosefta 27/12/07
  28.   Conversion in history 14:51  |  Tosefta 27/12/07
  29.   #24 Yaakov the mind-reader 14:54  |  curious 27/12/07
  30.   Cipora Juliana Kohn No1 15:05  |  Chasaboy 27/12/07
  31.   no curious, your possess enough for all on this site 15:08  |  Yaakov Sullivan 27/12/07
  32.   This Use of Conversion for Political Expediency 15:14  |  Yaakov Sullivan 27/12/07
  33.   Reply to # 23 16:59  |  Joseph E . 27/12/07
  34.   Judaism is about personal growth 17:18  |  Edith 27/12/07
  35.   So, Hitler`s lesson to the Jewish state is racial purity? 1 17:31  |  A troubled Zionist 27/12/07
  36.   So, Hitler`s lesson to the Jewish state is racial purity? 2 17:32  |  A troubled Zionist 27/12/07
  37.   Who is the Abominable Slowman? 17:55  |  Edit Haar 27/12/07
  38.   I am sick of criticism of the Orthodox 18:01  |  Jer 27/12/07
  39.   # 35 , # 36 A troubled Zionist @ New York / NY 18:21  |  Joseph E . 27/12/07
  40.   # 38 Jer in Galut 18:38  |  Joseph E . 27/12/07
  41.   #23 SJ (second try 19:13  |  Avi Yerushalmi 27/12/07
  42.   Orthodox conversion experience 19:38  |  Yehudit 27/12/07
  43.   Leave the non-Jews alone already 20:15  |  Ora 27/12/07
  44.   to troubled zionist 20:29  |  troubled jew 27/12/07
  45.   #28 20:34  |  ora 27/12/07
  46.   The solution is obvious 20:52  |  Steve 27/12/07
  47.   troubled zionist: right on 21:09  |  tzioni 27/12/07
  48.   ALEXA <AJEW Etc.There is no excuse for discourtesy to converts-- 21:15  |  PETER SM 27/12/07
  49.   i`m so glad the jews aren`t letting anybody in 21:17  |  mhung 27/12/07
  50.   #39: The point is, Joseph E, that Israel is not the state of one 21:20  |  David Turner 27/12/07
  51.   What about non-Russians? 21:25  |  An American 27/12/07
  52.   Idiotic article 21:52  |  Moises 27/12/07
  53.   they were brought here under false pretenses 22:09  |  Joanna 27/12/07
  54.   Dorothy 22:47  |  American in NY 27/12/07
  55.   Half of Russian Immigrants Are NOT Jewish! 23:06  |  Mark Hamil 27/12/07
  56.   Absolutely confusing to me 23:07  |  LisaV 27/12/07
  57.   Conversion should be discouraged 23:27  |  Benny 27/12/07
  58.   I hope the Jewish scholars... 00:08  |  Edith 28/12/07
  59.   #54 Mark: very enlighetning mail, thanks 00:26  |  Alicia 28/12/07
  60.   #56 Benny: miscellaneous 00:54  |  Alicia 28/12/07
  61.   You Editor Landau 01:04  |  David 28/12/07
  62.   Now hear this 01:10  |  Con Sceince 28/12/07
  63.   SOME WANT TO CONVERT FOR MONEY 02:59  |  Judith 28/12/07
  64.   CONVERSION SHOULD BE STRICT BUT FAIR, CONDUCTED BY FAIR PEOPLE, 04:46  |  Jorge 28/12/07
  65.   #44, I see no contradiction to telling an agency with authority 04:54  |  Troubled Zionist 28/12/07
  66.   #51 to an American : You Are Right Its Just the Way it Is! 05:35  |  Mark Hamil 28/12/07
  67.   natalie Durson #2 - good scenario, except 06:20  |  dana 28/12/07
  68.   Conversion & Immigration Policy 09:39  |  Yitz 28/12/07
  69.   Jew: Between religion and race 09:58  |  Aspirin 28/12/07
  70.   How did Christinaty expand? 10:01  |  Balagan 28/12/07
  71.   Converts are good followers 10:04  |  Apology 28/12/07
  72.   Who needs your "conversion"? 10:06  |  Velvl Shmerlson