In response to news reports concerning new conversion legislation proposed in Israel, the Coalition for Jewish Values issued the following statement:

In cooperation with Israel’s Chief Rabbinate, the Israeli government has tightened the procedures by which conversions to Judaism performed in Israel are officially recognized. Private conversion courts, even Haredi ones, will no longer be accepted carte blanche.

The American Reform movement alleges that conversions performed outside Israel will be undermined by this decision. This is entirely false, as the decision does not address foreign conversions at all. Their tendentious misrepresentation of the government decision is intended to create division and discord where none is warranted.

[If individual attribution is required, attribute to Rabbi Steven Pruzansky, Senior Rabbinic Fellow of the CJV.]