An examination of Israel's Sephardi and Ashkenazi chief rabbi's tenures revealed that they improved the burial processes and supervision of mikvahs, but failed on the issue of conversions, according to ITIM advocacy group.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
As Sephardic Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef and Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi David Lau enter their 10th – and last – year in office, ITIM analyzed how they performed their duties throughout the years.
When Lau and Yosef were first appointed in 2013, ITIM – an organization that deals with all matters revolving around Jewish life – presented them with a list of emergency issues, such as the conversion of minors, proof of Jewish lineage in court, the burial of stillbirth babies, privacy in mikvahs, and the non-recognition of conversions.
This week, they returned with another letter, demanding Yosef and Lau use their last year as chief rabbis to improve the activities of the Chief Rabbinate and the remaining issues that have not yet been resolved.
The most pressing issue, according to ITIM, is that of the conversion of minors and the non-recognition of conversions done outside the rabbinate. The issue was exacerbated recently after a conflict sparked between Lau, who heads the Great Rabbinical Court, and then-Religious Affairs Minister (now deputy) Matan Kahana, who spearheaded an unprecedented conversion reform in the Knesset to recognize non-Orthodox conversions as well. Lau vowed not to approve new conversions.
"Over the years, we have seen an unfortunate trend of a decrease in the use of religious services, alongside a decrease in public trust in this institution," head of ITIM Rabbi Shaul Farber said. "For example, more couples choose to marry outside the rabbinate despite the fact that Israel's Jewish population is consistently increasing.
"Similarly, we are witnessing a sharp drop in the rate of converts of minors. In 2020, only 443 children under the bar/bat mitzvah age converted, a 70% decrease compared to 2014. And it is getting worse. More and more couples decide to bring a child into the world through surrogacy, egg donation, or adoption, and we need an effective solution for the conversion of these children.
"The purpose of the letter is to try to overcome the gaps even before the upcoming elections for the Chief Rabbinate in July 2023. The road to accessible and respectful religious services is long," but it is crucial, Farber said.
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
