Hundreds of thousands of Israelis, primarily immigrants from the Former Soviet Union, are not Jews according to Orthodox Jewish law. The IDF's conversion program was the fastest and simplest way for those among them who wanted to convert to Judaism to do so.
Last updated 7:34 pm CDT
IDF’s Conversion Program To Be Closed Due To Alleged Lack Of Funds
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
The IDF’s conversion program Netiv will be shut down due to lack of funds, Yeshiva World reported based on a report by Israel’s Channel 2 News.
The program was supposed to receive NIS 20 million ($5.2 million) for the 2015-16 budget year beginning in September but didn’t get it.
Netiv is generally considered to be less strict than the haredi-controlled conversion courts run by Israel’s Chief Rabbinate (which is also haredi controlled).
The Chief Rabbinate’s courts employ many stringencies that go far past what halakha (Orthodox Jewish law) requires. The Netiv program doesn’t do this. Netiv does, however, require participants to complete three additional related programs, including a period of Torah study, before converting.
Soldiers who are not Jewish according to halakha are assigned to Netiv only if they so desire. After completing all parts of the program, soldiers are assigned to regular duty and the IDF Chief Rabbinate’s beit din (religious court) will sometime thereafter convert the soldiers.
Even though it is more lenient than the haredi-controlled conversion courts, many of the soldiers who sign up for Netiv drop out before completion and return to regular IDF units without converting to Judaism.
Haredi leaders strongly oppose Netiv and have been trying to have it shut down for years.
The current government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is almost completely dependent on haredi political parties to remain in power.
Hundreds of thousands of Israelis, primarily immigrants from the Former Soviet Union, are not Jews according to Orthodox Jewish law. Netiv was the fastest and simplest way for those among them who wanted to do so to convert.