MK Rabbi Uri Maklev during a session of the Knesset Law Committee lashed out at the disturbing reality that the Knesset is turning giyur “into a commodity”.

His letter to the media states “The reference to giyur in Israel as a consumer product, wholesale to the masses and presents as such, may be purchased off the shelf at a low price at an appropriate seller. This is a breach of religion in Israel.”

Maklev, a deputy Knesset speaker is adamantly opposed to the bill to permit the rabbi of a community to establish a beis din to perform giyur. “The bill seeks to permit any person, even without having the skills necessary to perform conversions, when it is clear candidates are not willing to accept the yoke of Torah and Mitzvos.”

Maklev warns the bill seeks to remove giyur from Halachic Torani oversight and to simply convert it to a consumer commodity.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)