NEWS
Meeting of the Conference of European Rabbis
by Yisrael Rosner
In Munich Germany on Monday this week, there convened the 32nd conference of the Conference of European Rabbis (CER). The theme of the conference was "Rabbinic leadership in Emergencies — to serve in a time of sword and plague."
Some 350 of the rabbinic leadership of Europe, including rabbonim, dayanim, roshei yeshiva and other leaders from 47 different countries came to Munich to participate. The guests of honor were HaRav Osher Weiss, head of the Darkei Horo'oh institutions in Eretz Yisroel and also HaRav Moshe Mordechai Farbstein, rosh yeshiva of Chevron Yeshiva in Jerusalem and the Beis Medrash leRabbonim in Berlin.
Maran Rosh Hayeshiva HaRav Gershon Edelstein wrote a special letter to the conference.
To the revered rabbonim of the Conference of European Rabbis, gathered
in Munich to reinforce religion throughout the Diaspora, headed by the President of the Conference, Rav and Av Beis Din of Moscow, HaRav Goldschmidt: Peace and blessings!
We are still reeling from the ravages of the Corona crisis which had a terrible impact on Jewish communities throughout Europe, inflicting physical and emotional havoc. This has put an added burden upon the shoulders of the rabbinical community leaders to rehabilitate and restore the ruins which have been direly compounded by the difficult war in Ukraine, destroying entire communities. Many people took up their wandering staff and are seeking refuge for body and soul amongst communities in Israel and in the European continent.
At such a critical time, it is incumbent upon the rabbonim to rise to the need and provide succor to the exiles. They must rouse the hearts of their Jewish brethren to come to their aid. Brother must help brother.
In the tumult of the times, many seek to join the vineyard of Jewry as a haven of safety from the war torn zones. This is precisely the time to focus on our time-tested attitude towards converts, which is based solely on Halacha, and performed through a recognized Beis Din which is certain that the candidate intends to keep Torah and mitzvos. Lacking such a commitment, there is no possibility of conversion. This problem presents a threat of serious assimilation to our communities and to Eretz Yisroel as a whole. We must stand vigil to preserve the pedigreed purity of our people.
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