Rabbi Haim Amsellem, a former Shas Party Member of Knesset who rebelled against party leadership over several things, including its unnecessarily strict approach to conversion to Judaism praised Tzohar’s move and called the establishment of a Tzhoar conversion court a “kiddush Hashem” (sanctification of God’s name). Amsellem also pointed out that there are many IDF soldiers who are not Jewish in the eyes of halakha (Orthodox Jewish law), even though they have Jewish ancestors. “They place themselves in perilous danger for the nation, and this is a special mitzvah.”
Above: Tzohar's head, Rabbi David Stav
Moderate Zionist Orthodox Rabbis To Launch Own Conversion Court System To Compete With State-Backed Haredim
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
Because Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave control over the Ministry of Religious Services to the Sefardi haredi Shas Party, the moderate Zionist Orthodox Tzohar rabbinic organization says is moving forward with its plans to launch its own independent conversion beit din (Orthodox religious court), Yeshiva World reported based on a report by the Zionist Orthodox Kippa news website.
During its formation, as inducement for haredi parties to join the coalition Netanyahu pledged to roll back all religious reform put in place by the previous government, which Netanyhu also headed.
Tzohar’s new conversion system will run parallel to the official state system run by the haredi-controlled Chief Rabbinate.
“At the moment it became clear that [the Ashkenazi haredi] United Torah Judaism [Party] buried the conversion [reform] law as part of its coalition agreement, we began advancing efforts to establish the beit din, but details are not yet finalized. There are a number of elements pushing the project and we have already turned to a number of senior rabbis regarding the matter,” a senior Tzohar rabbi reportedly said.
Rabbi Haim Amsellem, a former Shas Party Member of Knesset who rebelled against party leadership over several things, including its unnecessarily strict approach to conversion to Judaism praised Tzohar’s move and called the establishment of a Tzhoar conversion court a “kiddush Hashem” (sanctification of God’s name). Amsellem also pointed out that there are many IDF soldiers who are not Jewish in the eyes of halakha (Orthodox Jewish law), even though they have Jewish ancestors. “They place themselves in perilous danger for the nation, and this is a special mitzvah.”
Amsellem also said that now that Tzohar’s plans are public knowledge, he can say there are other organizations cooperating with Tzohar on the project, and together they will be known as “Tzav Giyur” (Commandment of Conversion to Judaism).