Moshiach too.

All of the IDF keeps you safe whether they are Jews, Druze, Circassian, Beduoin or OMG! non-Jewish soldiers who wish to convert. Therefore Dear Rabbi get yourself into the mindset of Standing UP Proud for the IDF!

Elishav, another one in a long line of worthless rabbis, worthless jews .Not satisfied in eliminating Hebrew, French, English from our society, they intend in making Yiddish, the official and diplomatic language to be used in the halls of the Elysee Palace, The White House, the UN, Cairo, Istambul, etc. All the above, thank to the largess of our generous govt, interested only in its own largess. One look at his picture and you will know the full meaning of " decadence "

The victors of this war will be decided with Israeli blood.

B"H I propose the Water Board and the Electric Company to be charged with conversions [ironic]. At least they don't go and destroy Jewish houses and synagogues, like the IDF does in the name of secular "legality". Mosheeeeee, where are you?

What assimilations ... the Haredi live in their own Getto'd world, with their own religion, customs ,etc. Why are they sticking their unwelcomed comments - it would be the same as Protestants complaining that the Pope is relaxing or tightning the rules to become a Catholic - none of their business....

descended from David. Alas 2000 years of europes rape of Jewish soul/body and jewish inbreeding have yielded a ghetto mindset. Rise from the ashes Israel!

This guy looks as though he should have retired years ago. Out of touch and living in another world.

... to protest against regarding this senile abomination of a human being, when he finally does something positive - the blak-coats suddenly remembr he's alive. they should all go back to blak-coat land where they belong....

Lucrative business under threat ?

i see its ok that a soldier dies for his country yet hes not considered good enough to be recognised as a convert? You are a slap in the face to every fallen soldier ! shame on you. The very same soldiers that allow you to live in the occupied terrotries.

The Haredi rabbis, great sages that they may be, are mistaken in this, tragically so. It behooves the community at large to be guided by Rabbis Ovadia and Amar, equally great sages I may add, in this profoundly important challenge

have to do with making his conversion acceptable?? If that logic follows, every Moslem, Christian, Druze or other Gentile could be Jewish by dint of his service in the IDF and his magical conversion wish. Hey guys, try not forget, there is something called Halacha - Jewish Law. If you learn some, you will see there is no linkage between IDF service and conversion as some of you imply.

It is in the Tanach (The Bible) actually in the Torah as it is in the first five books given by G-d to Moses, and so it is a Deorita command (a command from G-d) ALL Jewish males and all those who live with us are commanded to serve in the Army. So with all due respect to the good Rabbi Elyashiv where exactly is it written that he and his Yeshiva Bocherim are above the law of G-d? How is it that he orders his Bocherim not to serve in the IDF the Army of Israel? Yes my friend Yitz do go have a good look at the Halacha and then explain to me and the rest of us how it is that so many thousands of Yeshiva Bocherim violate the Halacha (the law of G-d) and do not serve in the IDF!

The same leaders (or their sons) of the Lithuanian Ashkenazim, carried out the same protests 40 years ago, for the EXACT OPPOSITE reasons. Then, they protested the annulment of a conversion, by a Chief Rabbi. Today they are annulling the IDF conversions, and protesting against Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef. R' Yosef upheld the conversion 40 years ago, and he upholds them today - which is quite a consistent position. the Haredim are just changing their claims, because they need a good bit of violence to unify them.

Although the IDF do the physical work, if not for the prayers of our Great Rabbis, the Arabs and anti-Semites around the world would long have taken Israel off the map. You should all thank the Rabbis and religious Jews for that.

Avi, You have to learn to get your facts straight. 1. The area I live in is actually liberated, same as Tel Aviv or Haifa. 2. Though I might not agree totally with the either side in this dilemma, I feel that bringing up politics and hated into these discussions is infantile. 3. Being Jewish has nothing to do with the IDF, or even living in Israel. If not all who serve are Jews and all who live in hutzlaaretz are goyim! Obviously this is not true. We have goyim in the army and Jews that live in the USA, England and even in Europe. 4. Anyone who converts must agree to following halacha (Jewish Law), if not become a follower of the 7 Noahide Laws. It's that simple.

Last week on weekly Israeli show "Jewish Home" Rabbi Druckman was guest along with young couple who went thru army preparation course called Nativ for conversion. Rabbi Druckman explained that after 6 month preparation of study in army + adoption by orthodox family they then face rabbinical conversion court. They go to same courts as regular citizens who convert( mamlachti) The only difference is they get courses for Judaism thru army and all taught by orthodox teachers. The show then showed documentary about Nativ showing entire process of conversion from army until they reach court review. I saw no violations of halacha. The entire 5 part segment show is posted on youtube-just write RabbI Druckman in search. Rabbi Druckman explained how media has given impression army conversions are different than civil ones but same courts in end validate them and evaluate soldiers. he also said it is a great deed to bring these young people to nation of israel because they are of seed of israel meaning they have one parent who is jewish or jewish ancestry. I recommend watching video to get more clarification.

In his letter, expressing his initial displeasure, it is very clear that his opposition stems from the fact that Elyashiv accepts the ruling of R' Ovadya Yosef and considers the conversions valid. He complains about *standardizing* *the* *policy*, which he explains will lead to an undue number of additional JEWS violating severely important precepts and thus draggind down the Jewish nation spiritually. Elyashiv has never had the guts nor the stupidity to challange R' Yosef on the halachic front. His only beef is with the institutionalizing the POLICY, which he believes we are best without. Still, this is a momentous step on Elyashiv's part that he openly calls on the public to protest against a policy set by Sepharadic Chief Rabbi Amar with the support of Rabbi Ovadya Yosef, thus causing a tear in the nation along ethnic lines - Ashkenazim vs. Sepharadim - somthing that worked back in "Ashkenaz," but when "Ashkenaz" didn't work out too well for those who lived there, hy"d, it is time to unite in Israel not import old ways that worked there but will cause civil war here. When Israeli blood is spilled for the cause, the Jewish nation loses.

a nice point however we don't pasken halacha from Biblical verses (pesukim). Furthermore, you totally ignored my point. Service in the IDF does not render special services or treatment for conversion. Perhaps that hurts emotionally but I do not think you would wish to advise your brain surgeon on brain surgery. Let experts in each discipline render judgments in their disciplines.

to the fragmentization of judaism and making judaism look bad.

oh really we don't Pasken Halacha from Biblical verses (pesukim)? are you sure? So where did we Pasken about Shabbos from? and Shatnes? and Kashrut? especially the meat and milk thing? If not directly from Tanakh pesukim then from where? Thin air? Please look at BeMidbar Chapter One (aleph) Verse Three (gimmel) that is the first mention of the command and call to army service. Then begin with Rashi and move around about and then tell me how it is that we don't pasken halacha from Biblical verses. I didn't respond to the other aspects of your comment because I didn't feel a need to. I do believe that you had addressed your comments to other TBers who had commented before. and Yitz I signed my post "the family Sephardi" (HaSephardi shel haMishpacha) not "the Sephardi family" (HaMishpacha HaSephardit)

on you to write this.

and it is all about following his commandment to respect our fellow man...ben adam l'havero It seems to me that poster number two merely asked that the good Rav Elyashiv show a bit of respect for the IDF.... it seems to me that you and poster 26 who is impressed by your pair (of bushy eyebrows) may need to have a little think about Ben Adam L'Chavero and issues of respect and responsibility for one another. This would include serving in the IDF! and not just "slaying yourselves on the field of Torah" you do understand don't you?

Is he really alive? It looks as though he is dead already.

Have you ever heard of the Shulchan Aruch, the Rema, the Schach, Taz, Gra, shaylot and teshuvot and poskim. I'm sure you have in which case you know that quoting a pasuk to support a halachic claim is pretty much for Tanaim and Amoraim to do and not really for our generation, correct? Anyone who learns [Torah] knows this to be as basic as ABC.

"So where did we Pasken about Shabbos from?" You tell me. For instance, which types of work besides lighting a fire are we not to do (Exodus 35:2-3)? Or does "work" mean we cannot do our jobs on Shabbos, in which case the Cohen HaGadol was violating when he performed the Yom Kippur service when it happened to fall on Shabbos? "So where did we Pasken about Kashrut from?" You tell me. For instance, Deuteronomy 12:20 states: "[Y]ou may eat as much meat as you wish... you need only slaughter your cattle and small animals... IN THE MANNER I HAVE COMMANDED YOU." Please tell me which verse in the Torah describes the manner we are to slaughter animals. "So where did we Pasken about especially the meat and milk thing from?" You tell me. The Torah states: "You shall not cook a young animal in its mother's milk." So does that mean we can eat meat with milk if the milk it was cooked in was not its mother's?