The spokesman for the Chief Rabbinate of Israel has issued a statement denying reports that it has given its stamp of approval to the giyur reform bill presented by MK (The Movement) Elazar Stern.

It was reported that Stern has been meeting with the chief rabbis along with Deputy Minister of Religious Services Rabbi Eli Ben-Dahan and they have reached agreement.

The bill calls for adding 30 new giyur locations nationwide along with 90 additional dayanim to simplify the giyur process.

In the Chief Rabbinate’s statement it states the chief rabbis have not event had opportunity to review all the paragraphs of the bill so they not possibly have agreed as Stern indicates is the case.

The chief rabbis are urging MKs not to act contrary to their wishes and to hold off presenting the bill to the Knesset Ministerial Law Committee until the rabbonim can review the bill and agreement can be reached. Rabbi David Lau spoke with MK Stern on Thursday night, the eve of 28 Cheshvan, telling him “how can a message stating we have given approval be released when this is not so? Rabbi Lau requested that Stern refrain from advancing the giyur reform bill.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)