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ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 367

Giyur K'Halacha

From right, MK Ze'ev Elkin, One Million Lobby CEO Alex Rif, manager of the alternative Orthodox conversion program Giyur K'Halacha Yael Belenky, Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu, Afula Chief Rabbi Shmuel David and journalist Yair Sherki discuss the Law of Return at a conference in Ramat Gan on January 25, 2023. (Judah Ari Gross/Times of Israel)
January 27, 2023, 2:52 am
Even among its advocates, changing the Law of Return proves trickier than expected
Lobbying group for Russian-speaking Israelis holds fierce debate on cutting the ‘grandchild clause,’ with all sides acknowledging that it won’t happen fast
By Judah Ari Gross
View of the Jerusalem District Court on January 28, 2020. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)
September 29, 2022, 6:06 pm
Court: Orthodox conversions done outside state rabbinate acceptable for citizenship
Despite ruling, those who convert to Judaism through private Orthodox rabbinic courts still won’t be recognized for official religious purposes
By Judah Ari Gross
Illustrative image: A woman in a conversion court. (Flash90)
May 14, 2021, 8:53 am
Podcast: A proposed cure for conversion ‘perversion’ in the State of Israel
For Shavuot, an in-depth conversation with Rabbi Seth Farber on the history of conversion — and how it all went awry in the Jewish state
By ToI Staff
Illustrative: A mikveh immersion for the purpose of conversion to Judaism. (Mayyim Hayyim/Tom Kates via JTA)
November 26, 2018, 10:06 pm
European rabbis to no longer recognize private Israeli conversions
In deal with Chief Rabbinate, Conference of European Rabbis’ conversions will be recognized by Israel’s state-run religious authorities; Israeli group appeals to block agreement
By Marissa Newman
Convert 'Katya' and her daughter sit before the independent Giyur K'halacha conversion court, led by Rabbi Nahum Rabinovitch (center) on August 10, 2015. (courtesy)
September 13, 2018, 12:35 pm
In first, Israeli judge recognizes conversion to Judaism by private court
New ruling says becoming Jewish even outside auspices of state rabbinate entitles one to be recognized in population registry
By ToI Staff
Convert 'Katya' and her daughter sit before the independent Giyur K'halacha conversion court, led by Rabbi Nahum Rabinovitch (center) on August 10, 2015. (courtesy)
April 24, 2018, 2:04 pm
Will new conversion bill help 400,000 Israelis of ‘no religion’? Not likely
Activists predict dire consequences as draft legislation circumvents High Court rulings recognizing private conversion courts that help immigrants become Jewish
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
Convert 'Katya' and her daughter sit before the independent Giyur K'halacha conversion court, led by Rabbi Nahum Rabinovitch (center) on August 10, 2015. (courtesy)
April 22, 2018, 7:33 pm
Draft bill said to give Orthodox sole control over Jewish conversion in Israel
Proposed legislation comes amid tensions between Israel and Diaspora communities, and a coalition crisis with ultra-Orthodox parties
By ToI Staff
Jewish men pray during the holiday of Tisha B'Av at the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem, on August 1, 2017. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
August 22, 2017, 9:54 pm
US State Department slams Israeli stagnation on religious freedom reform
Annual report homes in on hot-button areas of Western Wall pluralism, conversion and who has the right to pray at the country’s holiest sites
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
Shas leader Aryeh Deri (left), Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (center) and Health Minister Yaakov Litzman at the weekly cabinet meeting in the Prime Minister's Office, Jerusalem, December 20, 2015. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
June 30, 2017, 3:04 pm
Netanyahu announces six-month delay of controversial conversion bill
New committee will seek compromise between demands of ultra-Orthodox parties and US Jewish leaders; no progress on Western Wall dispute
By ToI Staff
Shas leader Aryeh Deri (left), Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (center) and Health Minister Yaakov Litzman at the weekly cabinet meeting in the Prime Minister's Office, Jerusalem, December 20, 2015. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
June 30, 2017, 12:21 pm
Haredi leaders storm out of ministerial meeting on delaying conversion bill
As Netanyahu tries to postpone measure amid massive outcry by American Jewish leaders, Shas and United Torah Judaism leaders blast ‘backtracking on explicit agreements’
By ToI Staff
Health Minister Yaakov Litzman attends a conference in Jerusalem, February 16, 2017. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
June 28, 2017, 1:41 pm
Ultra-Orthodox threaten to bolt government if conversion bill endangered
Head of United Torah Judaism faction sneers that Reform Jews ‘wouldn’t get 1,000 votes in an Israeli election’
By Sue Surkes
Jerry Silverman, CEO of the Jewish Federations of North America, at the 2012 General Assembly in Baltimore, Maryland (photo credit: JFNA/JTA)
June 27, 2017, 3:14 pm
US Jews plan campaign to get Israelis in their corner, reverse Western Wall ‘sucker punch’
After meeting with Netanyahu, Federations head Jerry Silverman outlines two-pronged strategy to unfreeze pluralistic pavilion; will also fight conversion bill
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leads the weekly cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem on June 25, 2017. (Marc Israel Sellem/Pool/Flash90)
June 25, 2017, 6:48 pm
Ministers okay bill cementing ultra-Orthodox monopoly on conversion
Yisrael Beytenu appeals proposal that would pull government recognition of private conversions
By Alexander Fulbright
Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman arrives to the weekly cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem on June 11, 2017. (Marc Israel Sellem/Flash90)
June 25, 2017, 1:28 pm
Liberman vows to quash Haredi-backed conversion, Western Wall bills
Yisrael Beytenu chief warns coalition will be weakened by legislation that would cancel recognition for independent conversions and throw out compromise with liberal streams on Western Wall
By ToI Staff
Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman arrives to the weekly cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem on June 11, 2017. (Marc Israel Sellem/Flash90)
June 23, 2017, 7:40 pm
Liberman slams Haredi-backed conversion bill, vows to veto it
Legislation to be debated Sunday would have state only recognize conversions completed under auspices of Israeli Chief Rabbinate
By ToI Staff and JTA
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