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Ultra-Orthodox furious over Israeli top court’s ruling on conversions

Ultra-Orthodox parties announced that they will not join any coalition unless it cancels recognition of progressive Judaism conversions.
Ultra-orthodox Jewish men, some wearing the traditional Jewish prayer shawls known as Tallit, pray in divided sections at the Western Wall in Jerusalem's old city on February 23, 2021. (Photo by MENAHEM KAHANA / AFP) (Photo by MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images)

The Supreme Court ruled March 2 that the state must recognize conversions conducted by the Reform and Conservative movements in Israel (progressive Judaism) for purposes of the Law of Return, which entitles Jews arriving to Israel to receive citizenship. In other words, in the eyes of Israeli law, non-Orthodox converts to Judaism are Jewish and should be entitled to become citizens.  

But despite all the hoopla, this ruling is not as dramatic as it sounds. After all, these conversions are already recognized, when they are conducted overseas. Reform and Conservative converts from the United States, for example, where most Jews identify with one of these movements, have the right to immigrate to Israel as Jews and immediately claim citizenship.

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