Excerpts from a Statement by Rabbi Aron Soloveichik, 11123188
Rosh Yeshiva — Yeshiva University, N.Y.
The recent elections in Israel have given the Likud party and the religious parties a vote of con-
fidence to amend the Law of Return to recognize only conversions to Judaism done according to Halacha
— Jewish low.
I was shocked to learn today of the Rabbinical Council of America's statement "supporting removal
of this issue from the political agenda." I find it incomprehensible that such a statement be made without
consulting with the membership.
The proposed amendment is of utmost importance for the preservation of Judaism throughout the
world, and there can be no compromise on this issue.
While it is true that conversion is a religious issue, rather than political, the Law of Return as it presently
reads is flawed and makes a mockery of Jewish identity and conversion to Judaism.
I call upon all members of the Rabbinical Council of America to repudiate the statement and to
declare unequivocally that the only way to remove the "Who Is A Jew" question from the political arena,
is by requiring that all conversions be done in accordance with Halacha — Jewish law.
I further call upon all members of the Rabbinical Council of America to use their influence to pro-
perly explain this issue to the public and to do everything possible to ensure passage of the amendment.
This issue is vitally urgent to the future of the Jewish people. My poor health not withstanding, I
am ready to travel to Israel and personally present the case for amending the Law of Return to Prime
Minister Yitzchak Shamir and other Israeli leaders and to assure them that the vast majority of American
Jewry steadfastly support them.
ti
easv„,
Excerpts from a Letter of Rabbi Moshe Feinstein ZT"L
President of Agudas Horabbonim (Union of Orthodox Rabbis of the United States and
Canada), and Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah (Council of Torah Sages) of the United States.
This unfortunate matter, by which (as a result of our many sins), one is accepted (by the
present Israeli law — Ed.) as a Jew without being converted according to the laws of the
Torah, is unquestionably a grave edict to destroy the remnant of the Jewish people, who have
been saved from the claws of the wicked ones who planned to annihilate the entire Jewish
race, and indeed succeeded (as a result of our many sins) in decimating a great number of
them.
Others have now arisen who are promulgating similar edicts, which can, G-d forbid, ef-
face from memory the entire essence of the Jewish people, which is the Torah and its com-
mandments. After all the terrible persecutions in every era, when non-Jewish rulers set
themselves against us, seeking to change our religion and to make us assimilate among them,
or to 'annihilate completely, it is only through the Torah that we still manage to remain in ex-
istence, by virtue of the Divine promise that "You Children of Jacob, will not be totally destroyed!"
Therefore, though we are certain that their decrees, too, will not succeed, nevertheless
each and every Jew capable of so doing has the obligation to protest and do whatever he
can to repeal this evil decree. In particular, all Jewish communities throughout the world have
the duty not to stay quiet or rest until they bring about the repeal of this terrible decree, which
threatens not just the inhabitants of Israel but the entire world, for it will cause many to view
lightly intermarriage with non-Jews.
G-d will certainly help us for the sake of His Great Name, His promise to the Jewish peo-
ple and His holy Torah. I write all this once more in great anguish, although I have already
written about it many times, for we must not give up hope of succeeding through these pro-
tests until they cancel the decree.
Signed, 28 Tishrei, 5732,
Moshe Feinstein
All that I wrote in the year 5732 certainly applies now, too, as much as then, and we
need to work at it as much as possible until the law will be enacted in accordance with Torah
law, without any distortion. I hereby sign on this fourth day of Ellul, 5738,
Moshe Feinstein
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THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
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