CONVERSION RULING
BRITISH PROGRESSIVE rabbis have responded warmly to the Israeli Supreme Court’s recognition of nonOrthodox conversions in the Jewish state, saying that it is a major change in both religious and political thinking that brings the country into line with the rest of the world.
Non-orthodox conversions that take place in the diaspora have allowed converts to become Israeli citizens for several years.
It is understood that only about 30 people inside Israel are directly affected by this week’s ruling, though the fight to establish the principle has been ongoing for at least 15 years.
But Rabbi Jackie Tabick, convenor of the Reform Bet Din in the UK and the European Progressive Bet Din, said there were two major knock-on effects of the judgment that are likely to affect people in the diaspora.
She said: “If a non-Jew goes to Israel and falls in love with Judaism, and wants to convert through a Progressive process, up until now they have not been allowed to do so. Instead, the advice the Reform movement in Israel has had to give them is that they have to go back to the diaspora, live there, convert there, and then go back to Israel.”
Rabbi Tabick, who processes between 10 and 20 such cases every year covering Britain and Europe, said: “These people have to find a community, go through a conversion course in a Progressive synagogue – which lasts from a year to 18 months — and then, because of the rules that Israel has been imposing so far, they have to live a Jewish life in their local community for a further nine months at least.
“Only then can they apply to go back to Israel as a Jew — having been obliged to live in the diaspora for around two years.”
This will no longer apply as a result of the Supreme Court ruling and will be “a big plus”, Rabbi Tabick said. She said that the other main advantage was that the ruling “has advanced a degree of greater recognition of Progressive Judaism in Israel”.
She added: “The situation was causing an increasing rift between the majority of Jews in the diaspora who are not members of very right-wing traditional groups, and who are disturbed at the monopoly of power over how Judaism is practised in Israel.”
She believed there was still a long way to go, as it was still not possible to have Progressive Judaism weddings in Israel, unless there was an Orthodox wedding first. Moreover,Progressive rabbis are not allowed to conduct funerals.
But Rabbi Tabick welcomed the Supreme Court ruling as “a chink in the armour” as to how Judaism functions in the Jewish state. Rabbi Celia Surget, chair of the Assembly of Reform Rabbis and Cantors in Britain, said: “We welcome the decision of the Supreme Court to recognise Reform and Conservative conversions performed in Israel on the basis of the Law of Return. ”This follows longstanding hard work by the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism and the leaders of the Israel Religious Action Centre — which we fully endorse.” She added: “Reform Judaism’s culture and spirit ensures that all who want to live a meaningful and fulfilling Jewish life can do so according to their own choice. It’s good that Israel is finally catching up”. The leading senior Reform rabbi, Jonathan Romain, agreed. He said: “This is welcome and long overdue. At last it gives converts full citizenship in Israel and heals an injustice that we believe should never have been allowed in the first place.”
Rabbi Charley Baginsky, chief executive of Liberal Judaism, echoed the welcoming comments. She said: “It’s more recognition for Progressive Judaism in Israel and I count this ruling as a victory, both for Israel and for Progressive Judaism in the UK. The Supreme Court decision is quite amazing news — it’s historic.”
At last it gives converts full citizenship in Israel’
This is welcome and overdue and heals an injustice’