Following the High Court of Justice's decision this week to recognize Reform and Conservative conversions under the Law of Return, United Torah Judaism faction chairman MK Yitzhak Pindrus opted for harsh language in discussing female immigrant IDF soldiers who convert to Judaism while in the military as part of the Nativ program.
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Speaking at a conference sponsored by the religious news website Kipa and ITIM – The Jewish Life Advocacy Center, Pindrus said, 'I'm not willing to compromise on even a single 'shiksa' or goy becoming part of Israel because I want to be pluralistic and nice. That won't happen."
After MK Tehila Friedman (Blue and White) made an outraged response to these comments, Pindrus upped the ante and said, "She [the soldier] is a shiksa, a goy. If she converted through the IDF, she isn't Jewish according to Jewish law. If someone marries her. His father should sit shiva for him, rend his clothing, and say Kaddish."
Pindrus' remarks drew fire from politicians. Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid said that "MK Pindrus' remarks are primitive and sad. What female IDF soldier is he talking about? The women combat soldiers in the Caracal Battalion? The female Border Police at the checkpoints? The lookouts on the Gaza border?
"These wonderful young women you call 'shiksas' are saving your life," Lapid said.
MK Yair Golan (Meretz) also condemned Pindrus' comments, saying "MK Pindrus is under pressure because they are taking away his monopoly on Judaism, so he is humiliating kosher Jews who don't espouse his failed approach."
Rabbi Seth (Shaul) Farber, chairman of ITIM, said in response to the wave of controversy that "We cannot ignore attacks on righteous converts who serve in the IDF and work on behalf of the people of Israel. MK Pindrus' works prove that the Haredi parties aren't afraid of non-Orthodox conversion, but rather of losing their control over the religious establishment and the conversion process."
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