Lawmakers seek acceptable conversion reform

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly speaks to Rabbi Haim Drukman to advance conversion reform • Sephardi Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef strongly opposes Hatnuah MK Elazar Stern's conversion bill, says, "Stern wants to create a conversion market."

Yehuda Shlezinger

Rabbi Haim Drukman | Photo credit: Oren Nachson

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has approached former head of the Conversion Authority Rabbi Haim Drukman in an effort to advance new conversion legislation, in light of opposition from Sephardi Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef to a bill recently introduced to the Knesset, which is pending further review.

According to information obtained by Israel Hayom, Netanyahu reportedly spoke with Drukman about the conversion reform bill introduced by Hatnuah MK Elazar Stern, which would see the conversion process in Israel carried out in local rabbinical courts, as opposed to the current system in which only four courts across Israel are authorized to perform conversions to Judaism.

Yosef strongly opposes the bill, claiming that Stern wants to pass a law that would allow for massive conversion, accepting anyone interested in becoming Jewish. "If Stern's law passes, every macher [important or influential person] around the country will provide conversions just for profit. Stern wants to create a conversion market," an associate of the rabbi said.

So far, Drukman has opposed the bill, but with different reasoning: He would like to find a solution that is also acceptable to the chief rabbis.

Meanwhile, Deputy Religious Services Minister Eli Ben-Dahan (Habayit Hayehudi) is working on a government-sponsored bill on the issue. Ben-Dahan has said in the past that Stern's bill could be the basis for conversion reform, but that because it is such a significant issue, working with the chief rabbis is important.

The government bill would allow those who wish to convert to register with local rabbis, but they will still be under the authority of the Chief Rabbinate and the president of the High Rabbinical Court.

Over the last month, Drukman gathered the support of several rabbis -- including Chief Rabbi of Hebron and Kiryat Arba Dov Lior -- and together they wrote a letter in favor of the planned government bill, which they will use to collect further support.