Dozens of leading rabbonim shlita in the dati leumi community have come out against the new independent beis din for giyur called ‘Giyur K’halacha’ headed by Rabbi Nachum Rabinovitch Shlita. Many if not most of these rabbonim are counted among the ‘chardal’ (chareidi/dati leumi) community. In their public letter they express support for the Chief Rabbinate of Israel which they view as the only center for giyur and matters of Yahadut. They point out this has been the case since the Chief Rabbinate of Israel was established by Rabbi Kook ZT”L.

They express their fears that an independent giyur beis din will undermine the Jewish character of the State of Israel as a Jewish country in addition to pointing out that according to the opinion of most Gedolei Yisrael throughout the generations, including Rav Kook, one should not perform giyur for minors as this beis din announced it plans to do.

Rabbonim who signed the document include Rabbi Dov Lior Shlita, Rabbi Chaim Steiner Shlita, and Rabbi Tzvi Yisrael Tau Shlita.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)