Is It Mutiny? Independent Rabbinic Court Competing with Chief Rabbinate on Conversions

Photo Credit: yykanner YouTube screenshot https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GVSY6gTNBk

In Israel there are an estimated 350,000 citizens who are defined as “without a religion.” They do not qualify as Jewish according to Halacha, but they or their parents were “Jewish enough” to qualify for citizenship under the revised Law of Return.

According to the Tzohar group, even though they won’t refuse adults who wish to convert, their focus is on children younger than 13 who are already attending Israel’s religious public school system. They claim there are thousands of them.

Unfortunately, the attacks this week targeted what appears like Rabbi Stav and Tzohar’s act of rebellion against the Chief Rabbinate, rather than focus on the genuine problem Tzohar is attempting to highlight and remedy.