Posted on 12/30/2002 4:34:38 PM PST by naine
Translation: Please let Israel be overrun by Islamic suicide bombers that want to commit genocide against us. At least they don't eat pork like those evil Christians!
Good thing not all Israelis think like Yishai.
Conversion is governed by the specific provisions of Jewish law. The head of a secular government has absolutely no role in this matter, any more than he could say "the rules for declaring food kosher should be relaxed sot any food can become kosher."
Why is it that the secularsits can't keep their hands off religion? Who is Sharon or Perez to decide on rabbinical matters?
They are politicians and may consider changing the immigration policy if they so choose; that is their spehere. I was appalled at the words of Perez that he "will decide who the rabbis are."
Wherever they are, the secularists can't be and let others be: they burn churches and sinagogues. And then they accuse the "fundamentalists" of being intolerant.
Jeremiah 31:6-9
6 For there shall be a day, that the watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto the LORD our God.
7 For thus saith the LORD; Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations: publish ye, praise ye, and say, O LORD, save thy people, the remnant of Israel.
8 Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither.
9 They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.
***
In all seriousness, what kind of goyim would come in droves? A: Zionist Christians, who more than likely would happily "adopt a religious lifestyle once they got here", because
They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them
Ephraim = melo hagoyim
It's a shame they're not this tolerant about converting to Christianity...
This may actually be a positive developement. It possibly is the realization by the secular politicos that their star is in decline and that Observant Jews are becoming a demographic force.
The only reason for these types of statements by Sharon, et al, is because there is a tidal wave of observant Jews coming towards them. It is completely Israeli to try to change the rules of the game by these sorts of statments and attacks on the fundamentals of Judaism. Sharon is hardly the first Israeli leader to attack his observant brethren. With the birth of every new baby to a religious household, the old guard is viewing its own marginalization.
Yes, but these provisions are themselves subject to varying degrees of interpretation. In Israel conversion and marriage are controlled by the Orthodox. Sharon's remarks, nor any Israeli law, can change the Jewish laws. But Sharon can change the Israeli governments definition of who is a Jew. And he can appeal to the Beit Din (Religious court) to reexamine the issues of conversion.
At one time (a long time ago) it mattered not whether your mother of father was a Jew -- either would do. Now it is matrilinial.
To become a Jew in Israel, one has to undergo a rigorous lifestyle change, and depending on which sect you choose so goes the type of change. To become a Jew in the USA, depending on which sect and which branch (orthodox, conservative or reform), you may not have to change your life much.
But the Orthodox will not accept a reform or conservative conversion. The result is a lot of confused people, a lot of unhappy people, and a lot of people who want to be Jews but do not accept the Orthodox interpretation of Halacha.
As in the days of yore, there were the Pharisees, Saducees and other sects of Jews. Each sect adopted different interpretations of Jewish law. There needs to be more unanimity.
Before I ramble too much, there is a question of priority. If the Orthodox believe that having more Jews is a priority, they will change their rulings to permit easier conversion, and hope that those who convert will slowly come closer to living a Torah life. The way it stands now, they want proof that you will live a Torah (as defined by them) life BEFORE you will convert. And in many respects it is a double standard, because even the Orthodox recognize the principle that no Jew is perfect, and that one of the purposes in life for a Jew is to spend the life becoming a better Jew one step at a time.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.