According to the head of Tzohar Rabbonim Rabbi David Stav, the Chief Rabbinate of Israel’s refusal to back the Stern Bill seeking to introduce less stringent giyur stems from political and not halachic concerns.

Rabbi Stav explains that he heard concerns expressed that three Reform rabbis would form a beis din and convert someone, calling such a notion absurd. Rabbi Stav explains the bill does not permit establishing new batei din without approval of the Chief Rabbinate so the scenario mentioned is not one that can occur under the bill. The rabbonim sitting on a beis din he insists are Yirei Shomayim and as such, he does not understand how the opponents to the bill can continue feeding the tzibur at large untruths.

Rabbi Stav explains the bill simply returns the authority to the civil service rabbonim serving as chief rabbis of cities, in essence returning the situation to what it has been throughout Jewish history. “There is not a rabbi of a kehilla throughout history that did not address giyur” he points out. He questions the fears of the chief rabbis amid the realization that rabbonim serving as chief rabbis of cities have been tested and certified by the Chief Rabbinate. Therefore he feels that they are indeed worthy and certified to address issues of giyur. Rabbi Stav feels that to limit giyur to a small number of rabbonim who were appointed by politicians is absurd both from a historic and halachic perspective.

The rabbi points out “We are in a generation in which considerations that lead us are not necessarily halachic but political at times. Many rabbonim from other communities understand the problem but they do not address it for one reason or another. Most of the rabbonim who signed the declaration against the bill are not aware of its details and have never engaged in giyur and remain clueless to the realities at hand. 70% of the signatories are not actively rabbonim at all and 90% never dealt with giyur. It is somewhat peculiar that persons who never dealt with giyur now speak out against the bill”.

Rabbi Stav states clearly that he understands the fears, seeking to assure the tzibur explaining there will not be any giyur that does not meet the approval of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, and no one will be converted who does not undertake a religious lifestyle. He stresses the bill simply permits candidates for giyur to address the matter in their local community, making it more convenient. The bill he insists in no way lowers the standards of giyur in Israel.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)