Did they annul all the conversions r. Druckman made, or all the conversions of the conversion authority he headed?

My neighbour in the Golan immigrated to Israel 5 years ago with her son who was 2 years old at the time. She had a Jewish father and a non-Jewish mother. In Ukraine she suffered from anti-semitism growing up as a child and later studying to become a scientist. She always thought that she was Jewish. Once she made aliya she learned that since her father was not Jewish then she and her son were also not Jewish. She immediately began the intense orthodox conversion program. My wife and I hosted her for many Shabbat dinners. Our neighbour finished the conversion program and lives now as a religious Jewish woman. She remarried in Israel and now also has a daughter. To think that her conversion can now be taken away from her is just disgusting!

... an honest man, a God-fearing man whose ways are religious cancel the jewishness of thousands of geirim WITHOUT looking into each and every separate file = PERSON???? how come that they don't realize that between these thousands there are many many honest geirim? Is that Jewish "justice"????? Is this how a (chief) rabbi is supposed to treat geirim??? This whole issue is just dirty chareidi politics - and very hypocritical because the chareidim also convert many people who afterwards don't stay religious. This problem exists on the chareidi side also, not only at the zionist side.

Until we get electoral reform passed, NOTHING will change in the Rabbinate.

No one can take it away from your nabour if her conversion was done acording to HALACHA...., and above that she is an observing Jew I converted in 1982 in israel and no one can take that away from me Cheers

Rabbi Metzger is nowhere near being of the stature of Rabbi Druckman. How dare he even think of questioning his conversions, let alone voice those thoughts.

but,in principle,conversions are a matter that must be kept with very,very strict parameters. Of course,a sincere and honest conversion must be kept,but what we see a lot is people converting but keeping their old doctines rooted in their minds and these doctrines ultimately drive their inconscients to a way that is not the Jewish way and the result we already know through history.

Just live a Torah centered life and be happy. No Jew or nobody that is thinks they are Jewish should be alone? We should pray in groups, live in groups, commune with one another and together celebrate the Glory of Hashem? Okay that is true 100% but, look at the historic evidence of all humanity it ain't "GONNA HAPPEN"!!!! ever by the will of the human. That day of unity will only come by the will of Hashem. I think a quote by Charles Darwin is apropos to this article "ignorance more often begets confidence than does knowledge" We are all condemned to squander our time on this Earth with musings such as those stated in this article. "Defining" oneself is a luxury that most cannot afford.

B"H The issue here are not the candidates but the beit din. If the beit din is not kosher, the conversion signed by them cannot be kosher. Candidates who passed and follow the Torah, shouldn't panic in my view. Just do it again and I'm sure with their communities support they'll pass. The ones, however, who just want to legally emigrate to Israel and have no real connection to Judaism, are in trouble.

Just who are these bearded fellows who say that people who converted to Judaism, are now not qualified -Yada-yada-yada. Now, that the disqualified know, they won't need to be buying halacha bread. And all these bearded scholars--they seem to have so many varied opinions!! I like that.

Is a hypocrite

Ariel, it is true that the issue SHOULD be the beit din, not the "candidates". But now the geirim become the victim (retroactively!!!), which is disgusting and completely contrary to all mitswot regarding a Jew's attitude towards geirim. BTW, according to halacha, there is only an entrance to Judaism, there is no exit (except in very rare cases)!! So what exactly is a kosher beit din? If all the dayanim are chareidi?? Why should a geir, who is Jewish already, pass again a beit din to confirm his/her jewishness? And then maybe 10 years later, there is another crazy dayan who cancels all conversions, so he can do it again????!!! I met several geirim already who had a chareidi conversion - without any intention to stay religious. So the chareidim should do better to find a genuine solution (to a problem which indeed exists) instead of blaming rav Druckmann for things they should be blamed just as well.

while on the subject of hypocrites, don't you think paqid should be worried about this ruling? if i were him i would.

"...a 1998 rabbinical investigation into Metzger's personal conduct and credentials, following the publicizing of multiple accusations of sexual harassment, forged signatures on wedding contracts, fraud and threatening other rabbis..." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yona_Metzger Mr Metzger - go buy a mirror! LOL!

I heard already. I am not perfect ,yet. Will you repeat that for the rest of your life or are you just waiting for the next fault to change the tune? first was east Yerushalaim ,now is Shabat writing...what's next,mister *THE*JUDGE?

"Candidates who passed and follow the Torah..." HOW do you plan to prove it? By checking how many times did a man come to arvit shel shabat? Or to shahrit? And what if a man comes to synagogue and then comes home and has a good cheese and ham sandwich? HOW can you prove that? Will you start installing cameras in the homes of potential converts (not to mention that you are severely violating few mitzvot in this case)? That is PRECISELY why Torah says that you FIRST take a person and THEN teach him - not like today, first you teach him, then you take him. Why? Because it is IMPOSSIBLE that a person who just converted for conversion sake REMAINS in Bnei Israel! They fall in first generation completely - unless their children amend their ways! It is AGAIN that our rabbis think that they are smarter than Torah itself, THAT is what's happening with all this conversion fuzz.

as a Jew , I am disgusted to read this crap...Rabbi Metzger ? who the hell is he and the rest to dictate ? whis he ? found the cure for cancer? One should tell them to take a hike ...I definetly would.,

Since the Haredim took over israeli great rabbinate things are gone crazy for us. First rabbi Amar decided to not recognise any orthodox conversion made abroad. Second rabbi Metzger decides to not recognise any dati-leumi conversion made in Israel. From now, it seems Guerim will always be considered suspect and second class Jews in Eretz Yisrael. What a pity that the land which should produce Torah is in fact holding it up to ridicule. All these decisions are obviously not based on religious considerations but are just part of a haredi plan to conquer the halachic leadership worldwide. I think i gonna give up any idea of alyah and stay for a few generations in Galut.

will not touch his computer on Shabbat . It was not an error . Don't preach when you don't believe . That's all .

What would be rabbis interest in conquer the halachic leadership worlwide? With all due respect,what is this crazy thing you are saying?

Are you happy now?

Why do you always preach ? I'm a secular , everyone knows it . But i will never talk as you do . I'm not as hatefulkl as you are sometimes without reason . Have a fine day .

In Israel halachic leadership does mean controlling the great and local rabbinates which do receive enormous funding from the state. In Galut halachic leadership does mean controlling the hechsher organisations which do generate millions dollars revenue.

Why,why and why you make us all believe you are a TRUE secular,uh?Why,why,why??? A TRUE secular does not have a kosher kitchen at home !YOU ARE NOT A&&&TRUE ^^^^SECULAR!!YOU ARE AN ****HY HY HY HYPOCRITTT!!!***!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In mid-May , the Israeli High Court gave the Chief Rabbinate 90 days to justify this ruling made by R. Sherman. I hope the High Court uses its authority to overrule this latest turn of events, and put an end to these annulment threats once and for all.

This situation is certainly disturbing. But at the same time, if Rav Elyashiv Shlit''a is backing this Rav Sherman, then we have to take a pause here and re-think the situation. I don't care what your political orientation is, Rav Elyashiv is the Gadol HaDor and for all intents and purposes the person all Ashkenazi Jewry turns to for major Piskei Halacha and advice regarding religious life. So people, stop trashing the man and show some respect. As for Rav Metzger, even if he has a questionable past, show some respect for the man for the Torah the man knows, if not for the man himself. Now, that being said, I do think this is a political issue that is dividing between "Charediim" and "Religious Zionist" (Whatever those mean). And yes, this might be a simple mean-spirited move designed to undermine the Religious Zionist camp. But, I think there is a certain ignorance of our history and why this precedent was established - to prevent assimilation and intermarriage, which was rampant in the Eighteenth and Nineteenths centuries. Is this harsh and counter to what several Rishonim say? Yes, most definitely. However, it seems that this is necessary since we can't always people claims of being genuine. I advocate some kind of reform (I use that word hesitantly) which would allow conversions more easily, but keeping within the realm of strict halacha.

i.e. its dayan(im). They are ruthless criminals in comparison to the completely dedicated sincere and HONEST Rav Drukman shlitah. But NOTHING will be done about them. They're too scared/impotent to protest so they choose Rav Drukman as a korban.

Just because i have relatives and friends who are "shomre Shabbat" . I have witnessed how they refused to eat at another family's member home , and let me tell you that's not pleasant at all tho have guest who refuse to eat .

legalize secular, reform and conservative marraiges...maintain Jewish identity based on the liberal law of return and then let the haredim keep all the private geneological records they want. the Israeli and diaspora marketplaces will determine who is and who is not a Jew and the haredim and their adherents will become the samaritans (by their own choice) of the 21st century.