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The High Court ruled in the conversion petitions - and the explosive issue will return to the Knesset field
For 15 years, Supreme Court justices have refrained from ruling on the issue of Reform and Conservative conversions, which is considered one of the most sensitive in Israel when it comes to religious and state relations.
However, it is not certain that the ruling that grants converts citizenship under the Law of Return will put an end to the saga.
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Daniel Dolev
Tuesday, 02 March 2021, 08:28
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Will be recognized as converts.
Women of the Western Wall (Photo: Flash 90, Hadas Porush)
The High Court ruled yesterday (Monday) on one of the burning issues that exist in Israeli society, regarding the relationship between religion and state. Nevertheless, many questions still arise regarding its essence: What will be the degree of recognition of Reform and Conservative conversions? Why did it take the judges 15 years to respond to such a sensitive petition?
The decision provoked immediate controversy in the political system, with an emphasis on the upcoming election campaign. While the center-left parties welcomed the move and noted that it was a "historic decision", the ultra-Orthodox parties 'They were quick to announce that immediately after the election they will begin legislation that bypasses the High Court. If so, what is the meaning of the judges' ruling?
More on Walla!
The High Court ruled: Reform and Conservative conversions must be recognized for the purpose of the Law of Return
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Read more on the subject
After years of waiting, the Reform converts welcomed the High Court ruling: "A huge step"
What exactly was determined in the High Court?
The judges ruled yesterday that reform and conservative conversions taking place in Israel will be recognized by the state for the purpose of the Law of Return.
That is, anyone who undergoes such conversion will be able to immigrate to Israel and obtain citizenship within the framework of the law, which stipulates that in fact every Jew - is entitled to immigrate to Israel and receive Israeli citizenship by virtue of his Judaism.
Reform and Conservative conversions held in Israel will be recognized by the state for the purpose of the Law of Return.
Animals (Photo: Flash 90, Jonathan Zindel / Flash 90)
Why did the ruling provoke such a storm?
The rabbinical establishment in Israel and the chief rabbinate belong to the Orthodox sect and strongly oppose the recognition of other streams in Judaism.
In the past, the High Court has ordered the state to recognize Reform and Conservative conversions made abroad, and in recent years has even recognized under certain conditions "private" Orthodox conversions made in Israel.
That is, Orthodox conversions, but those not made through the Chief Rabbinate.
Last night's ruling, which also recognizes reform and conservative conversions made in Israel for the purpose of the Law of Return, constitutes another significant leap in the field.
What does it mean to "be recognized for the purpose of the Law of Return"?
Recognition for the purpose of the Law of Return means that anyone who has undergone such conversion will be able to obtain citizenship as any Jew.
However, as Justice Solberg noted in his ruling, life is more complex than the question of citizenship.
Thus, for example, if a person who has undergone such a conversion wants to marry in the future in Israel through the rabbinate, she may not recognize him as a Jew, and in the future will require decisions on the subject.
The Chief Rabbinate strongly opposes the recognition of other currents in Judaism.
Chief Rabbi David Lau (Photo: Flash 90, Noam Rabkin Pento / Flash 90)
Why did it take so long to decide the petitions?
The question of conversion, including the recognition of the various currents in Judaism, is one of the most explosive questions in Israel's relations with Diaspora Jewry.
While Israel is the dominant Orthodox, and certainly when it comes to the rabbinate, overseas other streams are much more common. State official recognition of these currents infuriated the ultra-Orthodox parties, on the other hand non-recognition which may alienate large segments of world Jewry.
Court refrained from ruling Petition for more than a decade, because he believed that the Knesset should decide the sensitive issue after considering all the relevant considerations.
Time and time again the judges have given the state extensions to try to settle the issue, so as not to decide it out of individual petitions of individual people.
The Knesset and the government appointed several committees on the issue, but did not make a decision, until the High Court felt that it had no more way to evade the decision.
What happens next?
The High Court ruled in the individual petitions, and now reform and conservative conversions will be recognized in Israel, but even in the ruling the judges still called on the Knesset to regulate the issue in legislation. The ultra-Orthodox parties were quick to clarify that .
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