Coalition delays vote on conversion reform amid disagreements

A vote on a government plan to significantly reform conversion to Judaism in Israel is delayed until further notice after not enough support could be garnered for the legislation.

The legislation, penned by Yisrael Beytenu MK Yulia Malinovsky, is the subject of major controversy. Yesterday, Chief Rabbi David Lau told Prime Minister Naftali Bennett that he would not approve any future conversions to Judaism as long as the government continues to advance its plan to ease the process and dilute the Chief Rabbinate’s control over it.

The reform, initiated by Religious Services Minister Matan Kahana, would allow for conversions outside the auspices of the Chief Rabbinate, authorizing municipal rabbis to supervise the process.

Ultra-Orthodox MKs pressured lawmakers in Ra’am not to support the bill, reports Channel 12 news, and some in Yamina also backed away from supporting the legislation, forcing its delay.