BREAKING: Israeli Rabbis Refuse To Allow Converts To Marry – Thousands Of Converts In Jewish Law Limbo

Remember the thousands of converts who had their conversions revoked by haredi rabbis sitting on the Rabbinate's High Rabbinic Court?

Well, official marriage registrars across Israel – rabbis all – are now refusing to register the marriages of these poor people.

Worse yet…

…Sefardic Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar, who is also the President of the High Rabbinic Court, and who told the RCA and others that he wanted to revoke the ruling, isn't exactly rushing to fix the problem.

Why?

He needs to convene a panel to deal with this problem. But, that panel is not currently sitting. New panel members must first be elected.

How long will this take?

Rabbi Amar does not know. And he does not appear to be rushing.

(The great thing is what the RCA says Amar told them:

We have been assured by Israel's Chief Rabbi Rav Shlomo Moshe Amar, who is also the President of the Rabbinical Courts System of Israel, that in releasing this ruling the court in question directly countermanded his instructions and policies. He has confirmed that the ruling has no legal standing at this time. We commend Rav Amar for his positive role in this matter since its very inception in the Ashdod regional court.

The ruling seems to have plenty of legal standing now.)

Here's a report from Matthew Wagner of the Jerusalem Post. Wagner usually goes very easy on haredi and hardal rabbis. This is no exception to that rule:

Rabbis responsible for registering Jewish Israelis for marriage said Sunday they would not register converts for marriage until Sephardi Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar issues a definitive rejection of a High Rabbinical Court decision that cast doubt on the validity of thousands of conversions.

"Before I can register a convert for marriage as a full-fledged Jew, I'll have to consult with Chief Rabbi Amar," said Rabbi Ratzon Arussi, chairman of the Rabbinate's Marriage Council.

Rabbis in Ramat Gan and Jerusalem concurred with Arussi's call.

"Rabbi Amar has to voice his opinion on this issue," said Ramat Gan Chief Rabbi Ya'acov Ariel. "He is the final authority on conversions."

Meanwhile, Rabbi Yitzhak Ralbag, the official marriage registrar in Jerusalem, said he would operate in accordance with whatever Amar decided.

The Jewishness of thousands of converts to Judaism has come under scrutiny recently after the High Rabbinical Court issued a legal decision last week that accused the head of the State Conversion Authority, Rabbi Haim Druckman, of apostasy and forgery.

Rabbi Avraham Sherman, who authored the legal decision, which was signed by two other rabbinical judges, said that since Druckman was unfit to serve as a rabbinic judge, all conversions performed by him could not be recognized as legitimate.

If Sherman's opinion is applied, hundreds of converts converted by Druckman between 1999 and 2004 would be considered non-Jews. The Jewishness of thousands more, converted under the auspices of the Conversion Authority since 2004, would also be doubted.

In Israel, where Halacha dictates marital laws for Jewish Israelis, these converts would be prevented from marrying. Only non-Jews who are affiliated with a different religion, such as Christianity or Islam, are permitted to marry.

Several days after the decision was published, Amar issued a general statement that all conversion would be recognized. But Amar did not directly address the accusations raised by Sherman against Druckman.

Rabbis want Amar to issue a clear halachic decision on the status of conversions carried out by Druckman.

Amar's spokesman said the chief rabbi intends to convene the Chief Rabbinate's governing council to discuss the issue and reach a definitive decision. But before the council can be convened new elections must be called.

The term of the previous council came to an end in Nissan and a new council has yet to be chosen. The spokesman said he was unsure how long this would take.

Even before Sherman issued his decision, rabbis in three cities - Ashdod, Petah Tikva and Rehovot - refused to automatically recognize converts converted under the auspices of the Conversion Authority.

Rabbis Yosef Sheinin of Ashdod, Baruch Shimon Solomon of Petah Tikva and Simcha Hacohen Kook of Rehovot all require that converts undergo a repeat conversion before agreeing to register them for marriage.

Technically, these rabbis are required to recognize the converts since all of them converted under the general supervision of Amar. But none of them have ever been disciplined. Instead, an arrangement is made with a neighboring rabbinate that is willing to recognize these converts.

For instance, Rosh Ha'ayin Chief Rabbi Azaria Basis registers all converts who live in Petah Tikva. He also registers others who are not recognized by the Petah Tikva Rabbinate, such as Ethiopian Jews.

Converts are screwed, the RCA is screwed and moderate Orthodox rabbis in Israel are screwed.

And who is doing this screwing? Anti-Zionist and non-Zionist rabbis. And who pays for this screwing? The Israeli government. So do Zionist Israelis who pay taxes.

There must be a complete separation of synagogue and state in Israel. No more state-paind rabbis or rabbinic courts. No more government-paid chief rabbis.

There is no other solution.

Comments

[Nigritude Ultramarine]

תּוֹרָה אַחַת, יִהְיֶה לָאֶזְרָח, וְלַגֵּר, הַגָּר בְּתוֹכְכֶם

[Dr. Dave]

Until these Kofrim who are violating the laws of not abusing converts recant, all funding should be cut of to them.

If governmental support and private Tzedakah are cut off, I am sure they will find that their mindless, illegal, non-halachic chumras that cause such sinat chinam can be set aside.

[rabbidw]

End the farce. Pass civil marriage laws in Israel. Disband, (defund) all official government sponsored rabbinic institutions. Let the chareidi Rabbis find real jobs. Both the Rambam and the Ramban were doctors. That didn't seem to affect there learning or frumkeit. Rashi ran a winery. There is a mitzvah to love the convert and support the poor. There is no mitzvah to support the Rabbis.

[Bartley Kulp]

Dissolve the rabbinut now. The mixture of church and state does not work!!!!!! End it now!!!!! End it now!!!!!! This desecration of G-d's name has gone on long enough!!!!!

[Garnel Ironheart]

Shmarya, I've got an idea. Let's start a business that takes people by plane to Cyprus where they can get legally married. Then we'll send them back to Israel on a cruise ship so they can have a honeymoon trip right away.
It seems to me the demand for such a service just went up.

[steve]

Rabbis face food rap
By John Marzulli
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Monday, May 12th 2008, 4:00 AM

In a new twist on the old story of schoolyard bullies, two rabbis go on trial Monday on charges they stole the government's lunch money.

Brothers Mordecai and Sroya Sorcher are charged with embezzling money from the feds' breakfast and lunch program for needy students by inflating the number of eligible kids at yeshivas they ran in Brooklyn and Queens.

Even worse, the feds say, the rabbis offered their students warmed-up leftovers donated by a local deli while the nutritious government food was diverted elsewhere.

"The defendants created and submitted fraudulent documents to government bodies in order to generate funds for themselves ... not to feed the students," Assistant Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Daniel Brownell wrote in court papers.

Prosecutors have not said how many students were fictional - or how much money was swindled. The Sorchers received $379,697 in federal lunch subsidies between 1997 and 2001. A government witness is expected to testify that he saw a Sorcher relative loading boxes of government-issued food into the trunk of his car, a well-placed source said.

Mordecai Sorcher was the director and Sroya was the president of Yeshiva Gedolah Academy (grades K to 12) at 2261 Bragg St. in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, with satellite schools on Avenue T and on E. 96th St. in Brooklyn and on Bowne St. in Flushing, Queens.

Defense lawyer Lawrence Stern accused the feds of selective prosecution.(He's right, they've been doing this stuff in yeshivos for years)

[Yochanan Lavie]

My friend in Israel recently got remarried. He could "prove" his Jewishness, because he had an Ortho conversion and is Dati/Orthodox himself. His new wife, however, who has a Hebrew name but is Canadian, had a hard time. (They finally got approved). He is 100% shomer mitzvot, more so than I am, has served in Tzahal, etc., but HATES the rabbinut. He says he is not alone in this sentiment, amoung MO. He calls them the "rabbi nuts."

This is really disgusting.

It's time for the Rabbinut control to end. Defund them. Get the Knesset to strip them of their power.

IGNORE them and their "rulings" !!!

MAKE THEM IRRELEVANT!!!

The Knesset should take advantage of this horribleness. They should state that this is causing a crisis among a sizable portion of the Israeli populace and, right away, as an "emergency measure," pass a law allowing civil marriage.

And then, even if this whole thing gets resolved, keep the civil marriage law on the books.

[shmuel]

Our sages teach us in Avot: "Usnah et harabanut" (hate lording over others/leadership) but I like to read it simply: hate the Rabbinate. Baruch Hashem, this ruling will enable hundreds of thousands to be mikayim the Chazal.

[maven]

You all realize what will now become the standard practice. The charedi world is maintaining lists of these people, and their children, grandchildren, etc, will be non-true-jews.
It is already much the case that North American olim not directly linked to accepted rabbis and communities have a difficult time proving their Jewishness at aliyah time (as was the case for many of us of post-shoah families, I'll tell you about that some day).

Its sort of a post Nazi-era Stockholm Syndrome- instead of a total repudiation of our oppressors, we have incorporated their racialist viewpoints.

Sometimes I wonder if this isn't a willful self-destruction on the part of a chareidi leadership envious of their ancestors ability to die 'al kiddush Hashem. A psycho-analytic "churban" thanatos drive.

[jewishwhistleblower]

Others have noted this, but it is interesting to note that this beis din seems to use materials found on the internet from the Israel news organization News First Class news as part of their basis for this decision.

כבוד הרב הגר"א עטיה צרף לנמוקים אלו כתבת תחקיר שפורסה באינטרנט ע"י רשת NEWS.FIRST.CLASS .N.F.C ע"י עתונאי בשם אליעזר לוין תחת הכותרת "הזיוף של הרב דרוקמן", המבוססת על מכתבם של היועץ המשפטי לממשלה מ. מזוז, והיועץ המשפט של בתי הדין הרב עו"ד ש. יעקבי, שנכתבו אודות הרב חיים דרוקמן ראש מנהל הגיור הממלכתי של בתי הדין המיוחדים לגיור שע"י משרד ראש הממשלה, וכדי בזיון וקצף. ווי לאותה בושה ולחילול ה' הנורא.

[Ahavah]

I think I agree with maven on this one - it's totally racist. I used to think it was just them trying to impose their stringencies on everyone, but now I'm thinking that the quest for a mythical racial purity (that never existed) is a much bigger player in their thinking than we realize.

[haforsko]

If anyone wonders what will happen if separation of church and state breaks down in the US, here it is in action.

[Sephardic-Shinto-Male]

more insanity from the orthodox world

[Simon Rose]

get rid of rabbi we dont need them they historically created themselves anyway, they have no authority by hashem

[Dave]

People, if we stop funding them, they will disappear- that goes for Haredi/ mesichten, etc.
It's very simple.
We need EVERYONE- ALL Jews to study Torah.
That way, we will be confident, and not give these people power over us.

[Yochanan Lavie]

I agree with Dave, and Maven. I partly agree with Simon Rose, because not all rabbis are bad.

Limpienza de sangre was also a feature of the Spanish Inquisition. Neuvo Christianos were stigmatized as being Jewish after centuries of living as Catholics (and most were NOT marranos). It is sick, sick, sick.

[Yosef ben Matitya]

they are all animals those who call the good bad and the bad good.
there is nothing left in our religion.
why be surprised on cruelty to animals, when beheimos gassos who pass for rabbis mistreat the humans.
i don't know if i can pray betzibbur anymore.
the minim of chabad read (i didn't say comprehend) massekhet sotah from pessach to shavuot, because is 49 folios. (a profound reason devised by the typesetters of the widow rom z'l) daf 47b, it's all there:
WHEN MURDERERS MULTIPLIED etc. Our Rabbis taught: the ceremony of breaking a heifer's neck was discontinued.
WHEN ADULTERERS MULTIPLIED etc. ,..but not if it was with an unmarried woman, come and hear: FOR THEY THEMSELVES GO ASIDE WITH WHORES AND WITH THE HARLOTS etc.' What means And the people that doth not understand shall be overthrown?

When hedonists multiplied, justice became perverted, conduct deteriorated and there is no satisfaction [to God] in the world. When they who displayed partiality in judgment multiplied, the command Ye shall not be afraid [of the face of man]18 became void and Ye shall not respect [persons in judgment]19 ceased to be practised; and people threw off the yoke of heaven and placed upon themselves the yoke of human beings. When they who engaged in whisperings in judgment20 multiplied, fierceness of [the divine] anger increased against Israel and the Shechinah departed; because it is written: He judgeth among the judges.21 When there multiplied [men of whom it is said] Their heart goeth after their gain,22 there multiplied they who call evil good and good evil.23 When there multiplied they 'who call evil good and good evil', woes24 increased in the world. When they who draw out their spittle25 multiplied, the arrogant increased, disciples diminished, and Torah went about [looking] for them who would study it. When the arrogant multiplied, the daughters of Israel began to marry arrogant men, because our generation looks only to the outward appearance. But that is not so; for a Master has declared: An arrogant person is not acceptable even to the members of his household, as it is said: A haughty man one abideth not at home26 — i.e., even in his own house! — At first they jump round him, but in the end he becomes repugnant to them.

When there multiplied they who forced their goods upon householders,27 bribery increased as well as miscarriage of justice, and happiness ceased. When there multiplied [judges] who said 'I accept your favour' and 'I shall appreciate your favour', there was an Increase of Every man did that which was right in his own eyes;28 common persons were raised to eminence, the eminent were brought low, and the kingdom [of Israel] deteriorated more and more. When envious men and plunderers [of the poor] multiplied, there increased they who hardened their hearts and closed their hands from lending [to the needy], and they transgressed what is written in the Torah, viz., Beware that there be not etc.29 When there multiplied women who had stretched forth necks and wanton eyes,30 [the need] increased for the bitter water but it ceased [to be used]. When receivers of gifts multiplied, the days [of human life] became fewer and years were shortened; as it is written: But he that hateth gifts shall live.31 When the haughty of heart multiplied, dissensions increased in Israel. When the disciples of Shammai and Hillel multiplied who had not served [their teachers] sufficiently, dissensions increased in Israel and the Torah became like two Toroth. When there multiplied they who accepted charity of Gentiles, Israel became on top and they below, Israel went forward and they backward.32

WHEN JOSE B. JOEZER DIED etc. What does 'grape-clusters' [eshkoloth] mean? — Rab Judah said in the name of Samuel: A man in whom is everything [ish she-hakol bo].

JOHANAN THE HIGH PRIEST BROUGHT TO AN END THE CONFESSION MADE AT THE PRESENTATION OF THE TITHE etc. What was his reason? — R. Jose b. Hanina said: Because people were not presenting it according to the regulation; for the Allmerciful said that they should give it to the Levites

[Shlomo]

There are many, many things wrong with this decision. But being "racialist" is not one of them. It is very wrong that all these converts will have their Jewishness questioned. But if they then go to the correct charedi rabbi and redo the conversion, then they will be fully accepted, regardless of their racial background. It's perverse that that should be necessary, but in the whole situation there is no hint of discrimination based on race.