The Nissim Report
All circles of chareidi Jewry have taken a determined, tough stand in the face of the government's position being brought before the High Court regarding conversion. There are several approaches to this issue but the prime minister seeks to adopt the "Nissim Approach," laid out in an extensive report filed by Moshe Nissim in 2018.
In this report, Nissim recommended that a conversion network be established whose list of dayonim be chosen by a committee composed of eleven members, including the Minister of Justice, the chairman of the Knesset Legislative committee, the two chief rabbis, the head of the Jewish Agency, the head of the new upcoming Conversion network, the chairman of Netiv and two additional representatives to be chosen with the recommendations of the prime minister and the head of the Jewish Agency. Given the current people involved, these last two are likely to be a Reform and a Conservative representative.
According to this report of the former Justice Minister, Moshe Nissim, which Netanyahu wishes to implement, all the rabbonim of cities will automatically receive the status of dayonim regarding everything connected to executing conversion, so long as they pass certain exams, while bypassing appointment by the committee.
As if this was not enough, conversion candidates will be able to choose whichever rabbi they wish, regardless of where they live. Thus, they will all have access to the rabbis known for their leniency in demands for conversion, which are properly the legitimate assumption of the yoke of Torah and mitzvos and the resolution to live such a life accordingly.
These clauses, are included in the bill put together by Nissim, with the advice of a long list of people including active rabbonim (from the Beit Hillel Organization and others) and others from the Reform and Conservative streams. From the common denominator of those who appeared before him, it can be understood in which direction the wind is blowing in Nissim's committee. This committee, which will authorize the list of dayonim, will be providing legitimization to urban rabbonim to make conversions while circumventing standing Beis Dinim as was demanded by Torah leadership, past and present. That is to say, Torah leadership always said that the proper venue for conversion is in permanent, competent botei din.
All this will constitute a terrible blow to the purity of the Jewish People.
For the longest time, chareidi Jewry has been waging a determined battle to the hilt against the conversion ceremonies conducted by people who declare themselves as Reform or Conservative Jews. A similar fight is being conducted against rabbinical bodies working against the Halacha since this constitutes a terrible deadly blow to one of the underpinnings of our faith - as has been categorically established by our Torah leaders past and present. This does not concern a single sinner, personal or against the public, but a threat of dreadful assimilation in accepting gentiles into our nation.
Outside of Eretz Yisroel, Conservative and Reform rabbis do make fictitious conversions, however it is clear to all that such converts have no intention of keeping mitzvos. One reason these "conversions" are performed is often so that the `converts' can avail themselves of the benefits of the Law of Return. The battle is pitched that these so called conversions be conducted here, too.
Former Minister Moshe Nissim presented his dangerous outline a long time ago. It raised a big storm in the entire Jewish world at the time. But thanks to the determined efforts of the chareidi Knesset representatives, it did not get even as far as a vote. Today, however, Netanyahu promotes this outline as a solution to the demand of the High Court to adapt some kind of feasible plan of conversion.
Deputy Minister of Transportation, Rav Uri Maklev, told Yated Ne'eman that the Jewish chareidii stand is consistent and resolute. It is not given to change since it represents the untainted pure position of the Halacha, meaning that there will be no acquiescence to any compromise providing legitimization to conversions which do not abide strictly to the Halacha as determined by our rabbonim past and present.
He adds that even while in the past, the High Court ruled in favor of recognizing conversions performed abroad, including giyurei kefitza, quickee absentee conversions performed through various institutes in Israel which in essence were made abroad, usually in Cyprus, despite that these was made purely for the sake benefiting from the Law of Return, and these were recognized officially only for the sake of granting those candidates Israeli citizenship. Chareidi Jewry will not compromise on this area either, since it legitimizes such conversions and converts.
Rabbi Maklev noted to our reporter that up till now, Netanyahu avoided taking a stand against the High Court in this issue because of the uncompromising stand of the chareidi parties and also because the influential American Jews were not supportive of the outgoing government but with the new election outcome, things have changed.
