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After years of waiting, the Reform converts welcomed the High Court ruling: "A huge step"
Hundreds of Israeli residents who have undergone an alternative conversion process hope that their introduction under the Law of Return will put an end to bureaucratic difficulties.
"Israel is my exclusive spiritual home," said Erika, who has dealt with the costs of cancer without health insurance.
Alejandro expressed concern that the decision would be overturned: "Waiting for it ten years"
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Reforms
Conservatives
High Court
Yaki Adamkar
Monday, 01 March 2021, 22:40
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Years of hardship.
Western Wall women (Photo: Reuters)
Israeli residents who underwent Reform and Conservative conversion breathed a sigh of relief after the High Court ruled today (Monday) that they will be included in the Law of Return. According to sources in both movements, about 300 converts a year in alternative ways, and about 10% of them, about 30 a year, will enter Under the Law of Return under the new ruling, after years of repeated attempts to gain recognition,
Erika Blubai from Tel Aviv first came to Israel 20 years ago and converted to Judaism five years later, in 2006, at the Daniel House of the Reform Movement in Israel. She was deported to Hungary, and only four months later.
During her stay in Israel, while under B-1 status - a tourist visa with a work permit - she contracted breast cancer and had to bear all the medical costs of being Without health insurance, today she is in a relationship with a Jewish Israeli citizen, but it was important to her that her status be regulated by virtue of her Judaism. "Israel is my exclusive spiritual home," she explained.
More on Walla!
The High Court ruled: Reform and Conservative conversions must be recognized for the purpose of the Law of Return
To the full article
"Israel is my exclusive spiritual home."
Erica in Lobay (Photo: Courtesy of the photographers)
Erika paid a heavy price for wanting to be Jewish.
"We knew reform reform would not be easy, but we did not think it would be so long and exhausting. It does not affect me in my daily routine, but I can not vote in elections, and every year I have to get a visa again. I really hope this decision will make my life quieter and I can eat. "It's not easy to live with the feeling that you do not know what will happen next year, will I have or will I not have a visa? I am constantly nervous," she said.
She understands that the High Court's decision is not the end of the verse: “Honestly, I am afraid of new legislation of the religious and ultra-Orthodox parties.
They do not accept us, I do not understand why. "
Came for the marriage, stayed because of the roots
Alejandro Tober Ospina, 32, was born in Colombia and now lives in Tel Aviv.
He married a Jewish Israeli citizen in 2011, and a year later received temporary status by virtue of the marriage.
With the regulation of his status in Israel, he sought to convert - and did so in 2013. He has lived in Israel for the past ten years, the center of his spiritual and physical life is in Israel, he maintains a Jewish lifestyle, and even after separating from his partner - dreams of becoming an ordinary Israeli citizen.
"I have been waiting for this decision for ten years," he said.
"I am happy for her and I have no words to express it. I am very excited. I will finally be an Israeli citizen for everything, that was my dream."
Alejandro has expressed concern that this will not be the last word, and the Knesset will advance legislation if the ultra-Orthodox parties become part of the next government.
"Hopefully they won't overturn the ruling," he said.
"It is very important to me to be an Israeli citizen because already when I came here I connected very much to the country, I wanted to live here, I converted, I also tried to go to the army, I have Jewish roots, I really wanted to be Israeli. This ruling is not perfect - it recognizes us as Jews "I went for it. It's not perfect, but it's a huge step. It's really important."
"Hope they do not overturn the ruling."
Alejandro Tober Ospina (Photo: courtesy of the photographers)
Today's High Court decision ruled that even those who have undergone a conversion process in Israel, which is not in accordance with halakhah, in non-Orthodox courts, will receive Israeli citizenship under the Law of Return. not for the entitlement of the Law of Return and obtaining Israeli citizenship.
much Noa stonemason, director of the Israel Religious Action Center said in response that "the Supreme Court stood alongside men and women who have chosen to be Jews, stating once again that Israel is a Jewish state, and that there is more than one way to be Jewish ".
"The movement's director general, Rakefet Ginsberg, said it was a historic day. There is more than one way to be a Jew in the State of Israel. Again and again we are forced to fight for our rights in the courts instead of having a dialogue and dialogue."
The ruling passed today provoked great political anger in the ultra-Orthodox and religious parties.
Torah Judaism and the Shas said they would demand that the next Knesset promote the overcoming clause or legislation that bypasses the High Court, even though the High Court judges sought to promote legislation that would enshrine the status of converts in Israel, which would prevent them from intervening.
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