Converts Feeling Effects of More Stringent Conversion Rules

The JTA reports,

M., a 35-year-old American woman who has been living an Orthodox lifestyle for years, thought she was doing everything right.

She studied Judaism in Los Angeles, had her conversion approved there and moved to Israel to officially start her life as a Jew.

But then, she says, the Israeli Interior Ministry changed the rules on her.

Five months after arriving here, M. is still awaiting Israeli citizenship despite being eligible under the Law of Return, which guarantees Jews worldwide the right to Israeli citizenship.

“The Interior Ministry has so many rules, and they keep changing,” said M., who asked not to be identified by name for fear it would jeopardize her bid for Israeli citizenship. “Everyone you speak to there gives a different story for what you need. “It seems people like me are kept deliberately in the dark.”

[...]

Critics say the new rules are too stringent and are disenfranchising Diaspora Jewish communities that approve the conversions, ultimately making it harder than ever for converts from the Diaspora to immigrate to Israel.

The answer, of course, is that you know who are not satisfied with candidates who want to convert to traditional Judaism. Today, they must convert to haredism. This will exclude the brightest converts to traditional Judaism, because of the nonsense and doublethink that haredism demands.

Let’s Make A Deal

I have a suggestion. Let’s be even-handed about this. Since many Israelis–including many so-called “secular” Israelis–do not trust the conversions of Reform and Conservative, we will tolerate Israel’s continued rejection of these converts since they don’t fulfill the demands of traditional Judaism, which again, many Israelis want for converts. However, as part of a deal for continued good relations with the Diaspora, haredi converts must also be denied entry, since this is a contemporary fundamentalist phenomenon, and is deviant from the faith of our ancestors.

So this will allow conversions from the LWMO to the LWUO. That’s a large segment of the Orthodox-only clergy, but excludes the fanatics.

Additionally, it will help create greater fissures and acrimony between the LWUO and the RWUO. And that would be good for Klal Yisroel, and be fun to watch.