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Chief rabbi to take over conversion system

RachelG — Wed, 12 Jan 2022 10:33:18 +0000

In opposition to the conversion reform spearheaded by Religious Services Minister Matan Kahana, Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi David Lau announced this week he would be taking full control of Israel's conversion apparatus.

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According to the reform – the details of which are expected to be published on Wednesday – the rabbis of cities would be able to establish conversion courts. However, Lau, who is the head of the Great Rabbinical Court, said he will personally overlook every case of conversion in the country.

In a letter to the civil service commissioner, he said that according to the law, "the conversion system in the State of Israel will operate according to Jewish law and will be overlooked by the president of the Great [Rabbinical] Court."

He also noted that over the years, the president of the Great Rabbinical Court appointed the head of the conversion mechanism to implement the halachic (Jewish law) guidelines in the conversion system.

The letter also said that due to the end of the term of the latest head of the conversion system, "and the extensive halachic responsibility that rests on the president [Lau], he has no choice but to assume this responsibility himself."

"The president intends to be required for every question, small or big, and to closely monitor all the conversion procedures in the system," the letter said.

A month ago, Lau has sent a harshly-worked letter to Prime Minister Naftali Bennett protesting plans to promote a reformed mechanism of conversion to Judaism.

"If the conversion reforms are implemented, it will split the Jewish people, who in the future will have to grapple with the question 'Who is Jewish?', whom they can marry or – heaven forbid – not marry, a terrible situation of two states for two peoples, a split Judaism rather than a united one," he said in the letter.

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Israel's chief rabbi signals he may support synagogue closures on Yom Kippur

ErezL — Wed, 23 Sep 2020 15:11:08 +0000

Israel's Chief Rabbi David Lau hinted on Wednesday that he would support closing synagogues on Yom Kippur if health officials decide "it's the right thing to do."

Despite a general lockdown in place for nearly a week, the country's religious community has so far protested against the possibility of closing places of worship or banning public prayers, owing to disobey health restrictions if the government closed synagogues during high holiday period.

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While Rabbi Lau told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday that the religious public will not obey the guidelines until similar restrictions are placed on protesters, he now appears to have backtracked on the demand.

Religious leaders have balked at the suggestion that synagogues be closed while protesters are allowed to continue gathering in the thousands, mainly outside the Prime Minister's Residence in Jerusalem to protest Netanyahu's handling of the coronavirus pandemic along with his corruption trial.

The development comes as the country broke a record of daily infections with nearly 7,000 new cases being identified on Tuesday alone, according to the latest data released by the Health Ministry.

The religious leader thus indicated that he would support the closing of synagogues "if the medical authorities decide that it can considerably reduce risk and save lives."

Netanyahu was expected to push for a tightening of containment at a coronavirus cabinet meeting Wednesday afternoon, and would even consider declaring a state of emergency in the country.

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This article was first published by i24NEWS.

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Should COVID-19 postpone weddings? Chief rabbi sorts out halachic mess

ErezL — Thu, 12 Mar 2020 13:21:06 +0000

A day after Israeli authorities announced aggressive measures aimed at containing the coronavirus outbreak in the country, including a prohibition on gatherings exceeding 100 people, Israelis found themselves with more questions than answers.

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Those who regularly attend synagogue and who planned to hold a religious celebration in the coming days were particularly worried, as the new restrictions could severely disrupt their way of life.

As a result, Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi David Lau issued on Thursday new guidelines aimed at providing some answers to perplexed Israelis who want to uphold their daily religious duties even as they abide by the governmental edicts.

"Everyone must make sure to be safe and must be extra vigilant not to pose a danger to others," Lau said in an online video. "We must follow the various guidelines, even if they are a burden."

Lau said minyans (the religious quorums) should not exceed 100 people, and if the place is particularly crowded, the minyan should be split into several groups who would pray separately and at different times.

People who are in self-isolation should not go to synagogue, and try to synchronize their at-home prayers with the rest of the congregants.

Torah-study sessions should not be canceled, the rabbi said, and various yeshivas should remain open, although abide by the 100-people cap.

Of particular concern is the issue of weddings. The rabbis said that Jewish weddings should not be canceled because they are very important, but the number of attendees must be scaled down.

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