Conversion to Judaism part 9

In 1979, after two years of campus work, and two years of congregational work, I became interested in the military chaplaincy. I was only twenty six. I eagerly toured several air force bases, and spoke at length with the chaplains. Jewish chaplains were, and still are, first approved by the Jewish Welfare Board (JWB), that, in turn, deals with rabbinical organizations of the three major denominations. In the case of Orthodox rabbis, that was the Rabbinical Council of America. I was, in fact, a member of  a smaller, more Right Wing organization; the Rabbinical Alliance of America. The JWB informed me that this presented no problem. The RCA would simply approve me or disapprove me on the merit of my credentials. I was summoned to the RCA headquarters in New York (I lived in Cincinnati at the time). One of the bigwigs of the RCA met with me. "Look" he said "each denomination has an annual quota of chaplains. If we are short, we recognize you. If we have enough of our own people, we don't". I suddenly realized I was essentially dealing with a labor union, and I wan't one of "his people". I told the bigwig that I had gone to college with his son. He placed a call to his son. "He doesn't remember you. Goodbye". That's how the U.S. military lost me as a chaplain. That's how I lost my respect for the RCA. Little by little, over the years, I discovered that the whole system was about power and influence. Up until about 1980, any conversion, performed by any Orthodox rabbi, was recognized both in the U.S. and in Israel. Although conversion requirements differed greatly from rabbi to rabbi, all were recognized. Then, the RCA let it be known that they wished to standardize  all Orthodox conversions, by means of a central Beit Din. This proved impractical, so they modified it to include only certain RCA rabbis, who would follow RCA guidelines. Other rabbis, even RCA members, were no longer authorized to perform conversions. Who granted the RCA such sweeping powers? They simply took it, as they had taken control of virtually all major Orthodox synagogues. An expression my late Mother used to use a lot comes to mind; "Who died and left you boss?" People with other conversions, were told that they are not Jewish at all. Chabad, which used to do many conversions, stopped (at least in places where there were  RCA rabbis). Hasidic and right wing Yeshiva conversions were no longer recognized, although, with considerable pressure, they could often be recognized ex post facto, after the RCA deigned to grant recognition. Often, these involved rabbis far more qualified than the RCA ones. Twenty years later, the Israeli Chief Rabbinate made a deal with the RCA that they were to be seen as the only rabbinic representatives of U.S. Jewry. Any RCA rabbi coming to Israel, would also automatically be recognized to serve in an Israeli rabbinic position. (Whereas I, and many others, had to seek the approval of one of the Chief Rabbis.) A similar situation exists regarding kashrut and the OU. (Same people as RCA). Millions have been spent on public relations, to make the OU the ultimate name in the field. A large part of their success lies in the fact that they weaken and destroy smaller hechshers, by spreading all sorts of nasty rumors. On the other hand, mistakes of other agencies are often covered up for political expediency. My mind races back to my abortive attempt of becoming a chaplain. But with me, it was just an issue of a position. For numerous converts, these policies often signal a lifetime of hurt and rejection. I do not know how some people sleep at night.

Conversion to Judaism part 8

Although several American cities became centers of Jewish life and education since colonial times,  In the early  twentieth century, New York City emerged as the ultimate center; a position it held for most of that century, and, to a lesser extent, until today. It was home to the Jewish Theological Seminary, that gave birth to the Conservative movement, as well as the Jewish Institute of Religion, that composed a major part of the Reform movement. From the 1930s, several European style Yeshivot made their homes in New York, even ordaining American born rabbis. However, then as now, these ordainees seldom sought to occupy pulpits, preferring instead to concentrate on education. Accepting "Out of Town" rabbinic positions (anything other than New York), almost never occurred to these men. In 1886, and elementary school, Etz Chaim, was founded on the Lower East Side, that took the unheard of position of teaching in English, well as teaching some secular subjects. In 1898, it progressed to hosting a Rabbinical school. Their rabbis did take pulpits, some even going to the "unknown" territories beyond the Hudson. Eventually, this institution became Yeshiva University (YU), and its Rabbinical School became the Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS). The rabbis of the European style yeshivot mocked YU, with its acceptance of American culture, and especially its inclusion of secular subjects. The Sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe quipped "I don't know how Rav Yitzchak Elchanan could have sinned, to have such an institution named for him". But YU proudly sported the motto "Torah U'Mada" (Torah and Science). Indeed, their logo is a microscope with a Torah scroll. There were several Orthodox Rabbinical organizations at that time, but none were willing to accept these newfangled rabbis as members. The fact is, that the American Orthodox rabbinate was in shambles at that time. Most of those serving as rabbis (as opposed to educators) were without credentials. Some took grandiose titles for themselves. One "rabbi" in the Bronx, put  a shingle by his door "Chief Rabbi of New York". Another "rabbi" across the street, not to be outdone, hung a shingle that read "Chief Rabbi of America". Hasidic "Grand Rabbis" were soon to follow. In the mean time, YU rabbis began to occupy established Orthodox synagogues, first in New York, but soon in all major American cities. Two new organizations were formed; a federation of YU rabbis, called the Rabbinical Council of America (RCA), that was, and is, open to all YU ordainees, and theoretically, graduates of eight other Yeshivot that they recognized, but, in fact, only those with "connections" in the RCA need apply. Those synagogues that got their rabbis from YU, formed an association of synagogues; the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America" (OU).. For all intents and purposes, the YU. RCA, OU triumvirate had taken over American Orthodoxy. Although other groups sprang up, they have little of the recognition that the YU confederation commands. By 2003, the Israeli Chief Rabbinate recognized the RCA as the sole representative of American Orthodoxy. The meaning, and repercussions, of this arrangement, especially regarding conversion, will be my next installment.

Conversion to Judaism part 7

A big consideration in the non recognition of non Orthodox conversions has more to do with history and politics than actual halachah. Both Reform and Conservative Judaism differ on many important points from Orthodoxy. As such, they are considered heresies, much like the Karaites and the Samaritans. But Samaritans WERE considered Jews for 1,000 years before the issuing of a ruling declaring them not to be Jews. Similarly, marriages between Karaites and Rabbinites were common for 400 years, until RAMBAM campaigned for their non recognition. The Chief Rabbinate in Israel keeps going back and forth between declaring Karaites to be Jews or non Jews. The Conservative movement began before there was an organized Orthodoxy in America. While some of its leaders were essentially "Reform lite", most were fully observant and for all intents and purposes Orthodox. In fact, the Conservative Jewish Theological Seminary very nearly merged with the Modern Orthodox Yeshiva University in the 1920s.  The merger fell through, not because of halachic differences, but because of differences in methodology in Talmudic study.With time, however, it drifted further and further away from Orthodox principles, even as Orthodoxy was drifting to the Right. In about 1960, two prominent American Orthodox rabbis declared war on the Conservative movement. (I do not wish to reveal their names). One, a very Right Wing rabbi, had a young rabbinic scholar enroll at JTS, in order to find out what was said there. I spoke to that scholar many years later. He described to me what happened. He was in a class on Chumash. An unusual word was under discussion. The professor explained it by using a cognate word from another Semitic language. The young man protested "but RASHI says..." The professor interrupted "THIS is the approach of our yeshivah". After reporting back to the rabbi, a ban was put on the Conservative movement. Everything they did was declared invalid. Even if an Orthodox rabbi took a Conservative pulpit, he was to be considered invalid. This position was endorsed by the Right Wing Agudas HaRabbonim. Had that rabbi taken the time to send a spy four miles North  to Yeshiva University, he would have heard the same thing. He was, in fact, a prisoner of the mindset of the European yeshivot. At about the same time, a highly influential  Modern Orthodox rabbi applied for a teaching position at JTS. He was rejected. Personally miffed, he also declared the Conservative movement to be heretical and invalid. This all begs the question if these men had the foresight to see what was to become of the Conservative movement, which now rejects the binding nature of halachah, or whether they brought this about by pushing them away. In any case, this resulted in an ostracizing of any and all rabbis with any connection to that movement, even if personally observant and dedicated to the spreading of Torah Judaism. This also served to write off two thirds of American Jewry. A few years ago, in the neighborhood where I live, and Orthodox rabbi was seen talking to a Conservative rabbi on a street corner. The Orthodox rabbi was immediately fired. In my opinion, this attitude is, in my opinion, bad for the Jews, and even worse for converts. Next, I shall discuss how American Orthodoxy, including conversions, has been hijacked by one narrow group.