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Last update - 05:50 10/03/2008 Majority of judges in new conversion courts to be Haredi By Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: rabbinical courts, conversion  At least eight out of 10 new judges to be selected Monday to serve on the rabbinical courts for conversion will come from the strict ultra-Orthodox sector. Leading officials involved in the conversion process said the original objective was to choose more liberal judges who would make conversion easier. The officials said the selection committee, headed by Sephardi Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar, made a deal to appoint four ultra-Orthodox judges who currently serve in the private rabbinical court of Rabbi Nissim Karelitz in Bnei Brak and four rabbis who are affiliated with Shas or Amar's associates. Advertisement The other two will likely be from the religious Zionist camp. "Over the last few weeks, there has been a lot of pressure on committee members from ultra-Orthodox quarters and also from religious Zionist rabbis who are hostile to the conversion issue. Ultimately they'll bring in judges who have no connection with or sympathy for the public that will appear before them," one of the officials said. A long-time educator who helps prospective converts learn about Judaism said the problem is that Cabinet Secretary Oved Yehezkel put all the authority in Amar's hands, without realizing that Amar cannot withstand the pressure from the ultra-Orthodox and Shas. Related articles: Knesset conversion proposals slammed by Orthodox, Reform Source: Conversion judges making extreme demands The barrier to conversion Government says new conversion authority will streamline process More Jewish World news and features Bookmark to del.icio.us   Falk's folly Israel will refuse entry to the UN's Richard Falk for equating Israel to Nazi Germany. Peace when? After 30 years, the public has adopted Peace Now's views, but peace is still elusive.   1.   It`s all about deals, how pathetic and shameful 06:50  |  Dan 10/03/08   2.   The usual religious blackmail from Shas 08:28  |  SJ 10/03/08   3.   Judges that follow torah law 09:14  |  fred 10/03/08   4.   Anything Shas wants is "blackmail?" 09:32  |  HH 10/03/08   5.   as if Israel was slowly closing the door 09:50  |  lure 10/03/08   6.   Conversion is filthy business 11:34  |  Ger 10/03/08   7.   Filthy bussiness in filthy hands 13:28  |  Ulf 10/03/08   8.   `answer to `filthy business` 13:34  |  ger 2 10/03/08   9.   Israel is a racist state 19:42  |  David 10/03/08   10.   What a load of baloney the criticism is 01:00  |  S Judah 11/03/08   11.   judges to be appointed to new conversion court 17:13  |  martin boyaner 17/03/08   12.   Can Shas ask for anything? 00:02  |  Yaakov 09/04/08

Today Online Bradley Burston: I want the Palestinians to win Responses: 170 Evangelist to Yoffie: 'I'm not trying to undermine peace' Responses: 116 Moshe Arens: Making Palestine Judenrein Responses: 94 Vice PM: Ofra settlement homes built on private Palestinian land Responses: 106 Barghouti peace overture to be read at Peace Now rally Responses: 102 Rosner's Domain Guest: "Enough with occupation guilt; Gaza isn't Auschwitz" Rice for Vice? (WTR) Pastor Hagee vs. rabbi Yoffie, round two Poll: Yoffie or Hagee - you can vote! What is worth fighting for? More Headlines 22:54 Complainant against Katsav seeks to reenter rape charge in new indictment 19:01 Katsav accuser: Decision to drop plea deal stems from denial 20:56 Anaylsis: All outcomes possible in Katsav sex crimes case 20:49 Tunnel meant for terrorist infiltration found in N. Gaza 20:16 Israel to bar UN official for comparing Israelis to Nazis 21:14 Peace Now: Our views are now mainstream but peace still elusive 22:19 Interior Ministry, Finance Ministry employees to strike Wednesday 19:38 Police release 7 peace radio staffers after night in detention 20:40 Strikes cost Israeli economy over 2.5 million workdays in 2007 22:08 Ahmadinejad: We've added 6,000 centrifuges to nuke program Previous Editions Select Day 08 apr 07 apr 06 apr 04 apr 03 apr 02 apr 01 apr 31 mar 30 mar 28 mar 27 mar 26 mar

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