Three Rishon L’Tzions are speaking out in a unified front against the recommendations submitted to the cabinet regarding giyur. This includes Rishon L’Tzion HaGaon HaRav Yitzchak Yosef, former Rishon L’Tzion HaGaon HaRav Eliyahu Bakshi-Doron and Rishon L’Tzion HaGaon HaRav Shlomo Moshe Amar, with the latter currently serving as the Chief Sephardi Rabbi of Yerushalayim.

The three rabbonim are opposed to the recommendations made to the cabinet by the special committee preparing the giyur law, the committee headed by retired Likud cabinet minister Moshe Nissim. The three released a letter on Wednesday, before a Kinnus of rabbonim against the recommendations convenes during the evening hours. A letter originating in the office of former Chief Rabbi of Ramat Gan, HaGaon HaRav Yaakov Ariel, specifies the reasons for the rabbinical opposition, citing the issues with the committee’s recommendations for giyur, which include recognition of Reform Jewry.

At the head of the letter it is clarified that the Chief Rabbis did not immediately oppose the recommendations but examined and weighed them seriously until they decided that the bill should not be discussed at all. According to the Chief Rabbis, “The basic assumption that the conversion plan should be based on a report written by a person who was not appointed by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel is completely erred.”

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)