Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar Explains His Conversion Initiative

Becoming Jewish has never been harder – or more complicated and contentious – than it now is.

As you read this, note the Jewish Press does not ask Amar any tough questions and does not really challenge him on any of his answers.

That may be because Avraham Shmuel Lewin is, if I remember correctly, a Lubavitcher hasid, and the Rebbe was the leader of the Who Is A Jew campaign meant to change the Law of Return's definition of Jew to match the most restrictive halakhic definition.

'YOU CAN'T ALLOW THE NATION TO BE DIVIDED' - AN INTERVIEW WITH CHIEF RABBI SHLOMO AMAR
Avraham Shmuel Lewin • The Jewish Press 

The Jewish Press spoke last week with Rabbi Shlomo Amar, Israel's Sephardi chief rabbi since 2003, on the contentious issue of conversion to Judaism.

Jewish Press: Your attempt to impose conversion regulations in the U.S. that would be acceptable to Israel's Chief Rabbinate garnered a lot of attention and created not a little controversy. Are there any new developments in that area?

Rabbi Amar: I should make it clear that I was referring only to new conversions. I did not touch or alter any actions of my predecessors - or any rabbi or rabbinate abroad recognized by the Israeli Chief Rabbinate before I came into office. My concern was with new rabbis or rabbinates that started issuing conversion certificates after I became chief rabbi. I feel that before they can have any involvement in the matter of conversion, they need to be checked and tested in order to determine whether they are indeed qualified to carry out conversions.

At least initially, the Rabbinical Council of America (RCA) seemed to take rather strong issue with your position.

In the beginning, the RCA voiced concern with my stance and there was a furor in some of the Jewish papers that made it seem as if I didn't want to recognize the RCA's conversions. The RCA sent a delegation to Israel and I clarified to them what my reservations were. They understood and agreed with me. It took a year until we formulated a modus operandi and then I came to New York to meet with RCA leaders.

How did your intervention affect the way conversions are handled?

Until then, the procedure was that any rabbi could engage in conversions. I asked that they set up a system of regional batei din with three recognized rabbis and that if new rabbis were to be added they first must be tested. I suggested that any new rabbi come to us in Israel for testing, but they objected to that. So we decided the test would be carried out by two of their rabbis, Rabbis Hershel Schachter and Mordechai Willig, and I would send a third rabbi or judge from the Chief Rabbinate in Israel to join them and he would bring any questions from Israel.

How is the arrangement working out?

They set up several batei din and sent me names of new rabbis they want to add. While I rely on Rabbis Schachter and Willig, I will not automatically accept a new name without checking up on him first. So far, though, no tests have been carried out as I've been inundated with work that has prevented me from putting more time into the project.

So while it's common knowledge that the Chief Rabbinate does not recognize Conservative or Reform conversions, the fact is you don't recognize Orthodox conversions carte blanche either.

Yes, that's right. There are a lot of new rabbis who call themselves Orthodox but whom we have not yet verified in terms of their qualifications to perform conversions. We can't stop them from doing anything, but we can refuse to recognize their conversions. So if someone comes along with a conversion certificate not issued by any of the batei din approved by us, we won't automatically accept it.

Now, there are cases where we've disqualified Orthodox rabbis whom we had recognized in the past. We did so after having received complaints about those rabbis, but not until we verified the matter thoroughly. When someone comes to us accusing a rabbi of not performing as per halacha, we ask the complainant to describe in writing what fault he found and to sign his name. I then send the letter to the rabbi in question in order for him to respond.

What is your reaction to the recent decision by the Court of Appeal in London that ongoing personal acts of faith, rather than birth or conversion, defines a Jew?

Unfortunately, we can refer to the courts in Israel that are gravitating in the same direction. Not too long ago the courts here ruled that non-Orthodox groups in Israel should be funded and be able to continue their non-halachic activities.

As long as the Who is a Jew law is not amended, the courts will allow Reform, Conservative and every other non-halachic group to make inroads and destroy the character of the state. If, God forbid, they will begin to validate Reform and Conservative marriages and conversions in Israel, the nation will be divided.

This gives me no rest, as it is forbidden to tear this nation in half. Having various political parties who disagree on ideology is not threatening - that can occur in the best of families - but once you stop marrying each other, that's a real split and it is forbidden that this should occur.

What is your message to American Jewry, to American rabbis?

I think my proposal to set up recognized batei din was a good start, but another vital step that must be taken is that there must be uniform registration in every country. I explained this to the RCA leaders when I met with them. For instance, all rabbinates should print up identical forms and when a couple registers to marry they will get a copy of the form, the rabbi will get one and a third one will be filed away in a central database where one will be able to see which rabbi performed the marriage. Likewise, when a person converts anywhere in the U.S., every rabbi will be able to know who performed the conversion since it will be filed away in this central database. The same with regard to divorces.

But won't that create arguments among rabbis and rabbinates over who should control this database?

I suggest that each rabbinate or rabbinic organization set up its own database - the RCA would have its database, the Agudas Harabonim would have its database, etc. - and they can all cooperate and coordinate. I agree it might cause friction, but first start organizing it and then worry about the arguments later. Certainly we can come to some kind of meeting of minds.

I'm sure there were many arguments and disagreements when they formed the Chief Rabbinate in Israel many years ago but today, thank God, even though there are many private batei din in all parts of the country, there is an orderly arrangement and everything is registered with the central body - the Chief Rabbinate.

[Hat Tip: Joel Katz.]

Comments

[Joel Katz]

Interested in hearing more from readers on Rabbi Amar's idea of a "database" mentioned in the last two paragraphs.

Joel Katz
Religion and State in Israel
@religion_state on Twitter

[Dr. Dave]

Shall we just set up Rabbi Amar as Nasi or better Pope and have him speak ex Cathedra?

What qualifications does he demand for an "acceptable" orthodox Rabbi?

Someone who will wear a red Yarmulka and kiss his ring?

[SJ]

It seems to me that Ayatollah Amar is giving the typical spin on these things.

I don't see how Israel accepting reform or conservative marriages and conversions will further divide the nation because the nation is already divided between orthodox and progressives.

I think the purpose of Ayatollah Amar's spin is to try to keep the orthodox from losing power. Plain and simple.

>>> but once you stop marrying each other, that's a real split and it is forbidden that this should occur.

This seems to be a total lie on the part of Ayatollah Amar. How often do progressive and orthodox jews get romantically involved with each other? O.o Something tells me not much.

[effie]

As long as the Who is a Jew law is not amended, the courts will allow Reform, Conservative and every other non-halachic group to make inroads and destroy the character of the state. If, God forbid, they will begin to validate Reform and Conservative marriages and conversions in Israel, the nation will be divided.

I think the ultra-orthodox are the ones who will eventually be the downfall of Israel.

[soso]

So I guess he wants to become a pope...

[Ahavah]

The only "acceptable" Orthodox conversions are now ultra-orthodox/Chereidi conversions, and no MO Rabbis are going to be admitted to their "acceptable" list. That's a fact. Everyone is going to be required to believe in medieval nonsense or be rejected from the Law of Return whether a convert or native-born - that is their ultimate goal.

[Ben]

This is a dangerous and criminal enterprise which is carried out under the slogan of unity (aren't all of them do?).

This act automatically and retroactively effects all converts and their children going back generations, whether or not this is an intention of R.Amar. We are about to loose more the half of American Jews to haredi and Amar's madness. When they are taught that they are not part of the klal Isroel, it is not reversible.

You spit on me I spit on you attitude will prevail and these digusting turbaned and black hatted fanatics have effectively split and destroyed unity of Am Isroel.

[justayid]

"How often do progressive and orthodox jews get romantically involved with each other"

If you count people who drifted from their previous religiouos positions, but are still in touch with their families, quite a few. On the other hand there are ways around that, with good will, from verifying a particular non-O persons background, to quckie conversions of already practicing progressive jews for the sake of the marriage (if the rabbinate can get its halachic arms around that) to a more moderate policy wrt to R and C conversions (accepting them where the conversion has been carried out correctly, without getting hung up on the smicha of the rabbi)

Now none of those expedients will be accepted by everyone, but the more MO moves in that direction, the harder it will be for the haredim to resist.

[justayid]

and by the same token, if R and C will ATTEMPT to accommodate O concerns, or at least express that tehy would for recognition of their converts, it will make it easier for a few O to reach out.

[Yonah]

Once you STOP marrying each other?

Um...

[Reader]

Actually, the positions of R. Amar and "the Court of Appeal in London that ongoing personal acts of faith, rather than birth or conversion, defines a Jew" dovetail quite nicely.
If a Jew's or a convert's observance of the minutest religious requirements are suspect - bye-bye, Jew, bye-bye, convert.
Centralization of power is anathema to Jews. In the Talmudic times there were two heads of the yeshiva precisely so no one could take over.
Even his terminology is Catholic - "faith".

[Yonah]

Reader: Smart.

[Malka]

are we reading the same article here? Amar is against the ashkenaz Haredim.. why are you calling him Ayatollah..isnt that a little exagerated..The guy is putting his reputation on the line to stand up for justice.He is trying to annul the "annulment of conversions". He is doing a good thing. I feel bad for the families involved in all this. Do you know how insulting it is for someone to call you a goy when you are a jew? Its heart breakingdown to the very core. He is questioning ravs in america making sure they are following halacha..so what? Do you know how hard it is to be a convert...he wants to make it harder because being a convert sucks..he wants to make sure that qualified rabbis that explain people that hahsme loves converts but most jews dont ..we are a threat lowly people ..its really disgusting i hope we all wake up smell the cofee and make teshuva