With gedolei Torah and poskim from both Eretz Yisroel and the Diaspora on hand, Eternal Jewish Family is scheduled to hold its fifth convention next week in Washington DC, including proposals to address conversion problems in both Eretz Yisroel and the Diaspora.
Nearly 200 Rabbonim, dayonim and marriage registrars are expected to attend the three-day conference at the Renaissance Hotel, where they will be able to raise questions regarding problems they encounter in their communities and will have an opportunity to learn about guidelines handed down by gedolei Yisroel through the organization’s Halacha Committee.
The convention will be graced by the presence of HaRav Dov Povarsky, one of the roshei yeshiva of Yeshivas Ponovezh, HaRav Boruch Mordechai Ezrachi, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Ateres Yisroel, HaRav Moshe Shapira, HaRav Simchoh Kook, rov of Rechovot and chairman of the organization’s Vaad Ruchani, HaRav Shmuel Eliezer Stern, dayan and moreh tzedek at HaRav Shmuel Wosner’s beis din, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Chasam Sofer and chairman of the Vaad Halacha in Eretz Yisroel, HaRav Nochum Eisenstein, chairman of Vaad HaRabbonim LeInyonei Giyur, HaRav David Yosef, head of Beit Midrash Yechaveh Daat, and Chief Rabbi Shlomo Moshe Amar.
US rabbonim participating in the convention include HaRav Reuven Feinstein, president of the organization’s Halacha Committee, HaRav Aharon Shechter, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Rabbenu Chaim Berlin, HaRav Shmuel Kamenetsky, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Philadelphia, HaRav Hillel David, rov of Kehillas Shaarei Torah in Brooklyn, HaRav Eliyohu Ber Wachtfogel, rosh yeshiva of the Yeshiva of South Fallsberg, and HaRav Leib Tropper, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Kol Yaakov and chairman of the organization’s Rabbinical Committee.
Dayanim appointed to the special conversion courts set up with the backing of Eternal Jewish Family will play a prominent role at the convention.
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7 Responses
I understand that on a individual case it may be inportant to try to be megarer the gentile spouse in a intermarriage where there is no other alternative- but to have conferences, one after another, with advertisements in newspapers, that we are on a crusade to convert the intermarried gentiles with standards that can make it easier, is to my mind a tremendous breach in the purity of klall yisroel and is encouraging intermarriage with goyim, for now its not so chomor because we can always convert them down the line. How can so many Gedolim not see this! If Maran Rav Shach ztzl were alive there’s no question that this pirsum would never be, and if Reb Elya Svei shlita were healthier it would have been stopped at the onset. Where are the other Gedolim to say something?
You are 100% correct. I have heard from more than one Rov that this organization is by default (not intentionally chas v’sholom) promoting inter-marriage! I know that Dayan Fuerst of Chicago has more than once publicly said that he feels that they are “being machriv klal yisroel”. I have also been told that many Rabbonim and Dayanim feel frustrated since when they will reject a potential geirus candidate – many times this organization will be megayer them (too) soon afterwards.
As far as your question concerning “where are the gedolim”; I believe that many of the Rabbonim and Dayanim that are attending are doing so because they see other choshova Rabbonim and Dayanim doing so and trust that they have thoroughly researched and have intimate knowledge of the organization. Don’t forget, many of the Rabbonim are Roshei Hayeshiva that are not involved in day-to-day inyonei geirus and can not be excepted to see the bigger picture.
Adar2
This must be Purim torah because if you are really bigger then all the Gedolim listed here then why don’t you post your name? I am glad you know what Rav Shach and L’hibadel Reb Elya hold but for the rest of us we will follow Daas Torah.
P Lando
Poyt63- I don’t blame you for your response because after reading my post objectively it does sound as if I placed myself above the chashuvim associated with the conference. Chas veshalom that was not my intent- however that does not change my shock that so many chashuvim could lend their name to what appears to be a tremendous breach in the purity of Klal Yisroel and a catalyst that will cause more intermarriage with goyim. Daas Torah does not mean we should stop thinking and questioning when something appears amiss, and “aiyn cholkin kovod lerav” where there is a chillul Hashem. Since last nite I’ve spoken to several reliable Talmidie Chachomim and Roshei Yeshivos and all were totally upset and disturbed. Most were hearing about it for the first time and planned to speak to some of the attendees. Hopefully all will recognize how truly dangerous this is for Klal Yisroel. Hashem yaazor.
Maybe in the future when you don’t understand something the Gedolim are doing you will first privately research the matter before denouncing them in a public forum. Before denouncing Rav Elyashiv for making a Chilul Hashem you should think twice.
How come the ETJ is advertising so much about their working with intermarried couples, but not advertising that they are helping serious Geirus candidates who are NOT intermarried? Are they helping the serious Geirus candidates to the same level? If they aren’t giving the serious non-intermarried Geirus candidates (at least) parity in their services, then something is very wrong. In fact I smell a personal agenda driving this whole idea, rather than something good for Klal Yisroel according to the Mesora Midoros Hakadmonim.
This issue has recently been discussed – especially regarding a letter that Rav Moshe Sternbuch, shlita
Concerning which I wrote:
“Similarly there has been a major effort to actively pursue intermarried couples and using various techniques – representive of the best American marketing techniques – convince the non-Jewish spouse to convert. This latter approach is spearheaded by R’ Leib Tropper of Yeshiva Kol Yaakov in Monsey. See his website [Eternal Jewish Family – Convert to Judaism, Jewish Conversion, Universally Accepted Halachic Conversions for Intermarried Couples ] – especially the videos of testimonials from satisfied customers. It has the official backing of Rav Eliyashiv, Rav Dovid Feinstein, Rav Reuven Feinstein as well as many others important rabbis. I have not been able to locate any written teshuvos dealing with this either – even though it also represents a major change in the traditional approach to this issue.
I mentioned this information to Rav Moshe Sternbuch who found my revelations disturbing and he wrote a letter which he asked me to translate and distribute. He personally read and approved the translation.