Rabbis from the US-based Rabbinical Council of America have
"converted" to Judaism a woman who openly declared her
loyalty to Christian beliefs.
Just over six months ago the woman, who was engaged to an
assimilated Jew, took her first exam on the way to
conversion. When asked about her belief in the holy Torah and
the Jewish religion she unambiguously replied that she
believes in Judaism "but also in the New Testament." Despite
this, the Rabbis went ahead with her conversion.
Three months ago the conversion candidate in question, who
studies at a university in northern New Jersey, was on her
winter break. According to testimonials that even reached the
rabbis in charge of her conversion at the time, she took part
in Christmas celebrations with her Christian parents and
family.
When she contacted the head of the RCA beis din, he
appointed to his bench two rabbis involved in wholesale
conversions, setting up a "special beis din" to
convert her. These rabbis are sadly well-known in the
American Torah world for their compromising approach to
halacha. They have converted dozens of non-Jews without
examining their real intent, thereby increasing the threat of
assimilation spreading throughout the US.
Spokesmen for Vaad HaRabbonim LeInyonei Giyur founded by
HaRav Chaim Kreiswirth zt"l and Eternal Jewish Family
expressed astonishment over the shamelessness of converting
someone who did not conceal her loyalty to Christianity.
In another development, the RCA granted a problematic rabbi
from their ranks permission to perform conversions. This
rabbi is well-known in the US for allowing low
mechitzos in botei knesses, Torah readings in
women's minyanim and he even advised appointing a
woman posek in every shul "to avoid discriminating
against women."
When this rabbi became involved in conversions a few years
ago, chareidi rabbonim in the US came out against him, saying
his conversions cannot be relied on at all. Nevertheless the
RCA has now given him permission to perform conversions.
Eternal Jewish Family is voicing grave concerns over the
RCA's conduct and has reiterated calls by gedolei Yisroel
zt"l vylct"a not to perform false or dubious conversions
that lack legitimate oversight and raze the walls of Kerem
Beis Yisroel.
The Israeli Chief Rabbinate sent a letter to the U.S. stating
that it does not recognize these conversions.
According to reports, the RCA has been disseminating
misleading information on rabbonim approved by the Israeli
Chief Rabbinate to perform conversions outside of Israel,
creating the false impression that certain rabbonim are
authorized to perform conversions though their names have
never appeared on the list of approved conversion rabbis.
