Wednesday Feb 11, 2026
NEWSLETTER
www.israelhayom.com
  • Home
  • News
    • Israel
    • Israel at War
    • Middle East
    • United States
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
  • In Memoriam
www.israelhayom.com
  • Home
  • News
    • Israel
    • Israel at War
    • Middle East
    • United States
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
  • In Memoriam
www.israelhayom.com
Home Jewish World

Leading Haredi rabbis lambast government for 'destroying kashrut, conversion'

Ultra-Orthodox leaders Chaim Kanievsky and Gershon Edelstein to issue scathing letter criticizing lawmakers for reforms they claim would undermine Judaism.

by  Yehuda Shlezinger
Published on  11-30-2021 09:35
Last modified: 11-30-2021 11:24
Leading Haredi rabbis lambast government for 'destroying kashrut, conversion'Eric Sultan, Shuki Lehrer, Marc Israel Sellem

Haredi rabbis Chaim Kanievsky (left) and Gershon Edelstein (right) with coalition members in the background | File photo: Eric Sultan, Shuki Lehrer, Marc Israel Sellem

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Ultra-Orthodox newspapers are slated to publish Tuesday a scathing joint letter by leading Haredi rabbis Chaim Kanievsky and Gershon Edelstein, criticizing the government for reforms they claim would undermine Judaism.

Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter

In the letter, the two express opposition to the inclusion of reform worshippers at the Western Wall Plaza, a move they say would "harm the sanctity of the" site. They claim such worshippers "fight God and his teachings."

The matter has been a source of controversy for some time. For example, in November, ultra-Orthodox worshippers clashed with members of the egalitarian movement Women of the Wall, who arrived at the holy site for a demonstration.

Kanievsky and Edelstein also criticize Religious Services Minister Matan Kahana, who spearheaded the kashrut reform that seeks to abolish the Chief Rabbinate's monopoly over the kashrut supervision industry.

The government "is working to destroy the walls of kashrut and conversion," the letter said.

Kahana is now advancing a conversion reform that would see the establishment of a new conversion authority outside the jurisdiction of the Rabbinate, and would include liberal, or non-Orthodox, conversions performed abroad.

Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!

Tags: conversionharediKanievskykashrut reformMatan KahanaReform Judaismultra-OrthodoxWestern WallWomen of the Wall

Related Posts

White House religion committee declares Jews killed JesusReuters/Kevin Lamarque

White House religion committee declares Jews killed Jesus

by Or Shaked

Trump appointee Carrie Prejean Boller declared during the debate that she believes "Jews killed Jesus" and that due to her...

Last survivor of Hungarian underground seeks 'recognition of Jewish rescuers'Yossi Zeliger

Last survivor of Hungarian underground seeks 'recognition of Jewish rescuers'

by Lidor Sultan

David Gur, 100, forged thousands of documents in Nazi-occupied Hungary. Seventy years later, he and 3,000 other Jewish rescuers still...

Haredi Jew assaulted in ZurichEPA/MICHAEL BUHOLZER

Haredi Jew assaulted in Zurich

by Yaakov Hershkowitz

Thanks to the help of several passersby – including a Hasidic man and another non-Jewish individual – the attacker was...

Menu

Analysis 

Archaeology

Blogpost

Business & Finance

Culture

Exclusive

Explainer

Environment

 

Features

Health

In Brief

Jewish World

Judea and Samaria

Lifestyle

Cyber & Internet

Sports

 

Diplomacy 

Iran & The Gulf

Gaza Strip

Politics

Shopping

Terms of use

Privacy Policy

Submissions

Contact Us

About Us

The first issue of Israel Hayom appeared on July 30, 2007. Israel Hayom was founded on the belief that the Israeli public deserves better, more balanced and more accurate journalism. Journalism that speaks, not shouts. Journalism of a different kind. And free of charge.

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il

  • Home
  • News
    • Israel at War
    • Israel
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
    • Environment & Wildlife
    • Health & Wellness
  • In Memoriam
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Submit your opinion
  • Terms and conditions

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il

Newsletter

[contact-form-7 id=”508379″ html_id=”isrh_form_Newsletter_en” title=”newsletter_subscribe”]

  • Home
  • News
    • Israel at War
    • Israel
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
    • Environment & Wildlife
    • Health & Wellness
  • In Memoriam
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Submit your opinion
  • Terms and conditions

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il