If Israeli Conversion System Not Fixed, Assimilation Will Be Rampant

Number of Conversions Just 1/4 of Government Goal

If Israeli Conversion System Not Fixed, Assimilation Will Be Rampant

Number of Conversions Just 1/4 of Government Goal

Wednesday, 8 May 2013, Israel Democracy Institute, 4 Pinsker St., Jerusalem - In reaction to today's release of the State Comptroller's report on the state of conversion in Israel, Prof. Yedidia Stern, Vice President of Research at the Israel Democracy Institute and Bar-Ilan University Professor of Law, harshly criticized the state's failure to meet its historic obligation to solve a critical issue facing many of its citizens.

"In Israel, a third of a million immigrants from the former Soviet Union are not recognized as Jews, despite having a Jewish background and a desire to affiliate with the Jewish people. Israeli governments have declared in the past that conversion is a national priority. A special department was even established within the Prime Minister's Office. In 2008, the government set the goal of doubling the number of converts within four years. However, the State Comptroller's report released today shows that the number actually decreased dramatically - by almost half. In 2007, there were approximately 8,000 converts; in 2011, there were only 4,300 - just 25% of the government's target. And, the numbers have continued to decline since.

"The report shows a striking failure of the government to carry out its decisions with regard to this mission of national importance. For example, two and a half years ago, a decision was made to establish a search committee to appoint a head of the Conversion Authority. As of today, the search committee has yet to meet, and the conversion system remains without a leader.

"Failure of the government to foster conversion, among those who are not Jewish according to Jewish law but consider themselves part of the Jewish people, has serious consequences. Under current law, the civil rights of those who are classified as 'without a religion' are limited as they are unable to marry, cannot be buried in Jewish cemeteries, and may have difficulties adopting children. A growing trend among the modern Orthodox and ultra-Orthodox of creating family trees to prove their Jewishness shows the possibility for a historic schism among the Jewish people.

"Most Israeli Jews are opposed to assimilation. Yet, if we do not address the issue of conversion, assimilation will become commonplace in the State of Israel."

For more information or to schedule an interview with Prof. Stern, contact:
Yehoshua Oz
Director of International Communications
press@idi.org.il