Rabbi Chaim Druckman - head of the Yeshivot Bnei Akiva network, a former several-term Knesset Member, and one of the single most respected figures in religious-Zionist circles - has been appointed to head Israel's conversion-to-Judaism system. In order to "increase the number of candidates for conversion, and to speed up the process," in the words of this week's Cabinet decision, Rabbi Druckman is now responsible for setting conversion policy, coordinating between the various bodies involved, and signing all conversion certificates. Arutz-7's Haggai Segal spoke with him yesterday.
A-7: "The hope is, and it's not hidden - the Prime Minister says it openly - that with this move, [more and more] people who are interested in converting, mostly from the former Soviet Union, will be converted more quickly. Do you plan to fulfill these expectations?"
Rabbi Druckman: "We have a major national problem, emanating from decades of oppression of the Jewish People in Russia, which led to intermarriage and then the birth of children of these marriages, and they came to Israel, and we have to try to help them - at least those who wish to be helped. Of course, everything has to be done according to Jewish Law [Halakhah], and Prime Minister Sharon knows this as well; conversion is not conversion if it is not Halakhic."
A-7: "But they're expecting what they call 'flexibility.'"
Rabbi Druckman: "I would say that our approach will be one of friendship, kindliness, understanding. When they talk about flexibility, it does not mean that the Halakhah has to be flexible or that we have to depart from the Halakhah. Even many people who are not observant realize that this can be the only way to welcome new members into Judaism."
A-7: "Can we expect that the process will at least be speeded up?"
Rabbi Druckman: "What we have to do first is to encourage conversion, create an atmosphere that encourages conversion. It's no secret that there are not exactly hoards of people standing in line waiting to convert. Many Russians have come to Israel and have learned that they can do fine without converting - so why should they? Whoever has a feeling of national responsibility will realize that with such an atmosphere, we are shooting ourselves in the foot and simply increasing the percentage of non-Jews, and that this has to be changed... Today we had a meeting of various people who are involved in this matter, and we tried to figure out ways to bring this matter to the public consciousness and of course to the new immigrants."
A-7: "Jewish Agency chairman Salai Meridor, in his statement congratulating your appointment, said that the goal is to have thousands of converts each year. Is this realistic?"
Rabbi Druckman: "I simply cannot know without knowing the potential. This is not a factory... I can just say that in terms of the rabbinical courts and judges, it will not be a problem... This move is being taken in coordination with the Chief Rabbinate; it could not be otherwise. After all, this is not some private enterprise."
A-7: "Prime Minister Sharon said that one of the problems, for instance, is when a potential convert says he does not want to lead a totally observant lifestyle - and is then automatically invalidated by the Rabbinical Court. Will there be a change in this?"
Rabbi Druckman: "Someone who wants to become a Jew certainly must live like a Jew. He is different than someone who is born a Jew; he wants to 'join up'... Of course, we have to explain to him and teach him what this means, and for this we have classes and institutes... One of our ideas today was that they would be introduced to immigrants from Russia who have already converted and who would be able to explain how pleasant it is, and that it is not just a yoke and a burden. This would go a long way towards creating the right atmosphere."
A-7: "The hope is, and it's not hidden - the Prime Minister says it openly - that with this move, [more and more] people who are interested in converting, mostly from the former Soviet Union, will be converted more quickly. Do you plan to fulfill these expectations?"
Rabbi Druckman: "We have a major national problem, emanating from decades of oppression of the Jewish People in Russia, which led to intermarriage and then the birth of children of these marriages, and they came to Israel, and we have to try to help them - at least those who wish to be helped. Of course, everything has to be done according to Jewish Law [Halakhah], and Prime Minister Sharon knows this as well; conversion is not conversion if it is not Halakhic."
A-7: "But they're expecting what they call 'flexibility.'"
Rabbi Druckman: "I would say that our approach will be one of friendship, kindliness, understanding. When they talk about flexibility, it does not mean that the Halakhah has to be flexible or that we have to depart from the Halakhah. Even many people who are not observant realize that this can be the only way to welcome new members into Judaism."
A-7: "Can we expect that the process will at least be speeded up?"
Rabbi Druckman: "What we have to do first is to encourage conversion, create an atmosphere that encourages conversion. It's no secret that there are not exactly hoards of people standing in line waiting to convert. Many Russians have come to Israel and have learned that they can do fine without converting - so why should they? Whoever has a feeling of national responsibility will realize that with such an atmosphere, we are shooting ourselves in the foot and simply increasing the percentage of non-Jews, and that this has to be changed... Today we had a meeting of various people who are involved in this matter, and we tried to figure out ways to bring this matter to the public consciousness and of course to the new immigrants."
A-7: "Jewish Agency chairman Salai Meridor, in his statement congratulating your appointment, said that the goal is to have thousands of converts each year. Is this realistic?"
Rabbi Druckman: "I simply cannot know without knowing the potential. This is not a factory... I can just say that in terms of the rabbinical courts and judges, it will not be a problem... This move is being taken in coordination with the Chief Rabbinate; it could not be otherwise. After all, this is not some private enterprise."
A-7: "Prime Minister Sharon said that one of the problems, for instance, is when a potential convert says he does not want to lead a totally observant lifestyle - and is then automatically invalidated by the Rabbinical Court. Will there be a change in this?"
Rabbi Druckman: "Someone who wants to become a Jew certainly must live like a Jew. He is different than someone who is born a Jew; he wants to 'join up'... Of course, we have to explain to him and teach him what this means, and for this we have classes and institutes... One of our ideas today was that they would be introduced to immigrants from Russia who have already converted and who would be able to explain how pleasant it is, and that it is not just a yoke and a burden. This would go a long way towards creating the right atmosphere."