A request to meet with Rabbi Chaim Druckman Shlita and Jerusalem Chief Rabbi Aryeh Stern Shlita regarding giyur was turned down by Rishon L’Tzion Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef Shlita. The message from Rav Yosef’s office is the matter of giyur is not one the rav is going to discuss for he has no intention of accepting any compromise.
Rav Yosef’s staff explains that the rav met with Rav Druckman in recent weeks, as well as Rav Stern, and that he maintains good relations with both of them but regarding giyur, the matter is not open for discussion.
It is reported Rabbi Stern and Rabbi Druckman wanted to discuss the recent establishment of the independent beis din headed by Rabbi Nachum Rabinovitch Shlita, known as ‘Giyur K’halacha’. http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/headlines-breaking-stories/334400/rabbi-rabinovitch-we-expect-the-chief-rabbinate-to-recognize-the-giyorim.html
Kippa News reported that a meeting of a number of prominent dati leumi rabbonim was held in the hope of addressing the machlokes surrounding the acceptance of the new beis din in that community. Some of the rabbonim in attendance included Rabbi Rabinovitch, Rabbi Re’em HaKohen, Rabbi Yaakov Medan, Rabbi Chaim Druckman, Rabbi Yaakov Shapira, Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu and Rabbi Eitan Eiseman.
Following that meeting, which was hosted by Rabbi Stern in Beit HaRav Kook in Yerushalayim, Rabbis Stern and Druckman was hoping to meet with Rabbi Yosef to speak with him about giyur. It appears such a meeting is not going to take place.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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One Response
There is no need to compromise. Chazal set up the requirements for conversions and they had never been questioned until now. Any three rabbis can perform a conversion with any non-Jew who believes in God and accepts the yoke of the mitzvot, such a conversion is presumed kosher unless upon examination the evidence shows that it isn’t, and there has never been centralization of conversions beyond the level of an individual community. The Chief Rabbis are out of bounds here.