Former National Religious Party leader and prominent rosh yeshiva in the dati leumi community, Rabbi Yitzchak Levy, appears to be the candidate who will replace Rabbi Chaim Druckman Shlita to head the state’s conversion (giyur) program.
Levy has served as a cabinet minister and is close to Rishon L’Tzion HaRav Moshe Shlomo Amar Shlita; with the latter reportedly stating he is suited for the post, Srugim reports.
If he is appointed, it will be the result of a deal between Shas and Yisrael Beitenu, Makor Rishon reports, a deal that involves Shas support for Tzohar Rabbonim’s status in exchange for support for Rav Amar’s continuing for a second 10-year term as chief rabbi.
It appears as the back rooms deal-making continues, the appointment of Rav Levy to the state’s top giyur post is being included in the package.
Rav Levy states that if asked to fill the slot, he would definitely give it serious consideration.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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4 Responses
Amen, good choice.
@1, what will be the legitimacy of gerim who do their giyur under an MO cleric who got his job through a smoke filled room?
“Loyal Jew”, both R Levy and R Druckman are greater talmidei chachamim than you, and I daresay greater than your rabbeim, whoever they might be. And every dayan is of necessity appointed through a political process of some sort; how else do you suppose it happens, or has ever happened?
#3, first, it is no raya that someone is a greater talmid chacham than me. That can be almost everyone, and besides, I’m not a candidate for an authority that approves giyurim. And that “every dayan” is appointed through a political process, two points: I don’t understand how you can know what happens to every dayan, and more important, this political process is handing the job to a Zionist MO, with all that implies.