Among the speakers addressing a one-day seminar on giyur hosted in Moshav Beit Meir was Rabbi Chaim Druckman Shlita and Rishon L’Tzion Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef Shlita.

Rabbi Yosef had harsh words for those wishing to become giyorim without the acceptance of a Torah-adherence lifestyle – explaining there cannot be one without the other and the concept of giyur is premised on one accepting the yoke of a Torah observant lifestyle.

He quoted Rav Kook as well regarding the conversion of children, stating “If there is not an ‘umdena’ that he will keep Torah and mitzvos, which he must, then he is not to be converted”.

Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef added his late father, HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef ZT”L was lenient whenever halacha permitted but in this case, there is no room for leniency.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)