The cabinet in its weekly meeting on Sunday, 18 Tammuz, voted to dissolve the giyur reforms voted in by the previous administration, the 19th Knesset. The reforms permitted conversions in cities around Israel and in essence, it removed exclusive control and authority over giyur from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel. The reform bill, which liberalized giyur in Israel, was opposed by Gedolei Yisrael Shlita and the Chief Rabbis Shlita. The giyur reform was backed by the Yesh Atid, Bayit Yehudi and The Movement parties.

The cabinet also placed authority over the nation’s batei din in the hands of the Ministry of Religious Services which is controlled by Shas after it was in the hands of the Ministry of Justice for the last 13 years. The Justice Ministry today is controlled by Bayit Yehudi.

The Chief Rabbinate of Israel has released a message explaining that Rishon L’Tzion Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef Shlita serves as Av Beis Din of all the courts, which include regional batei din in Ariel, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Beersheva, Haifa, Tiveria, Yerushalayim, Netanya, Petach Tikvah, Tzfas, Rehovot and Tel Aviv.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)