Converts through IDF are ‘shiksas,’ haredi MK says
united torah judaism mK yitzhak pindrus stirred controversy when comments he made saying a female soldier who converts through the idF’s conversion system is a “shiksa” and a “goya” came to light on tuesday.
“she is not jewish, and if someone marries her, the father [of the groom] needs to sit shiva [the mourning period], rip his clothes and recite kaddish,” he said at a conference on monday.
pindrus made his remarks at a conference organized by the itim religious services organization and the Kipa news website.
such a convert could light a fire (or use electricity) in his house on shabbat because she is not jewish, he said.
the high court of justice on monday ruled that the state needs to recognize conversions performed by the reform and masorti (conservative) movements in israel for the purpose of obtaining citizenship under the Law of return.
until now, reform and conservative conversions were only recognized for citizenship purposes if they were performed overseas.
“pindrus’s comment demonstrates how little halacha has to do with conversion in israel today,” said seth Farber, founder
and director of itim: the jewish-Life information center, which helps israelis with the legal intricacies of personal status.
“rather than relying on the majority of halachic decisions, including the leadership of his community, rabbi [shmuel] wosner and rabbi ovadia yosef, who both stood completely behind the conversions in the army, pindrus has chosen to make a political mockery of conversion [and is] engaging in anti-halachic behavior,” he said.
“jewish tradition is very sensitive to the status of converts and prohibits under all circumstances making converts feel vulnerable or pain,” Farber said. “pindrus’s comment has caused immeasurable pain to thousands of people who have converted in the army, and i imagine that one day he will have to answer for it.”