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MK David Rotem (Yisrael Beiteinu. (Tomer Appelbaum) Last update - 15:33 06/01/2008 Yisrael Beiteinu drafts bill fast-tracking Jewish conversion By Shahar Ilan Tags: conversion, Shas  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 Sunday to the Ministerial Committee on Legislation. Unless Shas, the main religious party in the coalition, supports the bill it will be shelved. R Advertisement otem 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. Related articles: Editorial: The barrier to conversion Breaking with tradition Lieberman: State lacks courage to fix systemic conversion issue Bookmark to del.icio.us   Meeting Carter Noam Shalit: The fact that Carter isn't pro-Israel may be beneficial. Family pressure Shin Bet admits using relatives to pressure jailed Palestinians.   1.   the Palestinians are the 10 lost tribes 15:33  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 06/01/08   2.   Question About the "Land Grant" by G_d 17:57  |  DoubleClick 06/01/08   3.   "Fast Track Conversion"?????? 18:01  |  dan 06/01/08   4.   The only way to convert is Jewish Law, i.e., Halakha 18:08  |  Yaakov K. 06/01/08   5.   this is a better idea than stupid elon`s 18:17  |  Merle 06/01/08   6.   This is common sense 18:28  |  Sidney 06/01/08   7.   just set up a drive through 18:58  |  sam i am 06/01/08   8.   double click 19:00  |  george 06/01/08   9.   #7 We Jews are a Nation. Not just a religion. 19:31  |  L A 06/01/08   10.   #2 Why would you believe that Ashkenazis are not Jews? 19:49  |  Terry 06/01/08   11.   #7 is a retard 19:56  |  Itzhak 06/01/08   12.   Fast but Thorough 20:50  |  Joan Stuchner 06/01/08   13.   Dan on assembly-line conversion 20:58  |  sh 06/01/08   14.   Jews are a culture or a nation, by no ways a religion 21:11  |  AET 06/01/08   15.   misleading headline, but good idea, no? 21:34  |  S 06/01/08   16.   #1 Fake Moshiach 23:18  |  * BEN JABO 06/01/08   17.   #3 The rules are not less strict 23:37  |  Gili 06/01/08   18.   I wouldn`t like to be part of that!! 23:38  |  John 06/01/08   19.   #16 bennie you will let us know when the `real moshiach` arives? 23:43  |  thanks in advance 06/01/08   20.   Let`s have a little compassion! 00:42  |  Another Dan 07/01/08   21.   They don`t want to convert they 01:30  |  Mordechai 07/01/08   22.   It is a necessity 02:46  |  Mike 07/01/08   23.   Forcing nationalist reasons upon Torah - bad idea! 03:15  |  David 07/01/08   24.   "Palestinans = 10 lost tribes?" 04:26  |  Shlomo 07/01/08   25.   What are they converting for? 08:20  |  Ros 07/01/08   26.   To L A #9, I fully agree with you 09:39  |  Yohann 07/01/08   27.   #9 ithak re.iam sam#7 09:39  |  danny 07/01/08   28.   aet 09:47  |  danny 07/01/08   29.   to Mordehai 09:49  |  Puhi 07/01/08   30.   # 1 I think you are a little "off the beam". 01:20  |  EGW 08/01/08   31.   In a way, #1 comes closer... 14:56  |  Boblin 07/02/08   32.   fast trach conversions 22:25  |  daniel horwitz 14/04/08

Read & React Jimmy Carter: Israel must talk to everyone Responses: 218 Livni to tell Gulf leaders in Qatar: Iran the threat, not Israel Responses: 62 IDF probing why Palestinians held 16 hours at checkpoint Responses: 73 Israel and U.S. sign nuclear cooperation agreement Responses: 50 Rosner's Domain Is neoconservatism Jewish? (WTR) Hillary Clinton and queen Esther Poll: Were you convinced that America should stay in Iraq? Is Israel finished? (WTR) More Headlines 22:59 Livni, in Doha: Gaza becoming 'obstacle' to Palestinian statehood 22:05 Barak orders renewed entry of diesel fuel to Gaza Strip 22:26 Obama hits the G-spot 22:27 Carter offers to act as 'communicator' between Hamas, U.S., Israel 22:34 Despite terror warnings, Israelis expected to flock Sinai in Pesach 18:59 U.K. Jews to ex-pats in Israel: Fight far-right in London vote 21:04 Shin Bet reaches out to English, Arabic world with new web sites 19:03 Court: No state funds for Sderot homes under Qassam threat 22:01 Blair: Int'l aid would flow into Gaza if political change occured 21:12 Kiryat Shmona mayor convicted of series of bribery, fraud charges Previous Editions Select Day 13 apr 11 apr 10 apr 09 apr 08 apr 07 apr 06 apr 04 apr 03 apr 02 apr 01 apr 31 mar

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