I’ve been a bit of a negative Nancy lately, so here is some good conversion news for you:
North American Rabbis Protest Conversion Policy.
Sure, the rabbis have rallied to protect all orthodox converts’ rights to make aliyah, but I’m more skeptical that such a rabbinic “uprising” would happen as a way to pressure the Israeli Rabbinate to recognize the Jewishness of these same orthodox converts. Yet the Rabbinate is questioning the validity of the conversions performed by (or that could be performed by) many of these same rabbis. (It’s really very interesting to me from both halachic and psychological standpoints.)
However, it’s a healthy, large step in the right direction! They’re listening!
And as always (so far), Natan Sharansky impresses me:
…Chairman Natan Sharansky, who told the board that Israel’s chief rabbinate should not be involved in determining who can be allowed to immigrate to Israel.
“I want to separate the argument about conversion from the recognition of Judaism for the sake of citizenship-eligibility under the Law of Return,” Sharansky told Haaretz. “It’s so important that a person who undergoes conversion according to the tradition of his community and who the community accepts as a Jew be eligible to make aliyah under the Law of Return.”
If you don’t know anything about Natan Sharansky’s life, I suggest looking him up!
And now to get you in the mood for Shabbat, check out this page of Shabbat songs from Aish. Note that the pronunciation may not be the same as your community uses. It’s the little things that throw you off! Personally, I can’t help but get distracted by “oy”ing, but I’ve just got to get past that one, don’t I?
What’s your favorite Shabbos song? (And what’s the singular of zimrot? Google failed me.) Mine is probably Shalom Aleichem. It’s a definite earworm for me, and you’ll find me humming it the rest of Shabbat dinner!
Shabbat shalom!
Anonymous says
YAY! It is a good step forward. I adore Natan Sharansky!
Sarah Brodsky says
Singular is zemer–and my favorite is Dror Yikra.