State approves all conversions

After Rabbi Ovadia Yosef issues halachic ruling determining that army conversions are kosher, Chie Rabbi Shlomo Amar instructs relevant authorities to officially recognize 4,500 conversions on state's behalf. Lithuanian rabbis livid

Kobi Nahshoni|Published: 01.16.11 , 08:55

Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar has adopted Rabbi Ovadia Yosef's halachic ruling which legitimizes all conversions performed by the Israel Defense Forces in recent years, Ynet has learned.

Rabbi Amar has instructed the relevant authorities to officially recognize the conversions on the state's behalf.

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The army has converted some 4,500 soldiers to Judaism over the past few years.

After meeting Rabbi Yosef on Friday, Amar announced that the state recognizes the army conversions. A source who is familiar with the affair said additional bureaucratic procedures were not required.

According to officials who are familiar with the state's conversion system, Rabbi Amar's current goal is to bury Yisrael Beiteinu's military conversion bill, according to which IDF conversions would not require the Chief Rabbinate's approval.

A Shas official said, "The affair is behind us. From now on people will only be talking about the bill, which must be defeated."

Rabbi Yosef is the spiritual leader of the Shas party.

Meanwhile, the Lithuanian ultra-Orthodox community condemned the approval of the IDF conversions. Community leaders said the fact that a special state committee did not recommend to approve the conversions proves they are not consistent with the halacha.

It is estimated that Lithuanian rabbis will not recognize IDF conversions even after their approval.