The Eternal Jewish Family,Editorial Board

Efforts to develop a gold standard for Orthodox Jewish conversions leading to the all-important goal of ensuring universal recognition of conversions of intermarrieds took a giant step forward this week at a conference in Jerusalem convened by the Eternal Jewish Family at which the broad spectrum of Orthodox Jewry was represented.

The event, which was sponsored by the Lillian Jean Kaplan Pride Through Education Project, guided by the eminent rosh hayeshiva Harav Reuven Feinstein and directed by the preeminent kiruv figure Harav Leib Tropper, brought together leading Israeli Torah personalities including Rav Ovadiah Yosef; current Chief Rabbis Shlomo Amar and Yonah Metzger; Harav Leib Shteinman; Harav Pinchas Scheinberg; Harav Simcha Kook; Harav Shmuel Auerbach; the Klausenberger Rebbe; the Bostoner Rebbe; Harav Nochum Eisentein; and Harav Herschel Schechter (via video hook-up from America).

The conference also had the support of the most senior Israeli Torah leaders of this generation, including Harav Yosef Sholom Elyashiv, Harav Shmuel Wozner, Harav Yechiel Michel Lefkovitz, Harav Chaim Kanievski, Harav Nissin Karelitz and Harav Sholom Cohen and a host of other luminaries, including 10 leading chassidic rebbes. Since a united effort is essential to the development of a universal standard for conversions, this broad and deep support from such revered Orthodox leaders is obviously an encouraging sign.

Last March, we commented on a major conference organized by the Eternal Jewish Family in Florida for American rabbis designed to further efforts to establish universally accepted standards for Orthodox conversions to the Jewish faith.

As we said at the time, while most are aware of the fact that non-Orthodox conversions are not accepted in the Orthodox community as valid, there has existed for a long time a haphazard system within Orthodoxy which is really no system at all. That is, people who sincerely desired to convert to Judaism and underwent a process under Orthodox auspices were often suddenly - usually as they attempted to marry - made aware of the fact that their conversions were not necessarily accepted across the Orthodox spectrum. This was due to an improperly constituted bet din, or a laxity in the application of the applicable halachic rules, or even a lack of knowledge by a certifying rabbi about whether the particular process was appropriate.

The Eternal Jewish Family plan is to have in place agreed-upon protocols and applicable requirements for conversions. In addition, there are plans for establishing a large number of special conversion batei din and resource centers across America and overseas. And of great importance, a central computerized registry of conversions with easily accessible key information about conversions is being planned.

Significantly, the Kaplan Family has committed all the resources necessary to bring this about, without which an unprecedented and costly effort of this sort could not have been undertaken.

Obviously, nothing less than the integrity of the Jewish bloodline is involved. And the Eternal Jewish Family is poised to bring order and reliability to a situation that has long been marked by abuse, chaos and drift.

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The Eternal Jewish Family , Editorial Board