A young Israeli from the former Soviet Union who wished to convert to Judaism was turned down recently after he told a rabbinic court that he believes former Chabad leader Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson to be the messiah.  While some rabbinic judges were prepared to convert the young man, at least one refused to take part in the proceedings.

The case will be brought before Sephardi Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar in the near future.  An estimated several thousand Chabad chassidim believe that Rabbi Schneerson, who passed away in 1994, is the messiah.