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.
