Preaching to the converted

Regarding “Non-Orthodox conversions performed in Israel to be recognized for citizenship” (March 2), the court had to do something. But the problem goes back further than 15 years of Knesset inaction. People who had suffered anti-Jewish discrimination in the USSR, even if not Jewish according to Halacha, began arriving in Israel in the 1990s. Not only did the Chief Rabbinate fail to reach out to them and offer to help them get acquainted with Judaism, the rabbis placed barriers in the path of the ones who sought to officially convert (for instance, insisting that the potential convert had to convince his or her entire family to come back to Judaism and refusing to convert anyone who would not become completely observant at the moment of conversion).

The nation-state of the Jews needs to retain its majority-Jewish population. Religious leaders from all streams of Judaism need to be offering classes and activities for people who were denied knowledge of Judaism through no fault of their own (whether they lived under antisemitic governments or their parents were confirmed secularists). Some haredim don’t consider Reform or Masorti Judaism to be “Torah-true” Judaism, but there are people who have undergone several conversions, even starting out Reform and ending up haredi. The longest journey begins with the first step.

TOBY F. BLOCK

Atlanta, GA

The article does not tell the whole story, which is the confused situation that this creates.

Conservative Judaism does not recognize Reform conversions. Reform Judaism in Israel often objects to Reform conversions performed in the US. And the next stage of confusion is around the corner: “Messianic” Jews who are suing to recognize their status as Jews. In short, the Israeli Supreme Court has not done anyone any favor with the confusion that their decision has created.

ARELLA RUBIN Jerusalem

As a – many moons ago – graduate of the Bnei Akiva movement who considers herself modern Orthodox, I agree whole-heartedly with Yaakov’s Katz’s comment (“Don’t blame court,” March 2) on the High Court’s ruling that non-orthodox conversions performed in Israel be recognized for citizenship. He correctly notes that this should have been a long-overdue Knesset decision that ultimately required the High Court’s intervention.

Time is long past for this country to bring its population together rather than create a divided society where one Jew is recognized as a Jew and a second is not because they belong to the Reform or Conservative movements.

The Court’s decision is not only pertinent to Jews living in Israel, it is of the utmost importance to those members of the Reform and Conservative movements residing in the Diaspora. Of particular relevance are the Jews living in the United States, where the majority belong to the Reform and Conservative branches of Judaism. The end result is a turning away from Israel that our small vulnerable country can ill afford.

The reality is that the government here – through its minority ultra-Orthodox sector – has continually ensured that those Reform and Conservative Israelis are treated as second-class citizens. For example, as Katz notes, in spite of numerous government commitments to provide a place for them to pray at the Kotel this has yet to materialize.

BRENDA KATTEN Netanya