Q&A: The Conversion Law
The Conversion Law
Question
What is the Rabbi’s position regarding the ‘Conversion Law’ in the context of the Law of Return? I know the Rabbi thinks conversion should not be state-run… but specifically in the context of the Law of Return (if the Rabbi agrees with the law), there is a need for a state policy regarding whom to recognize as Jews and whom not to recognize… In that context, is it right to recognize Reform converts as such? On the one hand, as an Orthodox Jew, this means bringing gentiles to Israel and creating assimilation with our own hands… On the other hand, as a Religious Zionist without a hyphen, we are talking about people who do have a certain Jewish identity, and some of them even work for our benefit… (and let us remember that the Law of Return itself does not refer דווקא to Jews, but to anyone who has a blood connection and could be persecuted for being Jewish… but here there is an expansion specifically connected to ‘conversion’)
Answer
From my perspective, the definition of Jewishness for purposes of citizenship in the state should be national, not religious. That is part of separating religion (but not nationality) from the state. The Law of Return as it stands today is in any case already of that kind (not aligned with Jewish law).
Discussion on Answer
That is not really a question about the conversion process at all (certainly not a halakhic / of Jewish law question), but about its content and its outcome. National conversion means familiarity with the history of the Jewish people, major texts, learning Hebrew, Zionism, and so on.
Do you think that Reform conversion meets the definition of national belonging?