Jerusalem – Orthodox Woman Convert From US Ordered To Leave Israel

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    Jerusalem – The Interior Ministry has rejected an application for permanent residency by an Orthodox convert, after the Chief Rabbinate informed the ministry it did not recognize her conversion.

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    After the rabbinate’s decision, the ministry first rejected her aliya application. She does not want her name published.

    Speaking with The Jerusalem Post, the woman said that it was hard to express her feelings.

    “It’s weird for me, after all this time. For the past six years I’ve been thinking I’m Jewish, and I have been accepted as Jewish by my parents, my sisters, my relatives, my friends, my colleagues and even strangers – and now suddenly, I’ve been told I’m not Jewish.

    “I was told in two short lines, without any explanation, and I received the letter summarily booting me from the country. I never thought of myself as an ‘illegal alien’ or an unwelcome person, but suddenly I’m someone whose status is in question, not by those who know me but, rather, by those who don’t. How would you feel?”

    The woman converted in 2005 under the auspices of the rabbi of one of the oldest established Orthodox synagogues in the US (located in New York). The rabbi is a well-respected Orthodox religious leader.

    The decision by the ministry’s Population, Immigration and Border Authority to consult the Chief Rabbinate violates a June agreement between authority director Amnon Ben-Ami and Knesset Committee for Aliya, Absorption and the Diaspora chairman MK Danny Danon (Likud).

    The agreement stipulated that the ministry would consult with the Jewish Agency regarding the eligibility of Orthodox converts for aliya, instead of the Chief Rabbinate.

    This was due to a series of aliya applications by Orthodox converts that were rejected by the rabbinate because it did not “recognize” their conversions.

    Until this point, the rabbinate was the default agency for determining the validity of conversions conducted abroad, as a result of the lack of a centralized Orthodox body to make these decisions.

    The Interior Ministry told the Post the case was being examined “according to all the criteria,” and that the Population, Immigration and Border Authority “will act in accordance with all agreements.”

    A spokesman for the Jewish Agency criticized the Interior Ministry over its decision and said that agency chairman Natan Sharansky would speak to Interior Minister Eli Yishai (Shas) about it.

    “This decision was a violation of the agreement between the Interior Ministry and the Jewish Agency,” the spokesman said. “We checked the conversion and concluded that it is completely in keeping with the requirements of the Law of Return. We told the ministry that this was the case, and we are saddened that other considerations went into the decision regarding this person’s aliya.”

    Danon told the Post, “I trust the wisdom of [Chief] Rabbi Shlomo Amar, but I will look into this specific incident if I can get the exact details of the case.”

    The woman is a PhD candidate who has spent time in Israel conducting research for two six-month periods, in 2008 and again this year.

    Having been informed by the Interior Ministry that she was no longer eligible for tourist visas, she applied for permanent residency as the only option available to her.

    On November 16, she received a letter dated November 1, stating that her application was denied and that she had two weeks to leave the country from the date the letter was written.

    She turned to ITIM: The Jewish- Life Information Center, for help, which subsequently appealed the decision to the Interior Ministry. She has been allowed to remain in the country while the case is under consideration.

    “We have reached a new low for converts,” ITIM director Rabbi Seth Farber said. “The insensitive attitude of the Interior Ministry is unconscionable and counters Jewish tradition which forbids Jews from persecuting converts.

    “Converts are exceptionally vulnerable and have nowhere to turn. The Torah mentions being kind to the convert 36 times! “ITIM sued the ministry in June, and we will be forced to do so again if they won’t abide by the agreement. In the past 24 hours ITIM has reached out to Amnon Ben-Ami – who signed the agreement – and has given them the opportunity to rectify the situation without having to involve the court.”

    According to a 1988 Supreme Court decision, the criteria determining the aliya eligibility of converts are that the community and rabbi through which they converted must be recognized as legitimate, and that in turn, the community and rabbi recognize the convert as a Jew and a community member in good standing.

    For Conservative and Reform converts the verification process is simplified by the centralized community bodies for each religious stream, which can easily confirm whether someone has converted through their offices.

    The lack of a central umbrella body for all Orthodox communities makes this verification much harder for Orthodox converts, resulting in the confirmation of aliya eligibility of these converts being contracted out to the Chief Rabbinate.

    Historically, instead of addressing the legal requirements as stipulated by the Supreme Court, the rabbinate approved or rejected a convert’s aliya application based on its own criteria. Due to this, Orthodox converts found it much harder to make aliya than those who had converted through other streams of Judaism.

    The agreement between the Population, Immigration and Border Authority and Danon states that in cases in which the Jewish Agency cannot verify an Orthodox conversion, the Interior Ministry may consult with the Chief Rabbinate.

    In the current case, the Jewish Agency verified that the community and the rabbi through which the woman converted were authentic, and the rabbi recognized her as having converted under his auspices, and as a member of his community.

    Content is provided courtesy of the Jerusalem Post


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    31 Comments
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    12 years ago

    The solution is simple. Every orthodox American convert should also obtain a simultaneous reform or conservative conversion.. Use that conversion for registration purposes with the state and circumvent the politically inspired shenanigans of the chief rabbinate. I realize the rabbinate may attempt to prevdnt these olim from marrying but ina worst casenthey can just do so abroad and return to live their lives in Israel.

    MosheM
    MosheM
    12 years ago

    Weird story. We need more background.

    Robert
    Member
    Robert
    12 years ago

    this is a terrible story

    it is also sad that the us orthodox rabbinate buckled into relinquishing its authority to do halachic conversions and instead “centralized” it, it seems to me the israeli rabbinate do not even recognize the us central authority at all times such as in this case.
    please correct me if i misunderstand the specifics here.

    i beleive that any “kosher / halachic” bet din should be allowed its autonomy and be recognized by all jews in israel and the diaspora.

    Member
    12 years ago

    Judaism really needs to get it together UNIVERSALLY regarding Conversions.

    Avreich1
    Avreich1
    12 years ago

    Words fail me; I am flabbergasted.

    cantoresq
    cantoresq
    12 years ago

    The Conservative and Reform rabbis are probably laughing their heads off over this.

    SherryTheNoahide
    SherryTheNoahide
    12 years ago

    “Converts are exceptionally vulnerable and have nowhere to turn. The Torah mentions being kind to the convert 36 times! “

    And isn’t this supposed to be the REAL point?! Looking out for the converts, who don’t really have anywhere to turn?!

    The article didn’t state their reasons for rejecting her status… but whatever the reason, once the courts rule in her favor (which I don’t see how they couldn’t!), they are going to have egg all over their faces for denying her in the 1st place!

    The story said she had met all of the legal requirements AND was converted under the tutelage of a very well-respected Rabbi here in New York! So what’s the problem?

    There was another Rabbi who’s lectures I listen to a lot of the time, that said certain factions w\in Judaism won’t even accept converts AT ALL, because they’ve been “burned” too many times before in the past. People making the conversion just so they can get married, etc. (ie: think Chelsea Clinton- lol)

    I can understand the worry… but to not accept converts at all?! And now this woman is being thrown out of Israel?! It seems like converts are sort of under attack these days!

    proudAmerican
    proudAmerican
    12 years ago

    Its a honor for us that the rabbanut is not recognizing orthodox american conversions, now we have their true colors, they are not representing orthodoxy.

    12 years ago

    The discrimination by many against converts is appalling.

    12 years ago

    If the Rabbi who converted her is legitimate, what’s the problem? I just don’t get it. I bet $$ is involved somewhere.

    eighthcomment
    eighthcomment
    12 years ago

    I wouldn’t judge before knowing the facts…period. It makes no sense, and there are many old rabbis who do not adhere to the conversion requirements of the rabbanut, and let the conservatives and reform rabbis laugh in this world…who r they fooling- they’ve changed their standards as many times as the winds blow- orthodox halachic standards are all that it takes to be an orthodox halachic Jew

    12 years ago

    It’s no wonder why there are so few Yidden in the world. Nebech.

    proudAmerican
    proudAmerican
    12 years ago

    Orthodox community aren’t offended at all, we absolutely don’t care if they recognize our conversion or not

    Mark Levin
    Mark Levin
    12 years ago

    4. We would love for the conservative & reform (I.e., NON Torah observers) to STOP making more goyim. Their conversions are worthless because a ger has to accept 100% of ALL mitzvos including d’rabanan. The non frum don’t do that, thus its not a geyrus & they are still goyim.

    The bottom line is the gerus must be done 100% according to frum shomer Torah u’mitzvos standards and NONE else otherwise they are goyim & gives us yichus problems & intermarriage.

    12 years ago

    Many times people came to me for conversion and I turned them away. Not only because it is the halacha to be yad sm’ol doche v’yamin mikareves but because of this absurd situation that I can be a frum rov, help someone convert to a life of full halachic observance and it not be recognized.

    It’s nice to know that it happens to well known rabbonim too.

    It’s just absurd.

    12 years ago

    This article did not name the “rabbi” or “beis din” that is reputable in US but not recognized by the Israeli rabbinate. While i cannot comment about the specifics of this case, it is a fact that the batei din in US include several whose dayanim are beyond corrupt. I possess letters from the Ashkenazic and Sephardic chief rabbis as well as as others in US that refuse to recognize various procedures (marriages, gittin, chalitza, heter meah rabbonim, and geirus) performed by certain individuals and their batei din. If any of the readers here have had dealings with dayanim or batei din, you have undoubtedly experienced those who are a disgrace to the Torah they purport to spout. It is not in vain that the Israeli rabbinate is more choosy about this, although that may have its errors of omission. Halevai that all those who bear titles of distinction should manifest characters that are above reproach.

    12 years ago

    There are many types of synagogues that label themselves as orthodox. Some do not have shoulder-height mechitzas, some use a microphone that they say was developed to be used on Shabbos, some convert people who they know are converting to intermarry (although that doesn’t seem to be the case here). What are the criterion for the Israeli Rabbinate? Can there be one conversion board for the US that would meet those criteria?
    Can the rabbinate in Israel explain to the lady what it was about her conversion they found objectionable and at least give her the chance to go through their conversion channels if she feels that it would help her situation. The future of the Jewish people is at stake because of conversion standards. What can be done to remedy the situation?

    12 years ago

    Even if her conversion is 100% kosher she will not be accepted if, today, she is not shomer Torah and mitzvahs.
    That’s the way it works.

    SherryTheNoahide
    SherryTheNoahide
    12 years ago

    My husband & our children have been praying really hard for a few years now, about deciding on whether or not we should convert. There are so many reasons why we haven’t done so yet… but in the interest of saving space, I’ll just list a few here:

    (1) We live 3 hours away from the nearest orthodox synagogue, and have no Jewish friends where we live! So we’d have no “family” around us once we made our conversion, to help us out w\the process & to be a support. We really would be all on our own.
    (2) The only synagogue that IS in town… is a Conservative one. And right now, they are more than happy to have our family visiting their Shul as Noahides. But if we WERE to convert one day… they’d probably be the congregation that would help us, but …
    (3) A “conversion” into Judaism from a Conservative Shul… wouldn’t count as a REAL conversion anywhere else in the Orthodox world! (At least, that’s what we’ve been told.) So we’d have to go through the entire process over again, if one day we move to a neighborhood where there’s a proper Shul to attend!
    And…
    (4) If we did convert w\having NO local support around us…what if we slipped & we began to let HaShem down?

    (con’t)

    SherryTheNoahide
    SherryTheNoahide
    12 years ago

    (con’t)

    We figure HaShem already has enough Jews in his Nation who aren’t keeping Shabbos, who aren’t doing mitvot really, etc. He doesn’t need more disappointment & we are deathly afraid of disappointing Him!

    What if we converted, but then through weakness & having a lack of support around, we begin to revert back to Goyim basically?! We will have made a HUGE error in judgement, thinking we could do it all on our “own” w\out any help!

    And there are other reasons we haven’t converted yet besides these… but I bring these reasons up in particular, because I want to make the point that it can REALLY be difficult to find a way to convert appropriately & according to all these different standards!

    Some Rabbis don’t even consider Reform or Conservative Jews to be “Jewish”! So how could we convert through them??

    I just wish there was some kind of UNIVERSAL STANDARD that could be set for ALL converts, that way, Jason (hubby) & I, could make the decision based upon having a detailed explanation of what needs to be done… rather than just *guessing* that our conversions will be ok!

    We love G-d so much… we just don’t want to disappoint Him. The process seems very daunting.