Conversion Controversy

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-The High Rabbinical Court of Israel has ruled that all of the thousands of conversions conducted since 1999 by Rabbi Drukman – who heads the Conversion Authority — must be declared invalid. They also ruled that it was permitted to retroactively cancel the conversion of someone who does not observe the Sabbath, doing so to the woman in the actual case, whose conversion was 15 years ago. Their ruling converted her children into gentiles, and “out of extra caution,â€? they ruled that her husband, a born Jew, could not marry either. (The Jerusalem Post)

-But it turns out that Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar tried to halt the publication of the ruling. (Haaretz)

-And criticism arises quickly. (Haaretz)

-For Yesmao Yela’o, having died speeded up his conversion process. (Haaretz)

-What is billed as “the largest conference of Black, Asian, Latino, and mix-raced Jewish leaders” has its focus on issues around conversion. (Earth Times)

-Rabbi Myron Zuber writes about converting Inca Indians in Peru, but notes, “The Lima Jews do not permit the Inca Jews to enter their synagogue, even though the Incans were converted by a Bais Din of Israel.� (Kulanu)

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