tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030144.post6530470803261287751..comments2023-10-29T11:50:25.742+02:00Comments on My Obiter Dicta: On the Rotem Conversion Imbroglio: From Rosner's DomainJeffrey R. Woolfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11315625918870195028noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030144.post-79719680648191097262010-09-12T14:52:24.696+02:002010-09-12T14:52:24.696+02:00Jeffrey, did you actually read the bill? The chief...Jeffrey, did you actually read the bill? The chief rabbinate (read haredi chief rabbinate) can, with the stroke of a pen, "unentitle" any rabbi they feel should not be performing conversions. Any new bill must take away control of conversions and return it to the people. Any three dati Jews can perform a conversion. Why is it it being controlled by the rabbinate?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030144.post-83318646284037602212010-08-29T17:42:03.212+03:002010-08-29T17:42:03.212+03:00Jeffrey, I've a question and it is really my o...Jeffrey, I've a question and it is really my one concern about the Rotem bill as it currently stands (I also understand why the non-orthodox are reacting the way they are --it was certainly my first reaction --but slowly, slowly, one step at a time). <br /><br />My concern with placing the authority over conversion with the Rabbinate is that who can say over time that similar mores won't be adopted by the Rabbinate as a whole as we currently see with the extremists who are revoking conversions after decades and so forth? The rulings and the thinking they are applying seem utterly divorced from historical precedent. The closest thing I can think of would be the focus on the minutiae of pilpul that was in vogue in the period just prior to the rise of the Besht. Utterly alienating.<br /><br />But my concern is a) why have these extremist interpretations arisen now and b) how can we know that those views will not eventually take over/be adopted by the Rabbinate? And then what is the recourse?Yaelhttp://olehgirl.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030144.post-43691046753438559232010-08-19T07:27:06.455+03:002010-08-19T07:27:06.455+03:00"This even involves Orthodox with recent &quo..."This even involves Orthodox with recent "scandals" re Rabba (e.g speaking in Long Island), re Youing Israel and women presidents of Orthodox shuls (Shaarei Torah in Syracuse), and even women as board members as in the Bialystock shul in the lower east side. "<br /><br />These issues are at most trivial-one way or the other-title you give a women-meaningless on both sides-BUT the deligitimization of thousands of Orthodox Jews and the onas Hager of those who converted with good faith and now decades later one says that issue is not as important as the title that Sara Hurwitz uses give me a break.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030144.post-47884446650627667092010-07-28T20:55:05.274+03:002010-07-28T20:55:05.274+03:00Regarding the intro: "honored to be one of Sh...Regarding the intro: "honored to be one of Shmuel Rosner's interviewees". The first blog of Rosner's that I read was about the purchase of "Beit Hashalom" next to Kiryat Arba. It was filled with hatred and misinformation from beginning to end. It may be useful to have him interview you - but "an honor"? Save your honor for more honorable people.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030144.post-79821379191828657532010-07-27T18:06:32.733+03:002010-07-27T18:06:32.733+03:00There was very limited space to comment in the JP,...There was very limited space to comment in the JP, here is what I said but I would like to add a few words:<br /><br />"The Rotem bill came along at a particularly bad time re sensitivities in the diaspora. Many of the opponents of the bill also mentioned the recent events at the Kotel, e.g. Anat Hoffman, as correlated examples of how the haredi are aiming to destroy non Haredi approaches to Judaism. Many of us have had children and wives who were subjected to abuse and violence in Israel at the hands of the Haredi. This doesn't mean we seek autonomy from Jewish law, but rather we seek leadership from those who interpret Jewish law in a way appropriate for our times."<br /><br />So as important and threatening the conversion issue is, I don't believe that this is just about autonomy (and in this regard I believe that the Reform use of patrimony is a horrible thing and threat, at least equivalent to haredi control). But issues involving women have become crucial to many of us here in North America. This even involves Orthodox with recent "scandals" re Rabba (e.g speaking in Long Island), re Youing Israel and women presidents of Orthodox shuls (Shaarei Torah in Syracuse), and even women as board members as in the Bialystock shul in the lower east side. The Haredi should be encouraged to follow their path, but not when it interferes with the development of Judaism by the rest of us. We seek help from Israel in fighting assimiliation and intermarraige and for many of us we see maximizing opportunities for all of our children as a no brainer -- as a keep weapon in this struggle. Terrorist attacks have not kept us from sending our children to Israel, but attacks from the Haredi could well end up doing that. This is what, in my opinion, the struggle is all about, and the Rotem bill is just one battle.R L Smithnoreply@blogger.com