B"H
Someone mentioned at a Shabbat meal in Mea Shearim that Rabbi Nissim Karelitz from Bnei Brak is not allowed to convert more people to Judaism. Does anyone of you know if this is true or just a rumour ?
I heard that the Rabbi obvioulsy had some disagreements with the Rabbanut (chief rabbinate) or other Israeli authorities.
It seems that secular Israeli institutions such as the Jewish Agency or the Ministry of the Interior (Misrad HaPnim) are to frightened of converts to Judaism who intend to be haredi. The Jewish Agency as well as the Misrad HaPnim prefer national religious conversions done by the Rabbanut. A potential convert should be young, speak Hebrew, learn the teachings of Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaCohen Kook, get married and contribute something to Israeli society.
However, I am not saying that there is anything wrong with that. Just the opposite, a convert should be part of Israeli society.
So far, Rabbi Nissim Karelitz converted people who want to lead a haredi life style. His own Beit Din is / was especially recognized among the haredi and even "hard - core" chassidic society. With a "Karelitz - Certificate" you can easily joing chassidic groups such as Dushinsky, Belz, etc. Some chassidic groups still prefer a conversion with the Edah HaCharedit. This kind of conversion is not always the best for the convert, as the Ministry of the Interior doesn't recognize an Edah conversion and thus, the converts are not entitled to make Aliyah.
Whoever wants a fully accepted Giur (conversion) doesn't necessarily run to the Rabbanut but mostly joined Rabbi Karelitz. Another haredi rabbi doing haredi conversions is Rabbi Nachum Eisenstein in Jerusalem. Also his Giur is accepted among the haredi population. The Rabbanut certificate is always in doubt, as too many people convert through them who don't intend keeping Mitzwot at all. The more serious you can spot out; these are those who seriously look for a Yeshiva and further higher learning in firm programs.
If anyone of you converted with Rabbi Karelitz in Bnei Brak, I would be interested in learning about his conditions / criteria.
So far, I heard that such a potential convert has to live with a haredi family in the area. Is this true ?
And, as I mentioned, I would like to know if Rabbi Nissim Karelitz had to stop his conversion program.
Furthermore, if anyone of you converted with the Edah HaCharedit, I would be also interested in their conditions.
Does a candidate have to live with a chassidic family ?
Does one have automatically to become a group member after conversion ?
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
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B"H
ReplyDeleteThanks very much for all your private responses and explanations.
I really appreciate it !!!
Miriam
Rav Nissim is still doing conversions
ReplyDeleteanyone who does a conversion with him is a fully fledged jew
his conversions are done according to strict halachah
unlike the israeli rabbinute (who incidentally have a picture of christians baptising in the river joradan on their wall outside one of the offices on Kanfay nesharim, jerusalem)
it is a big problem for people who after a rabbinute conversion, go on to marry and have children. Sometimes the 'convert' was not sincere or the 'concersion ' was done not according to the dictates of the torah. the children are therefore not jewish. this is a big problem
if one has a rabbinute conversion then it is wise for the potential convert to intelligently select which rabbis will sit on their beis din at the time of conversion
because depending on who is on the beis din, depends whether that sould will be jewish on coming out of the mikvah
chana brocha soto
B"H
ReplyDeleteYes, but he has strict criteria and one has to follow the haredi lifestyle.
where can i contact him? is he in israel?
DeleteB"H
ReplyDeleteThe Rabbis address is published on different Israeli websites:
HaAdmor MiGur Street 49
Bnei Brak
is he an english speaker? =)
DeleteB"H
ReplyDeleteI don't know but I wouldn't rely on him knowing lots of English.