Rabbi Chaim Amsalem, head of the “Proper Conversion” tribunal, is coming out tonight (Saturday) against the interview given by Safed rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu to Makor Rishon and was published over the weekend, in which he spoke out strongly against the conversion reform promoted by Minister of Religious Affairs Matan Kahana.
“There could be a reality where Rabbi Amsalem would convert someone without receiving a mitzvah, under the auspices of a certain rabbi, and I as the rabbi of Safed would have to register him as a Jew for marriage, and I do not want to do that. “It can certainly be like Amsalem, who grew up in the ultra-Orthodox community and thinks that there is no need to accept the yoke of mitzvos in conversion will be appointed,” Rabbi Amsalem quoted the interview that Rabbi Eliyahu gave to Makor Rishon.
“These things are lies and slander,” Rabbi Amsalem stressed in his open letter distributed tonight, Of conversion without accepting the yoke of the mitzvos and without reservation, as explained in Shulchan Aruch, and agreed upon by all the arbitrators. “
“Lies and libel” Photo: Rabbi Amsalem’s letter to Rabbi Eliyahu
“You may not have read the things in their source, and you are fed up with rumors of defamation and incitement, and therefore you were wrong,” Rabbi Amsalem tried to excuse in the name of Rabbi Eliyahu, “You are welcome to read the book “Even in the above interview, I said that the convert should accept all the mitzvos without any condition.”
Finally, Rabbi Amsalem announced that, “If you are quoted incorrectly, you are welcome to deny and clarify your words in writing, and on the same stage. If you do not do so within seven days, I will sadly have to consider my steps legally.”
An official response to the letter has not yet been published on behalf of Rabbi Eliyahu.