Israel considers question: ‘Who is a Jew?’
Issue heads to higher court after rabbis annul some 40,000 conversions
updated 7:17 p.m. ET, Sat., Nov. 1, 2008
Just the title of my article caught my attention. The question of the article headline was “Who is a Jew?”
The article starts out with a woman named Shannon who had no religion in her life decided to move to Israel and become a Jew. In her process to become Jewish she had to study Judaism for a year, change her wardrobe and take on a Hebrew name.
Five years later 40,000 people and herself were annulled by being Jewish, by Israel’s Rabbinical High Court. This is due to the controversary of the rabbi in charge of government that oversees the conversion to become Jewish. The reason given is that he is “too liberal in approving them.”
This is now going to Israel’s Supreme Court. The question being asked “who is a Jew.” This is causing a problem between Israel and American Jews.
Shannon’s citizenship will remain but the ruling now says here religious rights are no longer the definition of Jewish has been a significant question from the beginning. The last several years’ immigrants have moved to Israel. However just because these immigrants have Jewish family, they are not considered Jewish unless they were born to a Jewish mother. Shannon’s father was Jewish however her mother, Christian, which is why she had to undergo the studying.
There are two sides, one “ultra-Orthodox hard-liners, who insist converts must embrace the strict interpretation of Judaism. The director of the rabbinical courts says too many people are converting although they are truly interested.
This situation also provides problems between American Jews that belong to more “liberal Reform and Conservative denominations,” yet another problem. Some find the “rabbi’s area acting against the spirit of Judaism.”
I feel that if you or anyone takes the time to study a religion for a year, change their lifestyle and name, then they most certainly believe in it. One should be allowed to convert, not just be born to a Jewish mother. The government should be stepping in and trying to challenge this.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27489870/
4 comments:
I totally agree with you. I believe that anyone who wants to be affiliated with a Relgion and decides to truly investigate and commmit, should be able to as she or he wishes. Not to mention the people who already belong should want to embrace and celebrate new faiths. How can we tell another human being that they are not aloud to be whom they wish?
I had no idea that such a commitment is necessary to be accepted as a Jewish person. It seems unfair that someone who is born to a Jewish mother is simply accepted, but yet others must study hard for a year and change their lifestyle to be in line with the religion. I suppose that this clash not only between, but within religions yet again proves why so many wars have been fought and so many lives lost due to religious conflicts.
Well I feel that it is a matter of people understanding religion. Just like a Catholic person will say they are Catholic just because their parents were Catholic but they don't attend any mass or pray or anything. But then you are made to go through a process to be Catholic, I just feel like all religions have process. Even though a Jewish person may have been born into it doesn't mean they aren't practicing and that they didn't have to go through something as well.
i totally agree with you. It is crazy to find out and hear about a religion and things that go on in a religion. You really do not know what that religion entails until you actually study it.
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