Prime Minister Tables Conversion Reform Bill To Please Haredim

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has given in to haredi pressure and tabled the Stern Bill that would have decentralized conversions to Judaism, taking them out of the exclusive province of the haredi-controlled chief rabbinate.

 Above: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Prime Minister Tables Conversion Reform Bill To Please Haredim
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has given in to haredi pressure and tabled the Stern Bill that would have decentralized conversions to Judaism, taking them out of the exclusive province of the haredi-controlled chief rabbinate and into the control of the chief rabbis of towns and cities.

Although many of those rabbis are also haredi, some of them are moderate Zionist Orthodox. The prospect of moderate Zionist Orthodox rabbis handling conversions angers haredim, who follow the strictest interpretations of halakha (Jewish law) and customs and who oppose any modernity.

Netanyahu made the decision to table the conversion bill after receiving a letter from haredi Sefardi Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef written on behalf of himself and haredi Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi David Lau asking him to do so, Yeshiva World reported.

The bill was sponsored by Member of Knesset Elazar Stern of the centrist secular Hatnua Party, a member of Netanyahu’s coalition. And the bill was also backed by many members of the centrist and largely secular Yesh Atid Party, which is also a coalition member. Netanyahu blocked Yesh Atid’s Zero VAT Bill, primarily meant to give IDF veterans a tax break on new home purchases, claiming it would cost too much to implement. That bill was vehemently opposed by haredim, who would have been cut out of most of the tax breaks because they refuse to serve in the IDF or perform national civilian service.

Many observers believe Netanyahu’s real reason for blocking the two bills is to force Yesh Atid and Hatnua out of the governing coalition so he can replace them with the two haredi parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism, which are Netanyahu’s Likud Party’s only natural Knesset allies.

Comments

[Rodin]

Crazy people cannot be converted. (Halacha)
To convert to Judaism, you must be crazy. (Common sense)
Ergo, Catch-23.
No conversions, period.
We have enough crazies in the religion already.

[Jeff]

Oh, of course. Nothing can be permitted to upset the black hats. Yet the cretins at Yeshiva World News, from which Shamrya got the story, will continue to rant and rail against the evil Zionist government that never does anything for them and thwarts them at every turn.

And the tragically self-deluded Modern Orthodox, like PulpitRabbi, will continue to tell themselves that unity with these savages is not only possible, but desirable.

[Alter Kocker]

There is no hope for Israel. Netanyahu is as much a traitor to his people as are the Haredim. It will come to one of the following ends; In the next election Netanyahu is booted from office, the secular parties take over and immediately kill all funding to Haredim, demand IDF service or a firing squad, and close the yeshivas demanding secular education. OR Netanyahu retains power, gives in to all Haredi demands in order to stay in power, all secular Israelis start moving themselves, their money and their businesses and industries out of the country. The exit The economy collapses, the country is overrun by its neighbors and the Haredim as the most visible Jews are slaughtered. Beheadings everywhere. They will call on Hashem, too bad nobody will be listening. They are the authors of their own demise.

[Allan]

Mr. Prime Minister – If you’re planning to spent that much time in bed with the haredim, at least invite them under the chupa!

[state of disgust]

Alter Kocher:

The only thing wrong with your analysis is that the "secularists" led by labor have already said they would form a government that would include the Orthodox.
I think that Bibi is on his last legs. If the next election were held today, Bibi and Liberman would split the vote on the right leaving an opening for a labor led coalition to form a government. Lapid isn't strong enough to draw the support needed to lead a government - at least at this time.

Livni knows she will never be Foreign Minister under Bibi or Liberman. I would expect she will join a centrist Labor coalition.

Going to be an interesting ride.

Suggest people check out the latest from Jane's Defense on Hezbollah's preparations on the Lebanese border.

Shabbat Shalom