Lazer Beams

Beth and Simon's story: the human side of the conversion controversy

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

Conversions outside of Israel

For the many of you who are writing and asking, I am strongly opposed to the Israeli Government Rabbinate's position of not recognizing the conversions of all certified Orthodox rabbis in the diaspora. This decision negates the spirit of smicha, and is a blow to the dignity of rabbis all across the globe. As a matter of solidarity, I want my colleagues around the world to know that I hereby protest the affront. The Israeli Rabbinate has no right to rewrite the Shukchan Oruch in their own quest for oligarchy.

Several months ago, I lodged a complaint directly to Government Head Rabbi Amar and accused him of insulting the true Torah giants of Israel. The story is as follows:

A young Jewish man near Ashdod was living with a non-Jewish woman. My Outreach Program convinced the young man to return to his roots; he agreed on condition that we'd teach Judaism to his lady friend. We did - for 13 intensive months. She turned into another Ruth - pious, modest, and sincere - also, she knew her stuff!The Chassidic Rabbinical Court of Ashdod, which consists of 3 Torah giants (The Melitzer Rebbe, Rav Shmuel Dovid HaCohen Gross of Gur, and Dayan Horowitz of Belz) were so impressed with this young lady, that they agreed to perfom the conversion despite the fact that they rarely agree to perform conversions.

Head Rabbi Amar refused to recognize the above conversion. His aide said to me brassly, "Who is the Ashdod Badatz that we should recognize them?" Sounds like Pharaoh, doesn't it? Oligarchy is the name of the game.

I helped the couple make an appeal, and won in the Ashdod rabbinical court. The decision was sent to Jerusalem, and overturned because of an order from upstairs.

When people outside of Israel ask me what to do, I tell them to find the best rabbi they can to teach them, and then pray.

Such antics by the Government Rabbinate is delaying the Geula. Rebbe Nachman of Breslev writes that gerrim and baalei tshuva enhance the glory and honor of Hashem. Who has a right to interfere?

What's even worse is that the government rabbinate doesn't want American rabbis to give conversions, yet they themselves don't have the resources to teach conversion candidates. The Ashdod branch of the government rabbinate offered me a job teaching converts, but I flatly refuse to have anything to do with them and their politics. The government rabbinate is no place for a naive Breslever.

I'm a non-rabbinical rabbi; my job is to spread faith in the world. Yet, I stand by my wonderful colleagues across the globe who head their communties, and say, continue on fearlessly! Moshiach will recognize everything that's done in accordance with Halacha.

Sorry, I wanted to avoid this subject, but sometimes one must take a stand.