Knesset Committee Hears From Chief Rabbi On Israel's Recognition of Orthodox Conversions

Haaretz reports on a special meeting of the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) Immigration Committee on Tuesday in the office of Israel's Chief Sephardi Rabbi Slomo Amar in which Amar defended a controversial policy of the Chief Rabbinate and the Interior Ministry adopted two years ago regarding recognition of conversions to Judaism performed by Orthodox rabbis abroad.  The policy limits recognition of conversions to those performed by members of specific rabbinical organizations, such as the Rabbinical Council of America. The Interior Ministry's recognition is important in determining whether an immigrant is entitled to immigrate under the Law of Return. Amar told the Knesset Committee that he had received reports of some rabbis abroad performing conversions in exchange for large sums of money.  In an interesting twist, the Israeli Supreme Court has previously ruled that the Interior Ministry must recognize Reform and Conservative conversions from abroad for purposes of the Law of Return.  However, because the Court has not passed on the issue of Orthodox conversions abroad, the Interior Ministry retains control over which it will recognize. Government representatives are working on drafting a new policy on recognition of Orthodox conversions that will withstand legal challenge.