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26 Tishrei 5760 - October 6, 1999 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
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News
RCA Beth Din Interferes in Local Rabbinical Affairs in Hong Kong and Berlin

by Yated Ne'eman Staff

The Vaad HaRabbonim Haolami LeInyonei Giyur headed by HaRav Chaim Kreiswirth has issued a strong protest against the unacceptable interference by the Rabbinical Council of America (RCA) in rabbinical affairs of Europe as expressed in the fact that "At a request of a prominent rabbi in Germany, the Beth Din of the Rabbinical Council of America prepared materials to assist in the establishment of a beis din in Germany to deal with conversions." This quote is taken from a report issued by the RCA-affiliated Beth Din of America about its recent activities. The report also noted: "This is the second such request. Last year, the Beth Din assisted in establishing guidelines for such a beis din in Hong Kong, which is already operational."

The Vaad cannot comprehend how the RCA, which has not properly put together its own conversion policy in America, can assist in the establishment of a conversion beis din in Germany. Several years ago the European Rabbis issued strict guidelines about conversions of German nationals and more recently a beis din has been established for this purpose under the tutelage of Dayan Chaim Ehrentrau of London and Dayan Nisan Rebibo of Paris. The interference from an American organization in Germany is completely out of place.

The Vaad has also learned that the "prominent rabbi in Germany" referred to in the report is a certain Rabbi C. who previously served in a Conservative temple in East Meadow, New York and is currently in Germany. Recognition of his competence as a rabbi in the European Orthodox Rabbinical community has been withheld because of his previous affiliation with the Conservatives.


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