According to press reports, the joint conversion institutes
which were established according to the recommendations of
the Ne'eman Commission are not materializing due to a lack of
registration. As previously reported in the Yated, the
first joint institute was established in the northern city of
Carmiel. No other programs were started due the fact that
there is no demand for what they offer.
These joint conversion institutes were strongly condemned by
rabbonim from the full range of Orthodoxy. The Israeli Chief
Rabbinate announced that they would not recognize them. These
institutes are staffed by Orthodox, Conservative, Reform
teachers and are meant to prepare candidates for conversion,
while the actual conversions were meant to be performed by an
Orthodox beis din under the auspices of the Israeli
Chief Rabbinate.
The Vaad HaRabbonim Haolami LeInyonei Giyur headed by HaRav
Chaim Kreiswirth issued warnings which were published in the
Israeli Russian press warning people not to be fooled by
these courses. Graduates would subsequently have to appear in
front of an Orthodox beis din which would look very
negatively at graduates of such a course, and would only
convert the candidate if the beis din was fully
convinced of the candidates' sincere intention to properly
observe Torah and mitzvos.
According to Ha'aretz, graduates from these courses
were expected to be referred to a beis din under the
direction of Rabbis Drukman and Avior which takes a "lenient"
view on conversion. However a recent scandal surrounding the
operation of Rabbi Drukman's conversion courts, has resulted
in a promise to the Vaad from the Chief Rabbinate Office that
in the future there will be strict control over Rabbi
Drukman's beis din.
It seems that the non-Jewish Russian immigrants are smart
enough to realize that they will not benefit from joining the
joint conversion course.
The truth is that there is no pent-up demand for conversion
among the new immigrants that is not being met, as some have
charged.
