Rabbis challenge Chief Rabbinate, establish 'alternative' conversion courts

A number of prominent religious Zionist rabbis set out on a collision course with Israel's Chief Rabbinate on Monday when they declared the launch of a network of independent rabbinical courts, to be headed by rabbinical judges belonging to the religious Zionist stream, that will perform conversions. By establishing this network, the religious Zionist rabbis are attempting to topple the Chief Rabbinate's monopoly over conversions to Judaism.

This revolutionary move came in response to coalition agreements between the prime minister and the ultra-Orthodox parties, which quashed the hopes for conversion reform. Under the coalition agreements, previous understandings regarding the passage of a new conversion law, which would ease the impossibly strict guidelines currently in place, were shelved.

A statement issued Monday indicated that Rabbi Nahum Rabinovitch, the head of the Birkat Moshe yeshiva in Maaleh Adumim, would head the independent rabbinical court network, which is to be named Giyur Kahalachah (a double entendre meaning conversion according to Jewish law but also conversion as it should be done).

The alternative system will cater to both minors and adults and will be overseen by a long line of highly respected, well-known rabbis.

One of the main obstacles expected in the path toward an alternative conversion system is the fact that the traditional Chief Rabbinate does not recognize the validity of these conversions. This could pose problems for potential converts, who, without recognition from the Chief Rabbinate would have trouble gaining recognition from the state in many instances.

For now, the religious Zionist rabbis have offered a partial solution of performing independent wedding ceremonies as well (since the Chief Rabbinate will not marry anyone whom they do not consider a Jew, including a convert whose conversion they do not recognize as valid). Couples married under the new system would not automatically be registered with the state as married, the way couples married by the Chief Rabbinate are, but they would be able to apply for registration in a way similar to couples who marry abroad. As far as the Chief Rabbinate is concerned, however, these couples would not be considered married.

Despite the obstacles, the conversion of six minors was completed by the alternative court on Monday.

"We make it clear to everyone who comes to us that at this stage, the process is not recognized as valid by the Chief Rabbinate," the statement said. "The ultimate goal is for the Chief Rabbinate to cooperate with us -- once hundreds and then thousands of people pass through our process, the Chief Rabbinate will not be able to ignore it."

Rabbi David Stav, among the leaders of Giyur Kahalacha, addressed the fact that many immigrants face hardships in their efforts to convert to Judaism. "The religious Zionist rabbis have taken responsibility for Israeli society and the immigrants from the former Soviet Union," he said. "We will not tolerate the reality where the gatekeepers of the Jewish people are political figures from certain parties who bar people from undergoing a kosher, legal conversion process.

"We believe that a large mass of people will convert and that ultimately the State of Israel will recognize their conversion," he went on to say. "And if not, thousands of converts will find a way to tell the courts that it is inconceivable that a small political group imposes its will on the people of Israel when it comes to the conversion process."

Jewish Agency Chairman Natan Sharansky welcomed the establishment of the alternative network, saying Monday: "If we want to keep Israel's doors open to all those who wish to join our people under Jewish law, it is important for rabbis who are authorized by the Chief Rabbinate to perform conversions to take part in the process, and this move will allow them to do so."

The Chief Rabbinate and the Religious Services Ministry opted not to issue an official response at this time. Sources in the Chief Rabbinate, however, indicated that they were not impressed. "There is nothing new here. In the end, they [the converts] will have to go through the Chief Rabbinate's court. No one will go on an adventure, or try to shorten the process by three months if there is a chance that at the end the conversion will not be recognized," they said.

Former Chief Military Rabbi Israel Weiss, who currently serves as a rabbinical judge in a conversion court, voiced harsh opposition to the move."This is an outrage on every level. They are systematically attacking the conversion system without any justification. The [existing] military and civilian conversion system is the best system that can be. It is the most welcoming, the most accommodating, and it is all done under strict Jewish law. I hope that the Chief Rabbinate and the High Court of Justice will not cooperate with this."

Another critic of the initiative is, surprisingly, Rabbi Haim Drukman, one of the most prominent religious Zionist rabbis in Israel. Speaking to Israel Hayom on Monday, he said, "I vehemently oppose any conversion alternative to the Chief Rabbinate conversion, the same way I oppose an alternative kashrut mechanism. Anything that is alternative severely harms the practical existence of observant life in Israel.

"The fact that we have one official Chief Rabbinate is an enormous privilege," he went on to say. "It allows for religious life in Israel in a way that wasn't possible in exile. Anything alternative is dangerous, even if it adheres to Jewish law. Today it adheres to Jewish law, but tomorrow the Reform Jews will establish their own conversion court or kashrut mechanism. That will destroy observant life in Israel."

Kulanu MK Rachel Azaria said, "This kind of public initiative is not easy. It demonstrates leadership and courage. Creating an alternative to the Chief Rabbinate, as was done for kashrut, is the right move for the Jewish character of Israel."

Meretz leader Zehava Galon remarked that "it doesn't matter who controls the conversion system -- be it Chief Rabbinate rabbis or national religious rabbis from Giyur Kahalacha. It won't change the reality for hundreds of thousands of Israelis who will continue to be treated as second class citizens. We need to come with real alternatives: Orthodox, Reform, Conservative, or other, because entry into Judaism is still dependent on Orthodox coercion."

Former Hatnuah MK Elazar Stern said, "Important rabbis have put an end to the Chief Rabbinate's cruelty toward the country's citizens and toward the future of the State of Israel. [Shas leader] Aryeh Deri will not determine who can and cannot be Jewish."

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