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From: wkp@lanl-a.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish
Subject: More Law of Return
Message-ID: <12849@lanl-a.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 31-Aug-84 12:10:57 EDT
Article-I.D.: lanl-a.12849
Posted: Fri Aug 31 12:10:57 1984
Date-Received: Mon, 3-Sep-84 19:39:20 EDT
Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory
Lines: 35


In reply to Yirmiyahu Ben-David's article on the Law of Return, I feel
that some points need to be cleared up:

A convert to Judaism making aliyah at no time deals with the Rabbanut
in Israel.  His papers are cleared through the offices of the Jewish
Agency and the Israel Aliyah Center.  Invariably, these personnel are
less religious, and hence less concerned about halacha.  The result
of such a policy can be illustrated by a Hungarian friend of mine in
Israel (if he's still there) who made aliyah in 1981, became a citizen
and served in the army.  However, when he wished to get married 
he hd to go the Rabbanutt in Jerusalem, who promptly dismissed his
conversion because they did not trust the rabbi who had converted him.

Fortunately, there are not many cases like this, but there are enough so
that the religious parties want more of a say in aliyah.  It should be
emphasized, however, that if a convert went to Israel already married,
there would be almost no instance when he/she would have to deal with the
Rabbanut.  

I also cannot agree with Yirmiyahu's statement that the religious people
are that concerned about their own children marrying these "goyim" because
they (e.g., my cousin in Kfar Chabad) would not even marry a "baal tshuva"
(a Jew who became religious) much less any kind of convert, religous or
otherwise.

Finally, I feel that it is unfortunate that the religious parties (e.g.,
Kahana's Kach party) have such a say in the Knesset.  Though I am 
sympathetic to their ideals, I feel that many of them are hypocritical
and too eager to use the lives of young Jewish people to further their
own selfish aims.
                                          bill peter
                                          los alamos
The Mafdal people in Israel (national religious parties) wish to extend
their control of the marriage