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| R' Chaim Druckman (Arutz Sheva) |
Bennett who is observant has been vilified by the right for ‘partnering with the devil’. Some (perhaps even most) of his coalition partners are openly hostile to Charedi interests and at least one of them, Avigdor Lieberman, has sworn to reduce if not completely eliminate Charedi influence on the fabric of Israeli life.
I can’t say that I blame Charedi leaders for their angry opposition. They have gotten used to getting their way on most issues, not the least of which is commandeering control over the Rabbanut (Israeli Chief Rabbinate). The current Chief Rabbi was elected to his 10 year term largely through their efforts.
This has led to a backlash by secular politicians who among other things see that control as undermining heterodox support for the state.(Follow the money.)
Charedi leadership continues to blast the government as anti religious. One of their main complaints (but certainly not the only) is the the conversion reform proposed by the new government. They see it as watering the conversion process to the point where conversions will not be Halachic. They claim that by allowing the local rabbis in cities and towns to set up their one conversion courts, the number of sham conversions will increase.
The conversion controversy did not become an issue yesterday. It is really the continuation of an unresolved problem about Russian immigrants dating back many years. The unfortunate realityis that in the former Soviet Union (FSU) religious life was decimated by Communist rule. Most Jews grew up ignorant of Halacha and their heritage. Many intermarried. In cases where the non Jewsh spouse was a woman, the children were not Jewish - even if they considered themselves such albeit knowing little about what Judaism is really about.
When the FSU fell, many Jews and those that thought they were Jews decided to emigrate. A lot of them went to Israel. They were quickly mainstreamed into Israeli society including military service.
There were so many immigrants like this that the fear was it could harm the Jewish character of the state. That’s what can happen when so much of the population is not Jewish. Even as they thought they were albeit without observing Halacha. (Nor did they ever intend to become observant – in most cases.)
Long story short, Religious Zionist rabbis decided to set up special conversion courts that would approve mass conversions of these immigrants. But they were lenient about the requirement to be observant or at least how strictly it should be applied. (There is precedent for being more lenient in conversions in cases of ‘Zera Yisroel’ where the father was Jewish.) The Religious Zionist rabbi in charge of those conversions courts back then was Rabbi Chaim Druckman a widely respected Religious Zionist figure.
But he was vilified by the right for that. Charedi rabbis declared his conversions to be illegitimate. If the state went ahead with this proccess THAT would be the existential threat. Those ‘converts’ would in essence be non Jews that would nonetheless would be officially recognized as Jews by the state.
That immigrant problem remains pretty much unresolved. But that controversy resulted in a restructuring of the system that gave the Rabbanut full power over all conversions with the ability to choose which conversions they would recognize and which conversions they were not. Both in Israel anywhere else in the world. They set up standards that were quickly adopted by the RCA . tier converts are accpeted. but converts by other conversion courts were not.
Fast forward to today. The current Religious affairs Minister is Matan Kahana, an observant Jew. As I understand it the conversion reforms he proposes does not really dilute the Rabbanut’s power over conversions at all. From Israel HaYom:
The proposed framework, which Kahana plans to bring to a vote in the coming weeks, was reached in close coordination with prominent rabbinical elders from the religious Zionist community, chief among them Rabbi Haim Drukman, Rabbi Yaaqov Medan, Rabbi Re'em Ha'Cohen, and Rabbi Eitan Eisman.
As part of the proposed framework, municipal rabbis will be able to establish conversion courts to allow them to act to convert tens of thousands of Israelis who are of Jewish descent but are not Jewish according to religious law.
"One cannot claim this is a Reform framework that will encourage assimilation because the greats of religious Zionism are involved, and they expect the Chief Rabbinate to adopt it," Kahana told Israel Hayom.
As part of the framework, a municipal rabbinical division will be established within the state conversion system. These municipal rabbis will establish local courts, and a rabbinical committee will be established that will formulate procedures for local associations.
One of the most volatile issues is the question of whether to authorize municipal rabbis to convert tens of thousands of minors. The conversion of minors will see thousands of people brought quickly into the Jewish community and has been met with opposition from conservative elements.
To ensure the state conversion system and the Chief Rabbinate maintain control of the process, Israel's chief rabbis and the Chief Rabbinate Council will be authorized to revoke the appointment of a conversion court justice in a regulated process. The chief rabbi would be able to recommend the rabbinical committee revoke the authority of a judge who deviates from procedure, and following the committee's recommendation, the Chief Rabbinate Council would revoke that judge's authority.
Here's the thing. The Rabbanut’s authority is not really going to be diminished. The fears by Charedi leaders over losing control of conversions does not seem likely if the above description is true. The Rabbanut will still be in control.
Which lends credence to those who argue that this is all one big power struggle. Nobody likes to lose power. I get that. But it would help if their complaints had any merit. I just don’t see it here. At least on one of their signature complaints - conversions. I have to wonder how they they can still defend that accuastaion.