Question: Will my conversion to Conservative Judaism be accepted in Israel?
Dear Rabbi Lerner,
I converted to Conservative Judaism. I
had been circumcised by my family doctor as a baby. So I studied with Rabbi and Cantor, went to the mikvah, had a drop of blood taken, and went before the beit din. My conversion was all in exact compliance with Conservative practice. Will I be considered a Jew in Israel? Will I be able to ask for the right of return to the Jewish State someday?
Thanks, Jim
Answer: Dear Jim,
Congratulations and welcome to the Jewish People. It is wonderful to hear that the entire process went according to Jewish law and tradition.
For your information, only recently, even Orthodox conversions outside of Israel have come under question by the Israeli Chief Rabbis. Ultimately these are political issues, not Jewish law.
Under Jewish law, once converted you can not be questioned or doubted, particularly not when each step was done completely, wholeheartedly, etc.
I'm cc'ing this letter to Rabbi Andy Sacks of the Conservative/Masorti movement in Israel who may be able to give you a more definitive answer than I on the latest rulings of the Chief Rabbis regarding conversion outside of Israel.
Best wishes,
Rabbi Dov
