Rabbi Stav on Dissolving of Giyur And Other Religious Services Reforms

The cabinet on Sunday, 18 Tammuz, voted to dissolve the giyur reforms sets into place in the previous administration, a move that angered many, including former MK Elazar Stern, who accuses the current administration of spitting in the face of the majority of the nation that supports the liberalized giyur set into place.

With the Shas party controlling the Ministry of Religious Services, the changes in kashrus, giyur and marriage registration passed into law in the 19th Knesset are being dissolved by the current coalition.

The Mavoi Satum organization representing agunos is calling on Israelis to circumvent the Chief Rabbinate of Israel system when getting married, http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/headlines-breaking-stories/324355/a-call-not-to-wed-in-the-chief-rabbinate-of-israel.html calling on Israelis to speak by actions and not merely words.

Stern told Channel 1 News “If only the issue was limited to the giyur but the real problem is they are destroying the future of the State of Israel as a Jewish democratic nation. They continue to insult immigrants form the FSU, many struggling to get here”.

Rabbi David Stav of Tzohar Rabbonim adds “The decision will result in the assimilation of tens of thousands or even possibly hundreds of thousands of Jews from the FSU. It is most unfortunate that decisions made by the government are dissolved in a political decision”.

Minister of Justice (Bayit Yehudi) Ayelet Shaked adds “The reform authored by Naftali Bennett and Elazar Stern is a good one, and I will vote against it today,” speaking to the press before the cabinet vote on the decision. She and colleague Naftali Bennett did oppose the vote.

Regarding ongoing efforts by Shas and Yahadut Hatorah to pass a new improved kashrus law, Rabbi Aharon Leibowitz of Nachlaot, Jerusalem, who heads the private “Hashgacha Pratit” kashrus, insists his organization operates with total transparency and in line with Halacha despite what critics may say. “We are giving the people the kashrus they seek and we see it is working”. He adds that he and his colleagues are here to stay.