Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., January 06, 2008 Tevet 28, 5768 | | Israel Time: 01:45 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File Magazine

Yisrael Beiteinu draft bill would fast-track Jewish conversion By Shahar Ilan Yisrael Beitenu is proposing a reform to the current system of conversion that would allow several hundred rabbis to become involved in the process, thus expediting the bottleneck that is experienced by those wishing to become Jewish. Yisrael Beiteinu MK David Rotem will submit his proposal today to the Ministerial Committee on Legislation. Unless Shas, the main religious party in the coalition, supports the bill it will be shelved. Advertisement Rotem says the Chief Rabbinate once permitted all municipal rabbis to conduct conversions, but it withdrew that authority. Rotem wants to restore it and to expand it to rabbis in moshavim and kibbutzim. The Yisrael Beitenu MK argues that, "If we do not resolve the conversion problem, the Jewish state is done for. The nation of Israel will be divided into two and they will start keeping books of yuhasin [family trees]. I want to preserve the unity of the nation of Israel." Nearly 300,000 immigrants from the former Soviet Union are classified as non-Jews or as having no religion. For years Israeli governments have considered their incorporation into the Jewish community as a national goal, investing large sums in programs to encourage conversion. But these efforts have been stymied by rabbinical courts. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Virtual victory TV series offers detailed reenactments of IAF's battles. Surviving the race Neither Clinton nor Romney can afford to lose in N.H.

Today Online Bush says U.S. would defend Israel in event of Iranian strike Responses: 273 Gideon Levy: Bush is hostile and indifferent toward Israel Responses: 127 Israel plans homes on 'absentee' Palestinian land in E. Jerusalem Responses: 104 Rightist MK wants to dissolve PA, promote Arab emigration Responses: 77 Percent of world Jewry living in Israel climbed to 41percent in 2007 Responses: 67 Editorial: Smokers should have right to light up in open space Responses: 51 More Headlines 22:55 Olmert, Abbas to meet Tues. ahead of Bush visit 22:56 Five IDF soldiers wounded, five Palestinians killed in Gaza fighting 21:08 IDF allows transfer of vital medicine into the Gaza Strip 16:30 Second Lebanon War probe findings to be released Jan. 30 15:33 Yisrael Beiteinu drafts bill fast-tracking Jewish conversion 01:16 Barak to lay out Israel's position on Iran's nuclear program to Bush 23:27 Report: IDF develops tiny bulldozer for combat inside Palestinian cities 21:44 Tel Aviv Court extends remand of U.S. basketballer Will Bynum 18:01 Neither Clinton nor Romney can afford to lose in New Hampshire 18:57 PA detains, hands over two Israelis who entered Bethlehem to fix car Previous Editions Select Day 06 jan 04 jan 03 jan 02 jan 01 jan 31 dec 30 dec 28 dec 27 dec 26 dec 25 dec 24 dec

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