JERUSALEM - As predicted, reactions to Thursday’s Supreme Court ruling
recognizing Reform and Conservative conversions performed mostly in Israel but completed abroad were swift and fierce.
Zevulun Orlev, chairman of the National Religious Party,
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said the decision was “predictable,” and that it blurs fundamental question of Israel’s Jewish identity.
“It (the decision) proves yet again that we must not put our faith in the Supreme Court with regard to religious questions,” he said.
Conversion by SMS
Shas chairman Eli Yishai called the decision a “terror attack on Jewish identity,” and said “all that’s left is to recognize conversions by SMS (cell phone text messages).”
Tzohar, a rabbinic organization that provides religious services to secular Israelis, also denounced the decision.
"The court has given the impression that a Reform conversion is somehow ‘kosher,’” the group said in a statement, and added the ruling will have a polarizing effect on society, as the Rabbinate will never recognize such conversions, so "these people won’t be able to marry other Jews."
“The court has involved itself in an area outside its proper jurisdiction,” said the statement, “and has contributed to the widening of the gap between Israel and Judaism.”
'Decision corrects a historic injustice'
Others, however, welcomed the decision. Left-wing Knesset members characterized the decision as ‘historic’, and called on the Supreme Court to act quickly to reverse other areas of Orthodox monopoly.
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Shinui Chairman Yosef (Tommy) Lapid said the court took a “great jump forward towards rectifying a historic injustice… I hope that the ruling leads to the complete recognition of Reform and Conservative converts in the near future, and after that of marriages."
Lapid’s colleague, Knesset Member Eti Livni, said the ruling marks a breakthrough.
“Reform Judaism will no longer be considered the step-son of the Jewish people,” she said. She also called on the Court to recognize non-Orthodox conversions in Israel without requiring applicants to travel abroad to complete the process.
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