Dear Rav Lazer
My wife and I cried when we read your piece on the Israeli Rabbinate's decree on conversion. We both became orthodox converts late in life (one in Sydney, the other in London. If we were to relate our full stories you might find it hard to believe what we have had to individually give up and/or suffer in order to become and remain Jews. Among other things, each of us has lost a beloved first spouse under tragic circumstances after having made aliyah. My wife’s first husband had a heart attack at their chuppa in Beitar, weeks after her arrival in Eretz Yisrael, and died some months after. My own first wife insisted on carrying through with our plans for aliyah despite being diagnosed with probable Alzheimer’s disease.
It was a miracle that us two heavily bereaved geirim were subsequently brought together. It now breaks our hearts to see what the Israeli establishment is doing to the worldwide conversion process. I must sadly add that we have also both had not-too-pleasant dealings with a Government Beit Din that appears to show little compassion for the broken-hearted.
However, we feel mightily privileged to have come across your fine website and I print the latest entries out every day for discussion at our breakfast table. You remind us each day that HaShem is truly a warm G-d of Love and not just the cold G-d of Law that we see propagated all around! We also give thanks to HaKodesh Boruchu for the great honour of having met such wonderful Jews as the late Rav Shmuel Darsi of blessed memory, and several others still very much living who must surely be candidates to be included among the hidden lamed vavniks. You are the ones who have inspired us to keep our faith alive and our feet firmly placed on the path of Torah and Mitzvot.
Although living in their midst, we choose to keep a quiet distance from uninspiring establishment communities. And that is the bottom line -- we are 1000% committed Jews, halachically and otherwise, but have yet to find a community that truly emphasizes HaShem's Love as much as it does His Law! In Love and Peace and praying for the advent of the Moshiach and the sweeping away of all those who make themselves into personal idols and objects of worship.
Yours truly, Beth and Simon from Israel
Dear B and S,
The people of Israel are fortunate to have you. I am humbled and deeply moved by your letter, and I pray to The Almighty that I will always have the moral fortitude to stand up for truth and justice. May Hashem guard and protect you always, and may you know only happiness together in long and healthy lives, amen. With warmest regards and blessings for a happy Shavuos, Lazer
