Not enough
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Court: State announcement on Reform conversion 'not serious'
Judge Beinish instructs State to consolidate proposal for committee that will examine potential recognition of Reform conversion. Proposal, as it stands, is 'not serious and vague,' according to court. Reform Movement: Current arrangement 'borders on ridiculous'
The High Court bounced one of the hottest religious issues in the country back to the prime minister's desk. A panel of nine judges instructed Ehud Olmert to consolidate a clear and organized proposal about the work procedures of a committee slated to examine the arrangements for recognizing non-Orthodox conversion in Israel. According to the court, Olmert has a month to do so.
The decision was made during a discussion of a petition filed by The Israel Religious Action Center (the Reform movement) and after the State announced its intention to appoint a committee headed by Prof. Yaakov Ne'eman to deal with the issue. Supreme Court President Dorit Beinish called the announcement "not serious and vague" and ordered a more consolidated proposal.
Three additional petitions submitted
Attorney Nicole Maor from The Israel Religious Action Center thinks that the court accepted the position of the petitioners because the State in its current structure "border on the ridiculous and can't be taken seriously." Because of this, the High Court "sent the State and the prosecution to do their homework."
The Israel Religious Action Center noted with satisfaction the prosecution's clarification of the issue according to which the State doesn't intend to initiate any unilateral legislation on conversion.
"The Reform Movement will seriously consider every relevant proposal from the Prime Minister's Office," said the Center, but they have made it clear that they will not cooperate with any "attempt to drag feet on the issue, or with an attempt to immortalize the Orthodox monopoly on conversion."
The High Court already obligated the State to register Reform and Conservative converts on Israel's census. Currently, three additional petitions submitted by the Reform Movement are being considered demanding that Reform conversion be recognized under the Law of Return, that State budgetary support be provided for Reform conversion programs in Israel, and that Reform conversion be recognized for adoption purposes.
