Government ministers in Israel are preparing to cast votes this Sunday on controversial legislation that would limit citizenship eligibility to those who undergo Orthodox Jewish conversions only, effectively overturning a significant 2021 Supreme Court decision that had acknowledged Reform and Conservative conversions under the nation’s Law of Return statute.
The legislation comes from Simcha Rothman, who serves as chairman of the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee and represents the Religious Zionism party.
Under Rothman’s proposal, Jewish conversion would be narrowly defined as procedures carried out “in accordance with halakha,” which refers to traditional Jewish religious law.
Should the bill become law, it would nullify Reform and Conservative conversion ceremonies conducted within Israel when it comes to immigration and citizenship matters.
Rothman defended the legislation by stating it aims to restore “the principles established by the founders of the state” while preserving “the unity of the Jewish people” both within Israel and internationally.
The new proposal stands in direct opposition to the groundbreaking 2021 Supreme Court ruling, which determined that individuals who underwent non-Orthodox conversions within Israel should be acknowledged as Jewish under the Law of Return and thus qualify for Israeli citizenship.
Currently, Israel’s immigration policy accepts non-Orthodox conversions for Law of Return purposes, though the Orthodox-dominated Chief Rabbinate does not recognize these conversions for marriage and divorce proceedings.
The proposed changes are anticipated to strain relationships with Jewish communities beyond Israel’s borders, especially in North America, where Reform and Conservative movements hold significant influence in Jewish community affairs.
This legislative push follows a previous unsuccessful attempt last year by Avi Maoz from the Noam party, who tried to eliminate automatic immigration privileges for people with Jewish grandparents who don’t meet religious law criteria for Jewish identity.
Should the Ministerial Committee on Legislation give its approval to Rothman’s proposal, the bill would gain official government support as it moves forward through the Knesset’s legislative procedures.
