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Israeli Gov’t Strikes Down Conversion Reform Bill

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The Israeli government struck down a bill that would have cancelled the monopoly the ultra-Orthodox chief rabbinate holds over conversions in the country

Israeli ministers on Sunday struck down a bill that would have cancelled the monopoly the ultra-Orthodox chief rabbinate holds over conversions in the country.

A proposal approved by the cabinet in November but never passed by parliament stipulated that the chief rabbi of each Israeli city would be able to convene and chair a court on conversions to the Jewish faith, in addition to the four current state-recognized Orthodox bodies.

At present some 364,000 Israelis of Jewish ancestry — mostly immigrants from the former Soviet Union — are not considered Jewish according to ultra-Orthodox laws and are defined as “religionless,” meaning they cannot marry in Israel.

Israel does not allow civil marriages or interfaith weddings.

For Jewish citizens, all weddings and divorces in Israel are under the control of the ultra-Orthodox chief rabbinate.

By widening the pool of rabbis allowed to authorize conversions, the bill’s sponsors hoped that it would perhaps increase flexibility and encourage “religionless” Israelis to convert to Judaism.

Sunday’s decision, announced by the chief rabbinate in a statement, was a condition set down by the ultra-Orthodox party Shas for joining the coalition government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Liberman condemns move

Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman strongly condemned the reversal and warned that the country’s Jewish identity was being held captive to extremist ultra-Orthodox elements.

Liberman, who has long supported conversion reform, accused the government of betraying immigrants from the former Soviet Union by agreeing to reverse the reforms.

“We’re talking here about a government that is totally controlled by the haredi parties and is making Israeli society once again a captive to extremist elements who are making the lives of Israeli citizens more difficult.” said Liberman.

The purpose of the law was to raise conversion rates among the immigrant population, and their children, from the former Soviet Union, some 330,000 of whom are not considered Jewish according to Jewish law.

Another Shas demand approved Sunday by the cabinet was returning rabbinical courts to the jurisdiction of the religious affairs ministry, after 13 years during which they were part of the justice ministry.

Religious Affairs Minister David Azulai of Shas said he was “happy” the courts were “returning to their natural home” in his ministry, pledging in a statement to increase their efficiency.

Education Minister Naftali Bennett and Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, who both hail from the Jewish Home party were the only ministers to vote against the two measures. They oppose the establishment of an ultra-Orthodox monopoly on conversions and other religious services.

(i24 News)

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