Vaad HaRabbonim LeInyonei Giyur founded by HaRav Chaim
Kreiswirth zt"l is warning against further decline in
conversion standards in Eretz Yisroel following a High
Court hearing on Sunday to consider 12 petitions filed by the
Reform Movement, which is demanding recognition of its
conversions in terms of the Law of Return.
At Sunday's hearing the State presented a response, saying
that PM Ehud Olmert has decided to set up a committee headed
by Prof. Yaakov Ne'eman to find ways to implement the
conclusions of the previous Ne'eman Committee on the
conversion issue.
High Court President Dorit Beinish declared the State's
proposal "lacking in seriousness" and instructed the State's
Attorney to submit a more concrete proposal within 30
days.
MK Rabbi Moshe Gafni said he has a bill ready to table this
week if the High Court decides to violate the status quo by
recognizing Reform's so-called conversions. "The bill is
based on the government's fundamental lines for preserving
the status quo — certainly in an area that touches on
such a vital matter," said Rabbi Gafni. "We oppose the
Ne'eman Committee both in the past and today, a committee
that seeks to legitimize movements trying to profane Kerem
Beis Yisroel."
HaRav Nachum Eisenstein, spokesman for Vaad HaRabbonim
LeInyonei Giyur, is calling on the Chief Rabbinate not to
seek compromises designed to facilitate conversion in order
to show government authorities that the Chief Rabbinate is
capable of performing large-scale conversion efficiently.
Instead he is urging the Chief Rabbinate to ensure that the
small number of conversion candidates who genuinely intend to
keep Torah and mitzvos are accepted for Orthodox
conversion.
"Only if we prove to all the officials that conversion is no
joke but a completely halachic process without compromise
will we be able to win the struggle that has now become a
political battle rather than a halachic battle," said HaRav
Eisenstein.
The Vaad Spokesman issued similar remarks at a conference for
rabbonim and dayonim in Boston last week. At the
conference he met with Chief Rabbi Amar, saying that measures
must be taken to ensure Orthodox conversion meets halachic
requirements.
Vaad HaRabbonim LeInyonei Giyur is calling on all rabbonim to
refuse to take part in the Ne'eman Committee, which has
already demonstrated its intentions to set up joint
institutes with the heretical movements in stark
contradiction to all gedolei Yisroel.
