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Category Archives: Conversion
The Conversion Controversy
Rav Yitzhock Adlerstein writes: Several weeks into the current conversion fracas, and I have participated in a webcam debate, read two of Rabbi Sherman’s piskei din, plus teshuvos both modern and pre-modern, several articles in Techumin, a few chapters of … Continue reading
Posted in Conversion, R. Yitzhock Adlerstein
Tagged conversion controversy, gerus, rabbinate, religious forces, rsquo, texas chainsaw massacre
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The ‘Tolerant’ Rabbi Druckman Vs. The ‘Hard-Hearted’ Haredim
Jonathan Rosenbloom, who is charedi, writes: Rabbi Avraham Sherman, author of the Rabbinical High Court decision, served for many years as an IDF rabbi, and once spent a sabbatical at Yeshiva University, the flagship institution of modern Orthodoxy. Another one … Continue reading
Posted in Conversion
Tagged chief rabbi, isaac herzog, israeli rabbis, jerusalem post, rabbi avraham, Yeshiva University
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Conversion Controversy Discussion
Rabbi Gil Student writes: "The Torah in Motion discussion between R. Barry Freundel, R. Yitzchok Adlerstein and R. Seth Farber about the recent conversion controversy is now available for purchase (link – "The Conversion Crisis – Panel"). I am almost … Continue reading
Posted in Conversion
Tagged conversion controversy, conversion crisis, gil student, marc shapiro, negative consequences, seth farber, torah in motion
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Love The Convert
Rabbi Eliezer Melamed writes in the Jewish Press: The laws regarding converts to Judaism are among the most astounding in the Torah. They teach us that any non-Jew who truly and earnestly seeks to join the Jewish people may do … Continue reading
Posted in Conversion
Tagged ancient culture, anti semite, converts to judaism, despair, deuteronomy, extreme difficulties, first glance, inner strength, insult, jew, jewish law, jewish press, melamed, nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp, rabbi eliezer, rich tradition, rsquo, shulchan aruch, Torah, truth of the matter
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Rabbi Ovadia Yosef Says Conversion Courts Too Strict
Gadi Pickholz emails: "Dude, once again it takes the Sefardi Rabbis like the Rishon L’Zion Ovadya Yosef and Rav Toledano, head of the London & Amsterdam Sephardi Bet Din, to express the voice of reason and tolerance over the charedi … Continue reading
Posted in Conversion
Tagged archenemy, ashkenazi, babylonia, chief rabbinate, concubine, gadi, halachic authority, jerusalem post, litvak, patriarch abraham, rabbi ovadia yosef, rabbi shlomo amar, Rabbis, rishon, sanhedrin, sephardi, talmud, timna, toledano, voice of reason
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How Should Religious Zionism React To The Conversion Controversy?
Shahar Ilan writes in Haaretz: If anyone thought that religious Zionism should continue having anything to do with the Chief Rabbinate or the rabbinic courts, along came the ousting of Rabbi Haim Druckman from his position as head of the … Continue reading
Posted in Conversion
Tagged chief rabbinate, conversion controversy, conversion system, conversions, court of appeals, former soviet union, haaretz, israelis, mass conversion, national challenge, rabbi, rabbinical court, Rabbis, religious establishment, religious women, religious zionism, russian immigrants, sabbatical year, tough questions, zionists
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El Al Security Questions: ‘Are these your bags? Did you convert to Judaism? Why?’
When I flew El Al to Israel in July 2000, I volunteered that I had converted to Judaism and I was happy to discuss why I had converted with the El Al security guy in front of all my friends … Continue reading
Posted in Conversion
Tagged earshot, el al airlines, israeli airport, jerusalem post, Jewish Federation, london paris, one of a group, onlookers, personal questions, private aspects, security checks, security guy, security officer, security official, security questions, strangeness, thoroughness, ticket counter, tourism ministry, york london
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European Rabbis Void Conversions Done By Rabbi Haim Druckman
Gadi emails: "Dude: It’s lucky that you are not really Jewish, because by the time the Talibanut would be finished with you, you wouldn’t even be able to be classifed as dead. See today’s papers, or failed messiah if your … Continue reading
Posted in Conversion
Tagged cast doubt, chief rabbinate, classifed, commu, concession, conversions, FailedMessiah, gadi, hellip, israeli rabbis, jerusalem post, kosher butcher, messiah, quorum, quot, rabbi moshe, rabbinical court, ritual bath, state conversion, telephone interview
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Trembling With Excitement To Join The Jewish People
"I need to know your motivations," he said. "Orthodox Jews are a tiny peculiar people. Why do you want to become one?" "Motivations?" I exclaimed. "Motivations? You need to know my motivations? You can never know my motivations because I … Continue reading
Posted in Conversion, Orthodoxy, Personal
Tagged Aish HaTorah, bais, Beth Jacob, bezalel, century city, converts, Dennis Prager, evil man, excitement, machinations, manly man, motivations, orthodox jews, preacher, quot quot, rabbi, Rabbis, slingshot, Torah, Young Israel
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