Joining the Jewish people cannot be a decision that someone makes overnight. Reform conversions are a joke. I have no problem with people practicing reform Judaism, but the conversion process must remain Orthodox. I hope that this bill is passed.

its time we secure our identity and prevent the McDonaldisation of our people. Anyone serious of wanting to be a Jew can always do so in the proper manner without resorting to micky mouse expediancy. We need to protect our identity.

Every Jew has the right to marry or not marry whoever he/she wants to, i.e, to decide for themselves who is a Jew and who is not. That is an individual right - however it is not the job of the State to decide which Rabbi's interpretation of halacha to follow. Anyone recognized as a Jew by an organized stream of Judaism should be a Jew recognized by the state.

LETS THINK FOR A MINUTE - IF WE FOLLOWED THE ADVICE OF A CERTAIN RABBI - WE WOULD ALWAYS WANT TO GO OUT AND WELCOME OTHERS TO OUR TRIBE AND BELIEFS THIS IS WHAT THE FOLLOWERS OF THIS RABBI DID - AND LOOK THEY HAVE 1/2 THE WORLD AS FOR THE REST OF US - WE CONTINUE TO LISTEN TO MORONS LIKE THIS INVITE ALL WHO NEED REBIRTH TO ENJOY ZIONISM AND BECOME ISRAELI WHO KNOWS - IT COULD LEAD TO A WHOLE NEW AMERICA BEING BUILT

We need all the people we can for our surivival. We cannot make it harder for people to become Jewish it would be a short sighted policy.

When everybody is Jewish--no one will be.

In United States, a country with 96% Christian population, history and official national holidays, everybody can marry everybody. No religious restrictions. USA is still a christian dominated country without discriminating anybody by law. In Israel, you discriminate people that are not definied as jews, and that's racism and surely not democracy! You can keep Israel a jewish state without discriminating non-jews by keeping shabbat, holidays etc. But stop with this racist non-sence. Can u imagine jews where not allowed to marry in United States or in Europe? How would u react? No wonder the number of jews is shrinking in the USA in favour of Christianity, if you exclude people so easily. What a pitty.

What is the sense of converting to a religion so interested in self-destruct? I am not Jewish, but one of the things that makes me think twice before converting is this. When Israel weas strong there was no crisis. Now Israel looses aganist Hizbullah, its DM does to Jews what it does not to Hamas, Isralei people chooses a bunch of incompetent for government and appeases, stands, bears the burden of Anti-Semitism in Europe and talks, talks and bores, doing nothing. What is the sense of converting to the carpet religion?

Convertion has become a matter of civil rights and not spirtualism in Israel

We need all the serious, devoted and learned Jews for our survival. They the ones who got us this far...the seculars were there in their time...but their lineage was lost along the way. The future depends on whole hearted committed Jews, committed to Torah, Torah values and the Land of Israel... not some wishy washy tag-alongs whose kids and grandkids are 80% unlikely to have anything to do with yiddishkeit.

Who can do more damage to you, your friends or your enemies? You may say your enemies, but you would be wrong. Your friends can be the biggest enemy to you since by trusting them fully, they can twist, break, mend your ways such as the reform has done. Since the reform movement is run by Jews, Jews believe that they have juristication and full knowledge of what/why/how they break and are able to manipulate Torah. They respect their decision. If Christians/Muslims told you to break Torah, you would say NEVER. But if your fellow Jew does, you would be more inclined to listen and to follow their "ways".

The Mosiach is to be someone from amoung those returning. During the centuries Jewish families were forced to convert. For the Rabbis, not even mentioned in Torah, to question who shall return to Torah and G-d, is really sad. Of course they would have the most to lose if a Mosiach came and restored Levites, as Rabbis would lose their political and religious grip over a nation. When will the nation wake? Let G-d's will be done.

Discrimination by race is racism. Discrimination by religion of national origin is not. Before engaging in racial McCarthyism get your definitions straight.

Nacho, there is a big difference between the STATE of Israel and the PEOPLE of Israel. Normal people think Olmert and his gang are, at best, clowns. As for conversion, the people in Zaragoza worship an idol on top of a pillar - it would be right to stop that and start worshipping the living God

Anyone who has ever examined the difference between the amount of dedication and devotion required of one from a reform conversion and an orthodox conversion would see that a reform conversion is as empty as a conversion to any other convenience religion. It cannot be accepted in Israel, or we might as well start handing out reform conversion certificates to the "Palestinians" as well.

The Sephardi Chief Rabbi should stop sticking his nose into politics. Religion must be completely separated from the state in Israel.

The seculars are abusing the meaning of the word 'Israel'. It used to be equal to Jew and even Shomer Mitzvot. Today, Israeli can be an Arab, Druse or reform convert. May be creating a new virtual citizenship could be helpful. Or seculars invent a new expression like 'Post-Jew' in which they include non-Jews, reform converts, foreign workers and perform their own conversions. The problem is that this country tries to blur the differences.

"Amar suggests that converts be allowed to become Israeli citizens under the Citizenship Law and that the Law of Return be limited to foreign nationals whose mothers are Jewish." If this is true, and Amar is planning to discriminate between born Jews and converts, he is no longer deserving of the title 'rabbi'. It says there that (Orthodox, proper) converts from outside of Israel will no longer be entitled to a free plane ticket, the absorption basket, and all kinds of assistance given to new immigrants. Converts will get none of that all, according to Amar's plan - while of course any secular Jew will get it all. Amar, go back to yeshiva. I refuse to call you 'Rabbi' until you are healed from the serious mental difficulties from which you are suffering.

It's "a move aimed at preventing a situation where there are two peoples in the State of Israel"? Here's a newsflash for you, Amar: those adhering to your interpretations of things are very much in the minority in Israel. The vast majority of Israeli citizens don't give a rat's ass what you think. So stuff it.

Reform "conversions" are made for economical reason. If one has a foreign made in Israel and wants her/him to serve longer than permitted, he sends him/her to a reform "rabi" for conversion. Is this the way to join the Jewish Nation? The answer is obvious.

There should be no other motivating factor when converting to any religion, but the love of the religion for its sake. I believe that is what Amar is attempting to secure.In essence, he is correct.

But a lot of these Reform 'rabbis' are not even Jewish! There are plenty of female, non-Jewish 'rabbis' within the movement too.

Some of the most religous and pro israel jews I know are converts. It is extreamely short sighted to refuse their judaism. It is the best way also to fight intermarriage and also to boost our numbers world wide. If we had millions more people as Jews there would be less anti semitism because most of our enemies would be more afraid of us.

After I have seen the Russian head for the checkpoints and the borders and the Ultra-Orthodox to avoid draft through religious schooling, who are the defenders of Israel? If they convert, live an Israeli/Jewish life, what is the problem?

Rabbi Shlomo Amar in 2002 didn't mind to bring to Israel the Falash Mura community whose ancestors were converted to Christianity. In 2005 Rabbi Amar accepted the claim of the Indian Bnei Menashe as one of the Lost Tribes of Israel. I really hope someone can prove me wrong, but the Rabbi in question, with all due respect, seems to contradict himself. In this day and age, when "good" people all over the world are trying to get closer to Judaism spiritually and physically, Rabbis should welcome new converts with open arms.

Chief Rabbi Amar should tend to the problems of child abuse in the Haredi community before meddling in affairs that will further split the Jewish people. The Haredim demand tolerance of their beliefs and practices but deny others from the living the way they want to. Rabbi, before telling others how to live clean up your own house. Your's is a house of violence and hatred and therefore you have no room to criticize!

Conversion should be made a lot easier, not harder. What a stupid idea. Sometimes Jews are their own worst enemy. By the rabbis standard, 80% of us would not be Jewish. It's really time to abolish the office of Chief Rabbi anyway. The State of Israel can decide who's Jewish without the rabbis.

"The State of Israel can decide who's Jewish without the rabbis." Yeah, that is how "Hitler's Definition" became the law of the land for aliyah. Who needs rabbis when you have Hitler as your ultimate religious authority.