MK (Yahadut Hatorah) Rav Uri Maklev is gravely concerned with what he calls “The terrible breach of Jewish identity under the guise of welfare and adoption”. Speaking to a session of the Knesset Law Committee, Maklev was referring to a bill to permit parents to adopt children of a different religion. “In the time remaining until the debate the Bayit Yehudi must act to prevent becoming the Muslim or Christian Bayit and stop the initiative which will lead to serious assimilation”.

Maklev warns that the supporters of the bill are using the guise of adoption, which succeeded in earning the support of the government as they forge ahead to break down the walls of giyur. The bill was presented by MK (Yesh Atid) Dr. Adi Koll, which would empower the secular courts to approve adoption of children of another religion by parents.

Maklev warns of the lose/lose equation for if a non-Jewish child is adopted by Jewish parents and raised as a Jew, it will lead to widespread assimilation. Alternatively, if a Jewish child is adopted by Christian or Muslim parents, the child will be raised in a fashion contrary to Yiddishkheit R”L. He warns this law is intended to permit a backdoor to bypass the giyur process and to dilute the frum religious community.

B”H Maklev succeeded in persuading most committee members to oppose the bill but Yesh Atid realized this and enlisted the support of other Knesset committees and they will be amending the bill to present it in another forum where its backing is guaranteed.

Maklev is calling on Bayit Yehudi to compel the withdrawal of the bill or veto it.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)