B”H
The Sephardi Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Shlomo Amar, admitted that the Rabbanut (Chief Rabbinate) has a list with names of Rabbis from abroad and Israel, selling illegal conversion certificates. Especially Rabbis in the US and Europe.
As a matter of fact, it is extremely hard finding out about those cases of criminal Rabbis. The only witnesses are those Gentiles who actually intend to buy a conversion certificate and are not willing to go through the entire conversion (to Judaism) procedure. Those false converts are fakes, as they never intend to keep any Mitzvot and those people will never be Jewish ! For instance, I know about an American millionaire who wanted to marry a Schickse but, first, make her Jewish in an easy way. He went to the Yeshiva Ohr Sameach in Jerusalem and offered money for a fast conversion certificate. The Yeshiva refused his criminal offer.
Years ago while still living in Germany, the Rabbi of our Orthodox community turned out to be a crook. Today, Rabbi Netanel Wurmser is the Chief Rabbi of Stuttgart / Germany:
http://shearim.blogspot.com/2007/11/false-appearance.html
http://shearim.blogspot.com/2007/11/false-appearance.html
Rabbi Shlomo Amar spoke to some government officials and together they try to refuse Aliyah to those converts who bought their conversion certificate. This procedure is not new, as the Rabbinate has been investigating for years but my suggestion is to openly publish the list with the names of the criminal Rabbis.
I completely agree that we should know who is selling conversions but I am sure they want to be sure with out doubt before putting out a list like that. Conversion is in such a crazy state right now that it may do more harm than good to post these names. It makes me sick that people think they can buy into Judaism though and the rest of us have to work very hard to live as a Jew.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this story.
Rabbi Shlomo Amar, all this is nothing new. We knew it, you included, for long time ago. So why react now? Is it because you want to prove the Charedi Ashkenazic establishment that you are not a "light" Rabbi? Or maybe to restore a certain credibility to your name after having paskened that IDF fake conversions were "Kosher"?
ReplyDeleteB"H
ReplyDeleteFor the past twenty years, everyone has been aware of Rabbis selling Te'udot Giur. TV - reports were also broadcasted on Israeli TV were actors went to Rabbis and pretented to look for an easy conversion. The whole thing was broadcasted. Especially when the Rabbi ran into the trap and took the money. In January 1997, all Israeli Batei Din were closed for several weeks and some of those corrupt Rabbis were arrested.
B"H
ReplyDeleteWhat if someone is trying to follow the Mitzvot, and he's already married to a woman who may very well be Jewish on her mothers side but with no way to prove it other than old family stories. And that the two do not live in an active Jewish community and due to employment cannot easily move to an area with a more active community? The man having Jewish linage on his dad's side but reform and the like does not appeal at all. This battle of trying to convert has been a constant battle for over 31 years. It's unlikely that he will ever be able to move to Israel but he needs to be excepted as a full Jew even there. Why is it so hard for those who truly have a Jewish neshema yet stuck in difficult situations? He would never consider buying a conversion document as that goes against all his efforts. He even helps run Jewish services for deployed Jewish solders.
B"H
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, you have to undergo a serious conversion course. Only stories won't help, and, by the way, there are so many people claiming the same. However, what counts are papers.
Speak to a Rabbi and try finding out about conversion because this is the only thing you can do.